Navigating Sanctuary Life is a Scottish registered registered charity supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
And our main purposes are:
(a) The prevention or relief of poverty through advice support for asylum seekers enabling them to better understand their rights to housing, benefits and their legal rights; the provision of cash and practical aid to community members through emergency grants and vouchers enabling their access to transportation, utilities and household necessities; improved education and skills development through the delivery of ESOL provision, employability workshops and skills training sessions; the delivery of social activities designed to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation and foster improved community integration; counselling and emotional support to assist community members dealing with trauma; partnership and collaboration with other local charities, faith organisations, companies and government agencies aimed at improving the delivery of services to asylum seekers and refugees.
(b) The advancement of education and skills development through the delivery of ESOL provision, employability workshops and skills training sessions so that beneficiaries are better prepared for higher education; support for community members to achieve positive outcomes in relation to higher education such as support with applying for university or college places; working closely with universities, colleges and policymakers to make higher education more accessible to asylum seekers and refugees
(c) The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage through the provision of activities and educational support to children, young people and families; the provision of financial literacy workshops and support to access small grants/hardship payments; signposting refugees and asylum seekers to access legal counsel that can aid them in navigatingthe asylum process; support to address the mental health of community members through the delivery of counselling and peer support groups..
We aim to support asylum seekers and refugees to safely rebuild their lives in Scotland and contribute to their communities.
NAVIGATING SANCTUARY LIFE PROFILE
NSL supports ethnic minority and disadvantaged groups, including asylum seekers and refugees, build and strengthen community cohesion in an inclusive welcoming space where they can come together to reduce the risk of social isolation and loneliness in a community setting where people feel seen, heard, and respected.
We create a space where people can regain a sense of agency, share their experiences with one another, and be sign posted to local support services that reflects their actual needs. Those who will benefit include individuals facing economic hardship, language barriers, and cultural displacement.
We have carried out community consultations through surveys and questionnaires to better understand the needs of our community which included feelings of loneliness, social isolation, lack of connections and access to emergency provisions as also evidence in this peer research that one of our trustees was actively involved in.
We always learn and evaluate our work from participants lived experiences, through conversations and listening closely to what matters to them and using surveys/questionnaires and case studies to help shape the future food support policies and community integration efforts.
We create a welcoming space where people can share their skills, have a say in the food that Navigating Sanctuary Life prepares, and access food that respects their dietary needs, we foster stronger relationships and a sense of belonging. The project supports people facing pressures from the cost-of-living crisis by providing early, meaningful food support. We work with food providers like Fairshare to develop the best practice guidance that promotes cultural awareness and inclusion.
We seek to bring together community members in a venue that is respectful of their cultural needs, while also fostering stronger community cohesion and mutual support. We aim to address the effects of the ongoing cost of living crisis, particularly the growing issues of food insecurity, loneliness, and social isolation.
We are committed to supporting our members in accessing essential services, including addressing wider needs delivered with dignity, and by connecting them to relevant local services. Through this work, we hope to reduce social marginalisation and promote greater integration within the wider community. We believe that by encouraging connection and providing practical support, we can contribute meaningfully to improving the overall quality of life for our beneficiaries.
Scotland has 5,500 Asylum seekers and Refugees experiencing profound challenges to their mental health and wellbeing, shaped by a system that is structurally hostile and socially isolating. Many people seeking asylum have already endured trauma prior to their arrival. have ‘no recourse to public funds. This means they cannot access most welfare benefits, such as Universal Credit. It is important to note that asylum seekers have no choice over where they live or who they live with.
We are committed to supporting our members in accessing essential services, including addressing wider needs delivered with dignity, and by connecting them to relevant local services. Through this work, we hope to reduce social marginalisation and promote greater integration within the wider community. We believe that by encouraging connection and providing practical support, we can contribute meaningfully to improving the overall quality of life for our beneficiaries.
We document our progress through showcasing stories, via photos, and participant feedback, which we shared at local events, Facebook, partner organizations, WhatsApp groups and through community newsletters and networks. we also involve participants in sharing their food traditions and stories, building connections with the wider community.
From January last year, Asylum Support amounts rose to £49.18 per person, per week. That’s only 51% of what someone on Universal Credit receives. It’s about £7 a day which, bearing in mind a First Bus ticket is currently £5.60, makes it impossible to meet basic needs. There are some restrictions and uplifts to Asylum Support to be aware of, for example some people can’t withdraw cash from their card,