“Imagine you arrive in Scotland, as a child, all alone.” This short animation highlights some of the struggles faced by asylum-seeking and trafficked children and young people, and how the Scottish Guardianship Service supports them through all the unknowns. Over the last ten years, the Scottish Guardianship Service has supported nearly 700 asylum-seeking and trafficked … Continued
“This is the team I support. Celtic. I just came to know them here. Some of my other friends support Rangers, but I love Celtic.” Meyman fled from Somalia after being captured and attacked by al-Shabaab at the age of just 15. Two years later he arrived in Scotland just as the country entered lockdown … Continued
“I’ve never experienced anything like that before and I enjoyed it more than anything I’ve done before.” 16-year old Dlovan from Iraq laughs with his guardian Sarah as he remembers the day he went go-karting with other young asylum seekers, speeding round the track and overtaking their guardians. While such days out with his peers … Continued
“It was so good, it was like a film. I said to them I cannot hold that Iraqi flag because I am Kurdish. So they surprised me with my own Kurdish flag which felt great.” The flag ceremony at a residential holiday in Dumfriesshire with other young asylum seekers was a proud moment for Pshtewan. … Continued
“We’ve won a couple of times. But unfortunately, we didn’t win any cups. No trophies yet. But in the future yeah I hope so.” Every Saturday morning and Thursdays too, Mahad plays midfield for his football team in Maryhill. Sometimes he has a treat of chips and cheese on the way home. Hard to believe … Continued
“My favourite Scottish word is daftie. I use it a lot.” 19-year old Zayn loves living in Glasgow. “I feel like I’m home. Glasgow is just making me so happy every day. I think the memories that I’ve made with friends here, and just the people that I’ve had experience with, it’s a good feeling … Continued
“Learning to drive. That was my foster mum’s dream for me. I was a bit scared. But it was fine. I passed first time.” Twenty-year-old Hai has a flat of his own now but remains very close to his foster Mum. His guardian Hannah knew a good foster placement was the safest option for him, … Continued
“They used to call me Tattie Scone at school. I didn’t even know that was potato!” When Tati started high school, he had to learn Scotland’s language and culture quickly. Now 22 and with a strong Glaswegian accent, the refugee from Angola laughs about his nickname as he reflects on how much his guardians helped … Continued
“I’ve just been accepted to do a Ph.D. in Ultrasonic Engineering at Glasgow University,” says 23-year old Lyne, who has just completed her Master’s at GCU. She attributes her academic success to the help she’s received over the last seven years from her guardians Alexis and Stephanie. “I’m proud of myself, and I want to … Continued
“I like Irn Bru. It’s the best drink in Scotland. It tastes like medicine. When I have a cough, I buy a big bottle.” Shireen was just 13 years old when he fled Afghanistan in 2008. When he arrived in the UK two years later, Shireen’s age was disputed by the Home Office. Despite being … Continued
In 2011, a 15-year-old Yusra came to the Scottish Guardianship Service not knowing what the future held. Here is her story: “Do you know Tony Macaroni? We went there for our first date. It was awkward,” laughs 24-year old Yusra, who fled the civil war in Somalia nine years ago. “Even though Sayid had been … Continued
Angus Council and Aberlour Children’s Charity announce an innovative new service to support families in the Angus council area, commencing in November. The new “Sustain” service will help struggling families to stay together, by giving them the help and support they need, when they need it, to prevent a child from being taken into care. … Continued
Over the last ten years, nearly 700 asylum-seeking and trafficked children and young people have been supported by the Scottish Guardianship Service. Fartun was one of the first young people to come through their doors, read her story below. “It was the 16th of September, 2010. I remember the exact time. Six o’clock. That’s when … Continued
Last week the Scottish Government published their Programme for Government for 2020/21 – Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland – outlining the things they wish to do between now and the end of this Parliament next year. Presenting the Government’s programme and reflecting on its response to the Covid19 pandemic over the last five months, Nicola Sturgeon said to the Scottish Parliament, “A new hospital was … Continued
“As the Scottish Government today introduces the UNCRC (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament, we must recognise the incredible efforts over the last 10 years and more from those who have worked so hard to get us to this point. Countless campaigners, children’s organisations and charities, children’s advocates, and, most importantly, Scotland’s children and young … Continued
A coalition of anti-poverty organisations and children’s charities, including Aberlour, have today said that the decision not to bring forward an urgent cash boost to families living in poverty in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, “fails to adequately respond” to rising levels of poverty that risk overwhelming Scotland’s communities in the coming months as … Continued
The Scottish Government’s progress report on their Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan highlights the concerning picture of rising child poverty against a backdrop of increasing financial pressure for already struggling families across Scotland. With 1 in 4 children in Scotland already living in poverty the impact of coronavirus will only exacerbate child poverty further. At … Continued
Campaigners have repeated their calls for the Scottish Government to provide an urgent cash boost to low income families struggling amid the pandemic. It comes as a new Scottish Government report detailing progress against Scotland’s child poverty targets – including cutting child poverty to less than 10% – reveals a worrying outlook for families. … Continued
