People with lived experience of the refugee and asylum system have a crucial role to play in shaping our work.
Scottish Refugee Council was lucky to work with 110 volunteers last year, who supported us with everything from casework, finance and employability training to helping out at Refugee Festival Scotland and fundraising events.
In 2024-25, 69% of our volunteer team had personal experience of navigating the refugee and asylum system.
Peer Integration Project
We recruited 10 Peer Volunteers to lead a Peer Integration Project, drawing on their own life experience to help others seeking safety in Scotland.
Our Peer Volunteers set up groups where refugees and people in the asylum process can meet regularly to talk about the issues they face, share knowledge and learn from each other’s experiences. They also suggest topics for, and contribute to training sessions, review resources and feed in on branding and communication for projects.
New Scots Core Group Advisors
We recruited six New Scots Core Group Advisors with direct experience of seeking protection to play a key role in the design and delivery of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy.
The group is made up of people from a range of ages, migration journeys and professional backgrounds, representing communities from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan, the UAE and wider Arab regions.
In their first six months, they have already made an invaluable contribution to our work, meeting with key decision makers, highlighting community concerns that have gone on to shape wider conversations, and leading independent projects.
Ensuring refugee voices are heard
On International Youth Day (12 August), our youth-led advocacy group, Young People’s Voices launched their report, Your Voice Matters. Conducted by young people with lived experience of seeking asylum, it highlights the unique challenges they and their peers face and presents recommendations for improvement.
“People in Scotland have been very welcoming and care a lot about us, and we appreciate that. But some young people don’t have their rights. Some aren’t in education and some are housed in inappropriate asylum accommodation such as hotels. They should have a better life. We want to show the report to people who have power. We will keep fighting for our rights and the rights of others.” – Member of Young People’s Voices
When the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, visited Scotland in March 2025, he met with our New Scot Core Group advisors to learn how people from refugee backgrounds are shaping the decisions which affect them.
Collecting client feedback
We introduced a new process for collecting client feedback. People using our information, advice and advocacy services were invited to complete a short questionnaire available in a variety of languages, including Arabic, Farsi and Kurdish Sorani. Answers are anonymous and participation is voluntary.
We received 94 responses, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Clients gave our service an average satisfaction rating of 4.9 out of 5.
“I am writing to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for the remarkable support and assistance I received from your team throughout my asylum journey. From the very beginning, your dedication and care made an incredible difference in my life and the lives of my children. You are a beacon of hope, and your efforts do not go unnoticed.”
Celebrating arts and culture
As part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2024, we launched an Arts Open initiative to help creatives who have experienced forced migration reach new audiences in Scotland.
Iranian documentary filmmaker Maryam Haddadi, visual artist Sadia Sikandar from Pakistan, and the Soloway Choir, formed by women who have fled the war against Ukraine, each received funding and support to take part in the festival programme.
Our Refugee Festival Scotland Ambassador programme supported seven people with lived refugee experience to build confidence, boost their interview skills, network with journalists, and use the festival as a hook to share their stories with the media on their own terms.
We also welcomed artist, Huss Al-Chockhdar, as our first ever Refugee Festival Scotland Programming Fellow. He drew on his own personal experiences to curate a programme of festival events celebrating Arab resilience.
“Being part of the team coordinating this year’s festival means a lot to me. I’ve found it very empowering personally. It’s more important than ever to celebrate our cultures and identities and provide safe spaces for people. Being around people who want to celebrate you and your culture is so important, especially at a time when it has become quite frightening for people like us. It’s very healing and it helps people feel more at home. I miss home, so that’s important to me.” – Huss
Header image: Peer Volunteers enjoy a coffee break. Photo by Angela Catlin
