Glasgow-based Positive Action in Housing is a refugee and migrant homelessness charity that supports people through education on their rights, offering advice on welfare, money and accessing appropriate housing.

A grant-giving charity, the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust was established to help improve Scotland’s PRS. It promotes and facilitates education, training and best practice within the sector by funding projects that provide tangible benefits to landlords, letting agents and tenants alike.

The ‘Action & Education in the Private Rented Sector’ project receiving the funding follows on from a successful pilot run in 2019 and aims to deliver multi-lingual information, advice and support on the PRS for BAME communities in the Greater Glasgow area. In addition, it will also offer help to landlords of these groups with advice and mediation support.

As part of the programme, a mix of face-to-face advice, information sessions, and online resources will be made available. It will include weekly outreach surgeries, themed workshops, mediation support for both landlords and tenants, and downloadable material for service users and volunteers.

John Duff, chairman of the Safe Deposits Scotland Charitable Trust, said: “The SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust has always looked to promote good practice, education initiatives and advice projects to all communities throughout Scotland with the overarching goal of improving the PRS.

“The approach of Positive Action in Housing’s action and education programme is one we are pleased to be supporting. Its innovative aim is to reach out to those in most need, and the fact it is for both landlords and tenants alike is a sign that it can affect tangible, positive change. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of the project which, if it follows on in the fashion of last year’s pilot run, will be promising.”

Robina Qureshi, director at Positive Action in Housing, added: “We are delighted to receive an award from the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust to support people from refugee, new migrant and BME communities to access and sustain their private rented sector tenancies.

“Over the next 12 months, the project will inform and advise private rented sector tenants in Glasgow and the surrounding areas so that they can protect their tenancies and build stable, secure lives. The project will also provide information to private landlords so that they know their responsibilities to their tenants.”