Asylum seekers / refugees
Charities issue plea to prevent COVID-19 evictions from UK asylum accommodation
A coalition of charities has called on Mears, Serco and the Home Office requesting an end to evictions from asylum accommodation during the COVID-19 crisis.
Published 26 March 2020
Govan Law Centre secures further three-month suspension of Serco lock-change evictions
Asylum seekers affected by the Serco ‘lock-change’ evictions in Glasgow can remain in their homes for another three months after Govan Law Centre (GLC) secured a further suspension of appeal cases.
Published 3 March 2020
Report outlines ten-point plan to prevent lock-change evictions
Immediate and fundamental reform of the asylum system is required to prevent lock-change evictions, destitution and street homelessness of some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland, according to a new report.
Published 14 February 2020
Highland Council hails success of Syrian refugee resettlement programme and tenant participation project
Members of The Highland Council have hailed the success of both its Syrian refugee settlement programme and its tenant participation and engagement in Badenoch and Strathspey.
Published 13 February 2020
Scottish Government extends young carer grant
Young carers going through the immigration process will be able to apply for the Scottish Government’s Young Carer Grant without fear of it risking their immigration status.
Published 4 February 2020
£30,000 awarded to refugee housing education programme
Positive Action in Housing has been awarded more than £30,000 of funding from the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust to carry out its education programme for those from refugee, new migrant and other BAME communities facing barriers to living in the private rented sector (PRS).
Published 31 January 2020
Appeal to convert Castlemilk care home into asylum housing rejected
An appeal to overturn a decision which rejected plans to convert a former Castlemilk care home into temporary asylum seeker accommodation has been refused.
Published 23 January 2020
£252,000 of advocacy support funding announced for asylum seekers
Nearly 150 asylum seekers facing imminent homelessness in Glasgow will be given urgent, intensive advocacy support from local organisations, supported by a further funding package from the Scottish Government.
Published 6 January 2020
East Ayrshire agrees to rehome child asylum seekers
Up to six unaccompanied child asylum seekers are to be brought to East Ayrshire as part of a resettlement deal.
Published 18 December 2019
Positive Action in Housing opens Christmas appeal for refugees in Glasgow
Refugee and migrant homelessness charity Positive Action in Housing has launched an appeal to raise £10,000 by Christmas Day.
Published 16 December 2019
Lawyers who took on Serco and its lock-change evictions programme win at Herald Law Awards
A collaboration of lawyers who took on a multi-billion-pound national services company to defend the rights to a home for more than 300 highly vulnerable asylum seekers has won the Judges Award at The Herald’s 2019 Law Awards of Scotland.
Published 28 November 2019
Glasgow City Council must ‘step up and prevent a humanitarian crisis’
Glasgow City Council should be “bold” and do more to aid the plight of the asylum seekers facing lock-change evictions by Serco, according to Govan Law Centre solicitor advocate Mike Dailly.
Published 26 November 2019
Serco lock-change evictions case: Court of Session ruling in detail
A failed asylum seeker who claimed that it was “unlawful” for her housing provider to evict her from temporary accommodation by changing the locks to the property without first obtaining a court order has had her appeal dismissed.
Published 15 November 2019
Serco's lock-change evictions of asylum seekers deemed lawful by Scotland’s highest civil court
Scotland’s highest civil court has found that lock-change evictions of asylum seekers without court orders are lawful in a judgment whose implications are "deeply concerning".
Published 14 November 2019
Serco lock-change evictions ruling expected tomorrow
A decision in the case brought against the lock-change evictions of asylum seekers in Glasgow carried out by Serco will be handed down by Scotland’s highest civil court tomorrow.
Published 12 November 2019