The Refugee Resettlement Team has been involved with around eight humanitarian schemes supporting Syrian, Ukrainian and Afghan individuals and families since 2016. A number of the Government supported schemes are coming to an end or being supported in different ways. The team remains on hand to support six Afghan families, seven Syrian families and over a hundred Ukrainians settle across Moray, in addition to more recently approved asylum cases.

The Refugee Resettlement Team focused on community integration, which enabled displaced people to integrate into communities across Moray. Multiple partners across various sectors provided key support to help people resettle and build community ties. The Red Cross provided donations of clothing and shoes; Moray Fresh Start provided starter house starter packs; and Fit Life cards were provided to give access to sport and recreation activities to build confidence and enhance their wellbeing. The New Scots attend various groups from, ESOL language classes, conversation cafes, sewing groups, cycling and sporting clubs to build their confidence and make friends.

The UK Home Office has relocated all asylum seekers previously housed at the Eight Acres Hotel in Elgin to other accommodation within its asylum estate and since the first asylum seekers arrived in Moray in May 2023, a total of 68 people were supported by our team and community.

Throughout their stay, various support services were made available including health checks and medical care, English language classes, sports activities and volunteering opportunities. These services were successfully provided through effective partnership working between Health & Social Care Moray, Primary Care, NHS Grampian and Moray Council. Additional support came from local organisations and volunteers from the community.

Council leader, Councillor Kathleen Robertson, shared her pride that the Moray community showed great care when welcoming refugees and asylum seekers. She said: “The teams in the council and Health and Social Care Moray adapted quickly to provide the professional support needed by those arriving in Moray at a time of uncertainty for them and in a position of vulnerability. I thank them all for the great care they have taken to resettle and integrate our newest residents in Moray.

“I must also recognise everyone in the community who played a part in making the individuals seeking asylum and refugees feel welcome during their time in Moray. For the many donations of clothing, as most arrived with no belongings of their own, and for ensuring they were able to access the services they needed.

“I know from my own experience of welcoming Ukrainian citizens to my home how traumatic an experience it can be for those coming here alone and with little to their name. It shows how caring we are as a community here in Moray and I’m extremely proud of how we’ve stepped up to our role and will continue to support those still in Moray.”