Refugee Week runs from 14 to 20 June this year with the theme ‘We Cannot Walk Alone'. As part of services to support Glasgow’s refugee and asylum seekers communities, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) South Locality Health Improvement Team has been working with Govan Community Project (GCP) to promote the film and resource pack ‘We Journey Together’.

Developed by volunteers with lived experience of the UK asylum system, the film produced by Plantation Productions is a powerful piece that gives examples of some of the adversities faced by one of the city’s most vulnerable population groups. 

The ‘We Journey Together’ resource pack is for all staff working across the HSCP. It comprises four session plans designed to raise awareness of the asylum seeker and refugee experience, reducing the stigma that often surrounds people in the asylum system. The activities within this resource are designed to be accessible to those with both limited and extensive facilitation experience, and for use with a wide range of staff from the HSCPs, hospitals, third sector organisations, schools and police.

Stephanie McCulloch, Health Improvement Practitioner said: “The primary focus of the project was on the experience of the UK Asylum System, how the system impacts on the individual as well as its associated barriers to community integration.”

Stephanie continued: “The intention of the volunteers who designed the content is for the film and pack to challenge misconceptions and negative stereotypes surrounding asylum claimants and refugees, initiate discussion about the asylum system in Scotland and recognise the common experiences between old and new Scots that have the potential to support integration. Since February we have worked with Govan Community Project to deliver sessions to over 150 staff from across the public and voluntary sectors.”

There’s a special film screening of ‘We Journey Together’ along with a panel of speakers involved in the participatory action research process as part of The Scottish Refugee film festival on Wednesday, 16 June.  https://www.refugeefestivalscotland.co.uk/programme-2021/ 

Highlighted are some of the services working to support refugee and asylum seekers communities in Glasgow:

Asylum Health Bridging Team – the team offer an initial health assessment for all newly arrived asylum seekers

Community Link Worker for asylum seekers for patients registered at Thurston Road Surgery (G52), The Crescent Medical Practice (G51) and Ballantyne and Blair (G21). Also takes referrals from the Asylum Health Bridging Team, Compassionate Distress Response Service and Maryhill GP Cluster. Contact: elio.ajmone@wearewithyou.org.uk    

Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service – a tertiary level specialist mental health service supporting people with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD)

Migrant Help provides services for asylum seekers on behalf of the Home Office, helpline number 0808 8010 503 is free and open 24/7/365

Asylum and Refugee Service (Glasgow City Council): works with asylum seekers at the point they are granted 'leave to remain'. Contact details are: 44 South Portland Street, Glasgow, G5 9JJ. Phone 0141 222 7352