FOI/202600517298 · FOI · released
Refugee charities with membership on Scottish Government advisory groups, boards or working groups: FOI release
Information requested
Which refugee charities currently have representatives on Scottish Government advisory groups, boards, or working groups?
What influence do these representatives have on policy?
Please provide the information in Excel or CSV format where possible.
Response
Immigration is a reserved matter and the provision and funding for asylum accommodation and support across the UK is primarily the responsibility of the Home Office.
However, Scotland has a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths - including those seeking refuge and asylum from war and persecution - and supporting their integration into our communities.
Which refugee charities currently have representatives on Scottish Government advisory groups, boards, or working groups?
I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested in the format you asked for. Please see the attached Excel spreadsheet detailing which refugee charities attend current Scottish Government advisory groups, boards or working groups. The spreadsheet also details the role each charity holds at each group.
What influence do these representatives have on policy?
Scottish Government adheres to the Civil Service Policy Profession standards which describe the skills and knowledge required by policy professionals at all stages of their career and provide the competency framework for their professional development. A core aspect of the strategic approach to policy making is that of ‘Participation and Engagement’ which requires policy-makers to understand the diverse needs of those affected by policy; to apply relevant approaches such as co-design; and to enable participation by stakeholders in the policy process. As such, consulting and engaging stakeholders representing refugees, housing or integration is central to how policy in those areas is developed.
For example, the national New Scots: refugee integration strategy 2018 to 2022 was developed and is led in partnership between the Scottish Government, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), and the Scottish Refugee Council. New Scots is committed to ensuring that steps are taken to enable refugees, asylum seekers and members of communities to engage with New Scots, so that their lived experience is central to delivery. It is further supported by seven theme groups which bring together statutory and non-statutory organisations, including service providers and third sector and community-based organisations with an interest in supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
Similarly, the Scottish response to the Ukraine crisis was informed by the New Scots strategy, with Scottish Government working in close partnership with the COSLA, the Scottish Refugee Council, local authorities, the third sector and local volunteer and business communities to provide a Warm Scots Welcome to displaced people from Ukraine. The Warm Scots Future policy paper, which outlines the transition from an emergency response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, to a long-term and holistic approach that supports the integration of displaced people from Ukraine, was written in partnership between Scottish Government, COSLA and Scottish Refugee Council. Scottish Refugee Council were members of the programme governance which have overseen our response.
Refugee charities who are invited to provide representation at Scottish Government advisory groups, boards or working groups, do so in order to work collaboratively with the Scottish Government and to provide insight and advice from their respective areas of expertise.
About FOI
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