New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: Delivery Plan 2024-2026 - Year 1 Report

Working in Partnership

Chair of New Scots Core Group

The shift from Core Group meetings under the second New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy to the third strategy, has delivered a step change in the participation and vital contribution from New Scots Core Group Advisers. The selection, constitution, training, support, and reflection from the New Scots Core Group Advisers has been critical to the success of this collaboration.

The first two meetings of the refreshed New Scots Core Group entailed a significant shift in ways of working and ways of conducting meetings to enable learning to occur about the partnership, the strategy, and the implementation. It also included important areas of work including the drafting of indicators, to enable the Core Group to evidence the impact of the strategy, work which is underway and informed by the advice provided by New Scots advisers. The implementation of the New Scots Delivery Plan requires equal participation by New Scots Core Group Advisers and wider Core Group Members, as well as partners. It ensured that the work progressed within the strategy is informed by the relevant expertise.

It has been important to build in time for conviviality and networking between Core Group members and partners worked together to change the format of the meeting to allow that. Similarly, the celebratory community events, and leadership of New Scots Core Group Advisers during Refugee Festival Scotland and with UNHCR, have been key milestones in building confidence and moments for wider communication of the work of New Scots Core Group Advisers.

This model of co-production and inclusion of wide-ranging experiences of New Scots in the delivery of the strategy is beginning to provide a model for working which other areas of partnership working and government, local government and third sector may show an interest in replicating.

New Scots Core Group Advisers

The New Scots Core Group Advisers are individuals with direct experience of seeking protection and rebuilding our lives in Scotland through various resettlement routes. With members from different communities, cultures, professional backgrounds, nationalities, and regions in Scotland, the aim is to reflect the diversity of refugee and asylum-seeking voices across Scotland.

One of the early, key contributions was to propose to change the name of the group from ‘Lived Experience Representatives’ to ‘New Scots Core Group Advisers.’ Noting that language shapes how people are seen and valued, the term ‘lived experience’ can unintentionally reduce a person’s identity to a single aspect of their life (in this instance, experience of forced migration), overlooking the wide range of skills, knowledge, and expertise the group brings. The change of name was unanimously agreed to at the Core Group meeting in February 2025.

Between December 2024 and August 2025, the New Scots Core Group Advisers had participated in three Core Group meetings, contributing to monitoring the progress of the Delivery Plan and assessing the risks of actions not being delivered. This included attending two workshops focused on developing indicators to measure progress towards the plan’s outcomes. The New Scots Core Group Advisers have delivered presentations at Regional Integration Network meetings and at an event with the New Scots Leadership Board, engaging with third sector practitioners, policymakers and New Scots communities across Scotland to communicate the purpose and goals of the Strategy and identify areas for further action. The Advisers have also attended training sessions with Social Enterprise Academy and Evaluation Support Scotland, strengthening their skills to measure impact and shape policy.

In March 2025, representatives of the New Scots Core Group Advisers shared their perspectives and expertise with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, on his visit to Scotland. The High Commissioner said he was “particularly moved by the opportunity to hear directly from young refugees, the Minister for Equalities and the New Scots Core Group” – a proud moment for all involved.

The New Scots Core Group Advisers have shown leadership by organising events during Refugee Festival Scotland. These included a Multicultural Integration Event in Glasgow, bringing people from various backgrounds together through music, food, storytelling, and culture. Representatives of the New Scots Core Group Advisers have also undertaken independent initiatives like The Power of Words research project, exploring how language shapes narratives around refugees and people seeking asylum.

New Scots Core Group Reflections

“Being part of the Core Group, this year has been a genuine privilege. I’ve been so excited to have a seat at the table and to see our partnership with SRC, the Scottish Government, and COSLA begin to take shape through our quarterly meetings. It’s powerful to hear directly from all stakeholders about their achievements.” (Core Group Adviser)

“For me, as a Ukrainian who has been forcibly displaced by the war, the role of New Scots Adviser carries special significance. It gives me the opportunity to directly share my own experiences and perspectives, as well as to represent the voices of other displaced people who face numerous challenges on their path to integration in Scotland. This work allows me to contribute for building a more inclusive and compassionate environment for all New Scots. It is both a great responsibility and a true honour to be part of a team that strives to create better conditions for integration and support for those beginning a new life in Scotland.” (Core Group Adviser)

“It has been a positive experience. My lived experience as a New Scot is valued and directly helped to shape policies that tackle real challenges, like access to services and social isolation. This role is vital for ensuring migrant voices are heard where it counts.” (Core Group Adviser)

“The New Scots Adviser role has been a great opportunity to bring lived experience into conversations that matter. What’s worked well is the strong collaboration and genuine respect between advisers and partners. A challenge has been balancing the breadth of priorities within limited time. Overall, I feel proud of the role the Core Group plays in shaping direction and ensuring voices of refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland are heard!” (Core Group Adviser)

“Having a diversity of voices on the Core Group and that balance between New Scots and those working to support New Scots has enriched the work by ensuring it is informed by expertise and that there is effective challenge within the system. It has allowed for a wider reflection of the work we are taking forward by helping us to understand different perspectives, bridging the gap between policy delivery and the people that the policy is designed for. It has also strengthened the outcomes we are working to in the Strategy as well as the governance processes.” (Scottish Government)

“The third strategy has introduced new ways of working for the New Scots Core Group which have required adjustment across the partnership. The involvement of New Scots Advisers has added valuable lived experience to discussions and developments; however, meetings can take longer and require more preparation. Core Group meetings now combine collaborative learning with decision-making, which has encouraged more open discussion but also asked partners to work in different ways. The inclusion of the Advisers has brought in new perspectives and voices, adding to the diversity of the partnership which is welcomed by COSLA. These changes have not been without their challenges in relation to aspirations and expectations in particular, but overall, we hope they have helped ensure the action plan is relevant to New Scots and enhanced how we work together.” (COSLA)

“The inclusion of the New Scots Advisers on the Core Group has brought more inclusive, informed, and community-centred perspectives to the strategy’s work. There was an initial bedding-in period during which partners took time to understand each other’s roles, build trust and mutual understanding, and become familiar with the strategy’s language and terminology. With each Core Group meeting, collaboration has grown stronger, and the value of having a broader diversity of experience and expertise has become increasingly clear. The workshop format introduced to agendas has also helped to ensure more dynamic and collaborative meetings.” (Scottish Refugee Council)

“I have greatly valued the opportunity to represent Scotland’s faith communities on the New Scots Core Group. Alison and the team have fostered a warm and collegiate environment that encourages the sharing of information, ensures accountability in delivering the strategy, and enables us to co-ordinate efforts to support integration across Scotland.” (Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees)

“The whole engagement with Core Group has been effective and valuable.” (Mental Health Foundation)

“On the positive side, the commitment of the individuals and organisations round the table towards New Scots is unparalleled and positive. On the negative side pulling together these very disparate organisations and individuals into delivery on a single strategy is a tough job, and the cheerful leadership provided to the group is very necessary.” (Bridges Programmes)

“Working in the New Scots Core Group has been one of the most impactful and action-based groups I attend around ESOL. Real change is occurring, helping to improve the lives of New Scots, due to this group.” (Glasgow Clyde College)

“It has been insightful and inspiring to be part of the New Scots Core Group. Seeing New Scots Advisers and organisations from across sectors sharing their expertise has been a great demonstration of collaboration and ambition to create lasting, positive change.” (Public Health Scotland)