Key Partners & their Roles

The membership of the SSCG is reflective of the range of key stakeholders that are centrally involved in the delivery of services to refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland. The key stakeholders include:

Border & Immigration Agency (BIA) www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk

This is the branch of the Home Office that has responsibility for immigration and asylum matters. The Directorate is in the process of working towards agency status, which it hopes will generate clearer objectives, greater accountability and deliver operational autonomy. The BIA has a strong presence in Scotland. Operating from regional headquarters in Glasgow, it has responsibility within Scotland for asylum decisions, asylum support, accommodation contracts, community cohesion, removals and detentions, and reporting arrangements.

Scottish Executive www.scotland.gov.uk

The Scottish Executive is the devolved government for Scotland. While asylum and immigration are not devolved matters, the Executive has responsibility for a number of policy areas that affect the lives of asylum seekers and refugees. This includes health, education, social work, housing, social inclusion, enterprise and equalities.

COSLA (The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) www.cosla.gov.uk

COSLA is the representative voice of Scottish local government and also acts as the employers’ association on behalf of all Scottish councils. As a membership organisation, its priority is to maintain and enhance its relationship with member Councils and promote their interests. As part of its broader structure, the COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership is situated within the Community Resourcing Team.

Glasgow City Council (GCC) www.glasgow.gov.uk

Glasgow City Council, which is the only local authority in Scotland that receives dispersed asylum seekers, plays a key role in the provision of support services to asylum seekers and refugees. This covers a range of different service areas, including accommodation support, health, education, and social work. As part of this, Glasgow City Council funds and manages the Glasgow Asylum Support Project (GASP), which is tasked with ensuring that asylum seekers’ accommodation is properly maintained and that agreed standards are achieved. In addition, GASP assists with the dispersal process, transporting asylum seekers to their accommodation following their arrival in Glasgow, as well as assisting with the broader integration process.

The Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk

The SRC provides comprehensive advice, information and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees through its One Stop Service. The SRC also provides a range of integration and awareness raising programmes aimed at promoting dialogue between refugees and receiving communities. At a strategic level, the SRC plays an important role at a variety of forums, including the SSCG and its sub-groups. It is also a member of the inter-agency partnership, which is a UK wide network of refugee specialist organisations providing one stop services. The SRC is the sole provider of Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) training in Scotland.

Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) www.gha.org.uk

GHA is a not-for-profit housing association and is the largest registered social landlord in the UK. The organisation is committed to achieving community ownership by moving housing stock into the hands of locally controlled housing groups. GHA works in partnership with Glasgow City Council to provide accommodation to around 4,000 asylum seekers living in over 1,250 properties throughout Glasgow.

The Angel Group www.theangelgroup.com

The Angel Group are a private sector company that has been an influential leader in urban development and accommodation provision for over eight years. Their portfolio comprises residential housing schemes, retail-related investment projects, commercial offices, hotels and training centres and leisure facility developments. The group has over 190 properties in Glasgow that are used to accommodate asylum seekers.

YMCA Glasgow www.ymcaglasgow.org

YMCA Glasgow is a voluntary sector organisation that delivers a diverse range of support services and programmes to a range of client groups. It currently has around 200 properties that are used by asylum seekers.

Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers

The Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers is a constituted group of senior housing officers who work in Scottish local government. The Association promotes social inclusion and best practice in housing. A representative of the association sits on the SSCG in order to bring strategic input in relation to the housing of refugees and asylum seekers.

Greater Glasgow Health Board (GGHB) www.nhsgg.org.uk

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde provides primary, secondary and tertiary care to over a million people living in the communities of Greater Glasgow, Clydeside and the Clyde valley. The organisation works closely with local authorities and other agencies to ensure that social care and healthcare is delivered in a co-ordinated way. A significant amount of work has been undertaken to develop an appropriate range of services for asylum seekers and refugees, in order that their health needs can be comprehensively addressed.

Association of Directors of Social Work www.adsw.org.uk

The Association of Directors of Social Work is a constituted group of senior Social Workers who work in Scottish local government. The Association promotes social welfare and social inclusion and the interests those who use social work services. A representative of the Association sits on the SSCG to ensure that all social welfare issues for asylum seekers and refugees are addressed.

Association of Directors of Education Scotland

The Association of Directors of Education is a constituted group of senior officers who work in Scottish local government. Within the context of the SSCG, the Association brings expertise in relation to the co-ordination of educational provision, particularly in relation to additional educational and language needs of asylum seekers and refugees.

Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) www.scottish.police.uk/main/acpos

ACPOS is the collective organisation of Chief Constables, Deputy Chief Constables, Assistant Chief Constables and Senior Support Staff from the eight Police forces in Scotland. The Association is a strategic body which oversees and co-ordinates the development of the Scottish Police Service. As regards asylum seekers and refugees, ACPOS proactively works towards the development of a community environment that promotes positive attitudes and harmonious relations between residents and communities.