Refugee Sanctuary Scotland (RSS) exists to relieve destitution and promote wellbeing for refugees and people within
the asylum system in Scotland. Our vision is a welcoming, inclusive, safe Scotland for refugees and asylum
seekers, where all live free of destitution and have the means and opportunities to realise their full
potential. Our mission is to provide refugees and people seeking asylum with practical support when it is most
needed, build connections between people and use what we learn to campaign for change.
RSS Mental Health and Wellbeing Project:
RSS are looking to develop and build upon the mental health and wellbeing support we provide to refugees and asylum
seekers. We currently provide asylum seekers and refugees with opportunities to reduce isolation, improve
self-confidence, and support their overall mental health and wellbeing through hiking activities, gym
memberships and swimming. We do this by creating a safe environment for individuals to engage with us. Further
to this we also provide transport support through our Transport Options project which supports asylum seekers
and refugees with bus passes, which allows people the freedom to travel and helps with integration into their
local area as well as reducing isolation and promoting positive mental health.
Role Purpose:
This role will oversee the expansion of our current work and develop further activities, organise counselling support
with external counsellors based on need, provide access to other services that might support wellbeing such as
massage therapy, befriending and mindfulness, create new partnerships and build on our current ones by liaising
with other projects that can support asylum seekers mental well-being and support needs and signpost to other
projects as required, (e.g.: ESOL classes, Scottish Refugee Council).
As part of this project there will also be an Action Based Evaluation undertaken by and an independent researcher
along with peer researchers to determine key learning and outcomes from the interventions, identify challenges
that have been faced by staff and those accessing the project, outline any potential opportunities achieved from
the project and provide an analysis on any areas for change or adaptation that would benefit the overall
outcomes of the project to reduce isolation, enhance community integration and promote positive mental health
and wellbeing. It would be the responsibility of the Mental Health Community Development Officer to coordinate
and liaise with the Researcher as well as to disseminate learning to share good practice about how best to
improve wellbeing among people in the asylum system and raise awareness about the negative impact on wellbeing
of the current system.