Our Peer Volunteers know what it’s like to be stuck in the refugee and asylum system. Now they’re drawing on their own life experience to help others seeking safety in Scotland.
The ten people at the heart of our Peer Integration Project come from different countries, backgrounds, cultures and religions. Some have refugee status. Others are still waiting for their asylum claims to be processed. But there is one thing they all share. They understand how it feels to be forced from your home by conflict, violence and persecution.
They know from personal experience just how frustrating, confusing and demoralising the UK asylum system can be. And they have all chosen to use that knowledge to make life easier for others arriving in Scotland.
Our Peer Volunteers are responsible for setting up groups so that refugees and people in the asylum process can meet regularly to talk about the issues they face. They then work together to share knowledge and learn from each other’s experiences.
Peer Volunteers also play a vital role in delivering our Refugee Support Service by suggesting topics for, and contributing to training sessions, reviewing resources and feeding in on branding and communication for projects.
Ahmed, a skilled photographer and videographer, settled in Scotland after fleeing civil war in Syria.
He said: “We joined the Peer Group to help and support others. We were struggling before in many different ways, so we have a strong feeling about what new people who arrive in Scotland are experiencing and what they need.
“We draw on our own experience of daily life to benefit them. As volunteers, we’re doing something positive, something good. I enjoy it a lot.”
Many people in the refugee and asylum process struggle with feelings of isolation and uncertainty, which can have a devastating impact on their mental health.
For single mum Mary, who is training to be a nurse, the Peer Volunteer Project has been a lifeline.
She said: “I started volunteering before I was granted refugee status and I was struggling a lot.
“When I heard about this opportunity, I was just starting uni. It felt like the system was failing me. I have a young one at home and I’m a lone parent. Depression was hitting quite hard.
“Studying, volunteering and being a single mother – it’s a lot, but I felt like I needed a challenge. I wanted to learn new skills, grow and be doing something completely different from when I was at home or in uni.
“I’ve gained so much confidence. The people I’ve met here have become friends. When I talk to people and listen to their stories, I feel like I’m not alone and it encourages me to live each day.
“When people hear that I was in the asylum system for five years, waiting for a decision, it reassures them. It gives me joy to know that I’m giving people hope.”
Ismael also knows from personal experience the impact hostile environment policies can have on a person’s mental health.
He explained: “Many people are struggling with mental health issues because they’re just sitting at home with nothing to do and the walls are closing in on them. Even myself, I had to stop my education because I was going through a lot at the time.
“Volunteering has been a positive experience for me. I joined this group with the thought of keeping busy and giving something back. I came to Scotland with skills I could use and that maybe others could benefit from.
“Once a week, I can come into an office situation. My mental health has improved because I am able to get out and talk to people and find out about their situation. It’s about making connections. When you’re talking to people and they’re talking back to you, you get to feel more confident.
“I meet people that have been here a long time and maybe they are starting to give up on themselves They need information. They don’t know how the system works and how to find support. They don’t know about the resources they could benefit from. Through this group, we share information that can help them”
As a Peer Volunteer, Henry can use his skills to play an important role in delivering our Refugee Support Service.
Before seeking refugee protection, Henry was an academic. He has multiple PhDs and a wealth of experience. But because he is still in the asylum system, he is not allowed to work.
The Peer Group hold regular information and learning sessions on a wide range of topics for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Henry said: “We were all doing something with our lives before we had to leave. Then you come to the UK and you’re not permitted to work or do anything [while your asylum claim is being processed].
“As part of the peer project, we use our own experiences to share guidance about issues like health and housing.
“We contribute to slides that are shared at the learning sessions and some of us are delivering these sessions. We’re helping to make the presentations work for people who are attending.
“Back home, I was doing a lot of teaching, so I have experience of presenting. It comes naturally to me. In the sessions, the attendees understand what I’m saying because I have the kind of accent that most of them have.
“Volunteering has been a means for me to use my skills to help other people. There’s a kind of pleasure in seeing that their pain is being eased, even when you’re going through your own pain. It makes you feel a bit better about yourself. It’s just been good to feel useful.”
Our Peer Volunteers also translate essential tools and resources into multiple languages and run WhatsApp groups that provide refugees and people going through the asylum process with guidance and support.
Olena, who came to Scotland after fleeing the war against Ukraine understands just how important this support can be.
She said: “If I can help with translations, I feel great pleasure and I am very happy to. I know that feeling when you don’t know the language. It makes life very difficult in a moment that is already so hard for people.
“When me and my husband came here, we knew nothing. We had no experience of being a refugee. A young man from Scottish Refugee Council came to the hotel where we were staying and give us information. His name was Noah and he was very kind, patient and supportive. It really impressed me.
“Then, I heard that Scottish Refugee Council was looking for volunteers and I thought ‘why not?’ I had visited all the museums and parks and I was bored. I needed to be active and to be involved in something.
“Every time I am in the office and I see Noah, we greet each other. I really appreciate what he did for us and I hope I can be helpful for someone like he was helpful for us.
“I love the slogan, ‘People make Glasgow’. People are the most valuable resource in this world. We should look out for and support each other. I feel happy when I can help other people.
“Even though I have a job now, I try not to miss any volunteer sessions. Being part of this group gives me self-confidence. I feel I can cope with my problems and I’m not alone. A lot of people have the same problems and most have worse. If I can do something to help Ukrainians and other people who are new to Scotland, I will do it.”
People with lived experience of the refugee and asylum system have a crucial role to play in shaping our work.
We are extremely grateful to our Peer Volunteers for giving their time, knowledge and expertise to help build a better future with refugees in Scotland.
Read more about our Refugee Support Service and how we help people rebuild their lives and play a part in our communities.
Photos by Angela Catlin for Scottish Refugee Council
