A review of the Syrian Resettlement Programme put in place by West Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP), looking at the individuals’ experiences and the processes and structures implemented by the CPP and its agencies.

Summary

A quote from a Syrian refugee about the welcome received in West Dunbartonshire saying 'The welcoming was perfect, it coudln't have been any better. From the airport, to the hotel, to this apartment, to the Council, the treatment was perfect."

This report reviews the Syrian Resettlement Programme put in place by West Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership. It looks at the experiences of the refugees themselves and the processes and structures implemented by the CPP and its agencies.

It focuses on three key elements:

  1. the initial arrival and settlement of the refugees
  2. social connections across communities
  3. social links to public services

The report is based on interviews with refugees and employees from health, school and adult education, local authority and housing. It examines the arrival and resettlement of refugees through aspects such as community and preparation, welcome, family reunion and social bridges.

The  authors found that, in general, the resettlement programme was very successful. The refugees felt welcomed and appreciated the efforts of all those who contributed towards ensuring that their experience of arrival was positive.

A key challenge for resettlement is how to strike the right balance between providing support to a vulnerable population and fostering independence and access to mainstream service provision.

The full findings give more details and the report includes recommendations for future developments.

Download the publication

The report was launched at a seminar as part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2018.

The What Works Scotland report Educational needs and experiences of refugee children in Scotland was also launched at the same event.

More details

Authors

Date of publication: 20 June 2018.

Type of publication: Case study


Related resources

Scotland Welcomes Refugees – How do strangers become citizens?

In this blog, Claire Bynner, What Works Scotland Research Associate, considers what increasing diversity means for local areas and what local government and community planning partnerships (CPPs) can do to support the settlement of new migrants. How can the transition towards more diverse communities be made easier?

November 2015

Reforming services: the example of refugee support

Joe Brady, Head of Protection & Integration at the Scottish Refugee Council, explains an organisational change process that led to a sharper focus on assets. He explains how service redesign was achieved through developing principles and trying and testing new approaches to learn what works in tackling issues of refugee integration and exclusion. This has included using Christie Principles and integrating evidence to action.

August 2015

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusreddittumblrmail