Afghan families resettled in the Highlands of Scotland enjoyed a fun-filled activity day in spectacular surroundings on a recent trip to Torridon.
It was a welcome opportunity for New Scots to explore the great outdoors, engage with nature and feel more connected to their new home.
Our Refugee Support Service connects refugee communities across Scotland with organisations providing help and opportunities.
When Jess Carnegie, a Community Engagement Officer at the National Trust for Scotland, contacted us to propose a trip for local refugee communities to Torridon, we were delighted to help.
Engaging communities
Jess said: “I’m delivering a project which aims to build and extend community engagement with National Trust properties. I was looking for ways to support people who might not otherwise get the chance to spend time in the great outdoors to come to come to Torridon.
“I wanted to explore the possibility of supporting a visit for refugee communities based in the Highlands, so I reached out to Ruby, the Regional Integration Coordinator at Scottish Refugee Council, to see if there was any scope.”
Ruby explained some of the challenges Afghan families resettled in the Highlands face and how these issues can make it harder for them to participate in events and activities.
She invited Jess to the Highland New Scots Integration Network, which connects community groups, local authorities and other organisations supporting refugees in the area.
Ruby also introduced Jess to Lizzie Wood, Refugee Resettlement Officer for Highland Third Sector Interface.
Jess said: “Lizzie and I talked about how we could work together and ended up planning a really amazing activity day.”
The trip
On a sunny day in early September, five Afghan families from Inverness and the surrounding Moray Firth boarded a coach and headed to Torridon.
Jess said: “The trip was just so successful. It helped that it was such a beautiful day. We had gorgeous weather. There were 10 and around 20 children. It was a real mix of ages, from very young kids to teenagers.”
Lizzie added: “When the coach picked people up in Inverness that morning it was really grey and cloudy. But the closer we got to Torridon, the sunnier it got. We arrived at the village of Fasaig, in Torridon in time for lunch. Everyone brought their own picnic.”
Jess said: “After lunch we went for a walk along the loop path that goes through the village and along the shoreline at the top of Loch Torridon. It’s beautiful scenery and gives people a good taste of the landscape.
“Our walk began through a field of Highland cows, which everyone was really excited about. Then we stopped off at the deer park. Everyone got a chance to feed the deer, learn about their life cycle and take some selfies.
“As we walked along the shoreline, we did some beach combing for stones and shells. We also talked about the mountains. A lot of people were saying that the mountains in Torridon reminded them of the mountains back in Afghanistan.”
“We made it back to the Loch Torridon Community Centre for tea and biscuits. Then local artist, Hannah Feuerstein, facilitated a print making workshop with plants, leaves and flowers we had collected while walking around.”
Lizzie said: “That was such a nice element. The day really worked for a family group. It can be a struggle to find activities that work for everyone, but we were able to include all the kids of different ages. There was a lovely energy. People seemed to be so excited to there. The kids were all really engaged and it gave the adults time to enjoy a cup of tea.”
Overcoming barriers to integration
People seeking safety in Scotland face all kinds of challenges that can make it hard for them to rebuild their lives in their new home. Projects like the activity day organised by Jess and Lizzie can help break down some of these barriers.
Lizzie explained: “Resettlement is a newish thing for the Highlands. Most people end up here because it’s where they’ve been offered housing.
“It can be hard for them to find places of worship in their particular denomination. The shops might not have the things they want. There’s no on who speaks your language. That can be quite isolating.
“It’s a tricky place to make it work. Education, transport and employment opportunities are more limited. But it’s also a world class destination that people come to visit from around the world.
“Both Jess and I feel quite passionate about the idea that people resettled in the Highlands should get the change to enjoy spaces like Torridon. Nature needs to be accessible for everyone. These spaces and experiences contribute to people feeling that this is a good place to live.”
Jess added: “It’s a huge part of the identity of the Highlands and being able to share that with people is so amazing.”
Creating opportunities
The Torridon trip was huge a success and Jess, Lizzie and their colleagues are keen to continue working together on similar projects in the future.
Lizzie said: “Jess has put me in touch with one of her colleagues who manages another National Trust for Scotland property in North West Scotland. We’re planning more visits for resettled communities in the Spring. That will be a direct result of the day out at Torridon.
Jess added: “The more I share about this visit with colleagues at the National Trust, the more excited people are about this work.
“It was Ruby at Scottish Refugee Council that planted that first seed. I don’t know if Lizzie and I would have connected if she hadn’t put us in touch.”
Lizzie: “I’ve worked on and off with Ruby over the last few years. The New Scots Integration Network meetings she chairs are really useful. It’s good to have someone doing that work of bringing us all together.
“Here in the Highlands, Scottish Refugee Council isn’t trying to duplicate work that other organisations are already doing, it’s about trying to work in partnership with them. This project is a great example of that.”
Find out more about our Refugee Support Service and how we’re helping to connect communities across Scotland
