The Allies Project: people and resources on your side
The Allies Project, delivered in partnership with Guardianship Scotland and the NHS Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service – Anchor, is a psychosocial group supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking and / or trafficked children and young people to build individual and community resilience.
The project was funded by Comic Relief from 2019 to 2022 and is currently funded by the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund from September 2020 to December 2023.
The aims of the programme:
- Teach young people coping strategies to help them manage symptoms of trauma, anxiety, stress and tension.
- Help young people reflect on their past experiences and identify their aspirations for the future.
- Help young people understand how their experience as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking and / or trafficked child or young person impacts their feelings of safety, relationships, identity and access to justice.
Discover all about the Allies Project in the pilot evaluation and evaluation summary document.
A young person supported by the project told us: “I liked the Allies Project because I got to meet people. I learned about breathing. I learned how to steer my thoughts in the direction away from my past and to focus on the present and my future.”
The facilitators of the project reflected on its importance: “The Allies Project is a place where young people are noticed and listened to, where their favourite food or drink is remembered, and where we take note of what they say, like, feel and we respond to it.
The groups were a place of learning and growth for us as well as the young people. Each group brought stories of strength, courage, pain and resilience.”
The evaluation recommends the Allies Project must continue to support unaccompanied asylum-seeking and / or trafficked children and young people.
The Allies Project has helped young people attending the group in developing resilience, feeling safe, and that they belong in their new country.
Download the full evaluation report and evaluation summary to read more about the four recommendations from the pilot.
For more information on the Allies Project, please contact the Guardianship Scotland team by email, guardianship.admin@aberlour.org.uk