Door Step refugee advice project now online

Door Step Equal Access is a unique multimedia project with a  participative approach to the development and delivery of information, advice and support services.

Paula’s Story is a short drama researched, written, acted in and filmed by the  five refugees who took part in the Door Step project in Glasgow, Scotland. It tells the story of the challenges facing a refugee family moving on from asylum support and trying to find a secure home.

The film is designed as an aid to advice work, and for training and awareness-raising. The DVD is accompanied by a User Guide which provides background information, highlights key issues and includes a checklist for advisers at each stage.

The DVD (in English, Arabic and French) and the User Guide are available free of charge from PATH Scotland, or can be downloaded from the Door Step website at:

www.door-step.net

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Migrant’ Rights Network newsletter, Feb 09

The Migrants Rights Network is working for a rights-based approach to migration, with migrants as full partners in developing the policies and procedures which affect life in the UK. Migrants Rights News aims to inform our members and other groups working on migration issues about regional and national policy developments, campaign news, recent research and upcoming events.

At the Heart of Migrants Rights News are the campaigns and strategies being developed by migrants to consolidate their position in British society. We focus on activities that extend the scope of the human, economic and social rights which apply to migrants’ circumstances.

February 2009 MRN newsletter:

Scottish Migrants Network Conference at STUC

Workers Rights are Migrant Rights!

Scottish Migrants Network Hosts Conference at STUC

As the recession begins to bite across Scotland it is vital that all workers, including migrants, are aware of their rights at work. The Scottish Migrants Network (SMN) sponsored a half-day conference for migrant workers and support organisations in Scotland to share policy and practice five years after accession. The conference saw the launch of a new poster campaign to raise awareness of basic employment rights for migrant workers.

Home from Home: migrant housing report from BSHF

Migrant workers come to the UK to seek employment but all too often find themselves living in expensive, overcrowded and poor-quality accommodation. This report seeks to make a fresh assessment of this important issue.

Polish children need more support to feel at home in Scotland

via News Releases – University of Strathclyde.

The children of Scotland’s Polish migrants must be given more English language support in and out of school, researchers at Strathclyde have found.

The researchers confirmed the need for such support after interviewing Polish children in four areas of Scotland. They also concluded that professionals working with newly-arrived Polish children also require more training in order to have a better understanding of the youngsters’ needs.

Scottish Migrants Network: August 2008 update

SMN Update: Forthcoming Events, Conferences and Other Information August 2008

• TUC call for an end to the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) – please consider sending a message of support: more info…

• UNISON launches migrant workers’ charter to challenge rogue employers – please consider lobbying your MSP to support the charter so there will be a parliamentary debate. more info…

• New Joseph Rowntree Foundation research: ‘Immigration and Social Cohesion in the UK: The rhythms and realities of everyday life’ more info…

• The University of the West of Scotland has produced a report and a briefing paper, commissioned by Oxfam and the South East Glasgow Community Health and Care Partnership, on the situation of the Roma Community in Govanhill, Glasgow. more info…

• The Migrant Rights Network (MRN) has a monthly newsletter which you can sign up to at: www.migrantsrights.org.uk The MRN welcomes contributions to this newsletter, which should be sent to info@migrantsrights.org.uk.

• Action of Churches Together in Scotland is organising a conference called Scottish Churches and Contemporary Migration on Wednesday 8th October, more info…

• COSLA is organising a conference called ‘Managing Migration: A public sector dialogue on migration to Scotland’ on 14th November in Glasgow, more details…

• The New Migrants Action Project at Positive Action in Housing will be holding an information session for new migrants on Friday 3rd October from 10am-6pm at the Assembly Rooms, George St, Edinburgh. More information from: www.paih.org

• Mackay Hannah are organizing a conference called ‘Migrant Workers in Scotland – New Citizens, New Services: The Challenges and Opportunities for Scotland’s Public Services and Private Sector’ on 3rd November in Edinburgh. More details…
  

• The British Council funded ‘Migrant Cities’ research is being launched in Glasgow on 25th and 26th November, venue and times to be confirmed. More info…
  

• A new report has been produced for the TUC Commission on Vulnerable Employment: ‘Migrant Workers and Vulnerable Employment. more info...

• There is a new website for migrants living in the Borders. more info…

• Another good source of information is that of Migrant Infosource

www.scottishmigrantsnetwork.org.uk

New website for Scottish Borders area

www.newtotheborders.co.uk

An innovative web site has been developed to help inform migrants and newcomers to the Borders about the services and agencies that can provide them with advice, information and support.

The website is being launched at a lunchtime event hosted by Waverley Housing at the Mansfield House Hotel in Hawick on 7 August 2008. Robert Johnson, Chief Executive of Waverley Housing said

“Our aim is to better inform migrants and newcomers to the Borders about what facilities and agencies exist in the Borders but also let individuals know about the ways in which they could be helped if they needed additional support. It builds on the work carried out by the Migrant Support Service, which has been in operation since October 2006. Our view is that the web site will offer newcomers to the Borders a unique opportunity to find out what services are available but also help provide better information on how they might access a range of local services.”

He said “the web site consists of a comprehensive range of information but over time additional and relevant information can be added as well as the facility to keep the site updated. We therefore aim to ensure this will provide quality information in a way that newcomers can understand”.

Andrew Lowe, Director of Social Work and Chairperson of the Social Justice, Diversity and Equalities Forum added “The web site will provide a vital additional element to the Scottish Borders Migrant Support Service. Anyone who has spent time in another country will know that good information is of crucial importance as it enables the most appropriate services to be accessed. This in turn assists Scottish Borders Council and other partners to most effectively deliver its services. ”

The website is a natural extension of the ‘Welcome to Scottish Borders’ information booklet that was published by Scottish Borders Council in 2007 but will now ensure that information is up-to-date and valuable to all newcomers to the Borders.

For more information contact Alun Evans: alune@eildon.org.uk

ESOL class