Reaching New Scots Fund
What is the Reaching New Scots Fund?
In August 2021, 56 projects across Scotland were awarded funding by the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
Many community groups we work with applied for this funding but were unsuccessful. In 2022, we spoke to the National Lottery Community Fund about other potential funding opportunities. The Reaching New Scots Fund was born.
About the assessment panel
It was important to us that representatives from new Scots communities were part of the assessment panel.
Four people from refugee backgrounds were selected from six applicants. They were paired with four representatives from the National Lottery.
One representative:
The good thing was our observations and decisions were quite similar. We explained our opinions and learned from each other. It was a friendly environment to talk and exchange views.
A National Lottery funding officer:
When we met in person, we got on so well and it really brought it home how important this sort of work is; he was able to point out parts of asylum/refugee legislation in the UK that I knew nothing about and it truly brought it home why this sort of participatory work matters.
About the funded projects
34 projects received a total of £800k of funding. These projects will take place across Scotland from July 2022 – March 2024.
These projects include:
ScrapAntics in Dundee will fund a series of creative and social activities for recently arrived refugees. The programme will include a ‘Conversation Cafe’, cookery classes, and creating a mural and garden of sanctuary.
Glasgow-based Sunny Cycles will run bike lessons, skills sessions and group bike rides for New Scots and their families. The project will help adults and children gain greater knowledge of the Glasgow cycle network, so they can travel round the city safely.
In the Highlands, Inspiring Young Voices will create a peer support group to improve the emotional and social wellbeing of young people from refugee backgrounds. The project will be shaped and owned by New Scots aged between 10-25 years of age.
Renfrewshire-based Jambo! Radio will offer training in radio presenting, production and broadcasting skills. The 12-month project will offer hands on training and support for New Scots interested in pursuing a career in broadcast media.
Amma Birth Companions will use the funding to support refugee women in some of Glasgow’s most marginalised communities. Their highly skilled staff deliver specialist, trauma-informed perinatal, birth and postnatal services.
Fife-based For the Love of a Child, will offer dramatherapy sessions for children who have arrived in Scotland from Ukraine. Over the next 12 months, the project will support 56 5-11-year-olds who are experiencing trauma and loss.
Afroscots United FC helps New Scots to keep fit and make friends through their shared love of the beautiful game. Their project aims to tackle loneliness and isolation. They will hold walk and talk sessions and host cultural celebrations on significant dates like Burns Night, Easter and Eid.
