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Together
Ideas for working with asylum seekers,
refugees, the media and communities.
Foreword
Stewart Maxwell
Scotland has a proud tradition of welcoming The Scottish Government welcomes the publi-
refugees. No one chooses to be a refugee and it cation of the Forward Together guide. The work
is therefore important that accurate information of Oxfam and the many partners who have been
is put into the public consciousness. involved and the activities and ideas generated
in this guide will be a valuable resource here in
We know that refugees can and do make a Scotland and across the UK.
positive contribution to Scottish society. To
promote understanding and empathy it is vital Stewart Maxwell MSP
that we ensure that established communities are Minister for Communities and Sport
aware of the issues facing asylum seekers and
refugees.
Working in Communities 26
Oxfam in partnership with a range of organisa- Organising work with community outreach
tions and building on experience started the activities including drama projects and
Asylum Positive Images project in Scotland in work with Scottish literary organisations,
2003 . One of the main activities is facilitating a specifically the Scottish Poetry Library, that
Network made up of around 20 organisations brought together asylum seeking and
with an interest in asylum issues in Scotland Scottish poets to produce creative materials
made up of a wide range of groups including that were published for wide public
statutory services (e.g. Local Authority, Scottish dissemination, including in schools, public
Government, police), voluntary organisations spaces and in the media
(e.g. Amnesty International, Scottish Refugee
Members of the Network are actively
Council), media organisations (e.g. National
involved in a range of community activities
Union of Journalists, university media depart-
including in schools, sports and arts
ments) and community based refugee organisa-
activities and active participants in Refugee
tions.
Week every year.
The Asylum Positive Images Project also
After four years of facilitating the Network,
undertakes a range of activities, much of which
we have developed a better understanding of
is targeted at the Scottish media to influence
what and who influences public perceptions
the content and portrayal of asylum in the
and hope to continue to influence a more
media as well as to work to influence public
balanced, informed and positive public
attitudes towards asylum positively. This
debate and climate around asylum issues.
includes:
Annual Refugee Week Scottish Media Many of the activities and initiatives carried
Awards out may be adapted to influence the debate on
asylum and refugee issues. In addition, they
A guide for journalists (Fair Play), sponsored
may be of use in influencing the wider debate
by the National Union of Journalists
on migration and immigration.
University and college seminars and
workshops, targeted at media students
Aideen McLaughlin
Media and Communications Officer,
Scottish Refugee Council
Link: www.icar.org.uk
Maggie Lennon
Director, Bridges Programme
media co-op: Primary & planning to help identify skills and opportuni-
ties and take. The DVD has been used in pres-
Transitions DVDs entations and lobbying.
One of those stories collected is the story of New Voices was created to offer Red Cross
Cleo an asylum seeker in Scotland. Having a volunteers and exiled journalists an opportunity
Scottish story in this collection was an impor- to work together to create a newspaper that can
tant tool as it provided a resource for students support the sharing of information amongst
in schools, colleges and universities. Cleos refugees, asylum seekers and those who work
story and the many refugees and asylum with them in Scotland. The newspaper promotes
seekers with similar experiences across the services offered by organisations working
Europe can be drawn on as examples for with refugees in Scotland, highlights key issues
research and media work as well as for activi- concerning asylum seekers and refugees and
ties in schools. promotes positive images of refugees that
challenge stereotypes and increase public
Link: www.ecre.org/refugeestories
awareness. The project provides asylum seekers
and refugees who want to improve their writing
skills with access to journalism training and
mentoring.
Working in Communities 27
Storytelling & Dramas Sharing Cultures
& Sports
The Village Storytelling Centre is a community
-based programme that helps people explore One of the first things that happen naturally
their culture through traditional story telling. when new communities come together is the
The Centre runs creative writing courses for sharing of cultures. Whether through sharing
asylum seekers and other local people and has food with neighbours, discussing children or
published a number of books and activities kicking the footie around peoples lives and
around stories by and with refugees and Scots. cultures are shared. As already mentioned
They were also instrumental in involving refugee groups themselves often carry out such
participants in further activities like supporting activities but many other support organisations
refugees in storytelling in schools, the drama also get involved to welcome newcomers into
The Flats and a village choir. their neighbourhoods, communities, towns and
Link: www.thevillageonline.org.uk cities (see Refugee Week).
28 Working in Communities
restoring the leisure areas of North Glasgow to seekers and refugees learn about poetry
its communities. Aimed at young people, the together. At the same time they shared stories
project provides a wide range of professionally about everyday life and wrote about their
coached sports & arts activities at six venues, experiences. Poems were displayed on the
and is overseen by a dedicated Police pres- buses in Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as
ence. Activities range from football, using a produced as postcards and into a resource for
mobile football pitch, to cricket & basketball, schools. The poems are thought-provoking,
to drama and dance, promoting community poignant and amusing reflections on Scottish
contact, safety and engagement. life, and remind us that asylum is a basic
human right (see www.spl.org.uk).
Also as supporters of Refugee Week in Scot-
land the police have supported refugee I hadnt written a poem since I was at school
community events during the week and a long time ago! I wasnt sure that Id be any
throughout the year including cultural, sports good at writing, but the workshops helped and
and drama activities. encouraged me to put my thoughts and ideas
into words.
30 Working in Communities
Refugee Stories Refugee Week
Working in Schools Refugee Week is an annual UK-wide programme
of arts,cultural and educational events that
British Red Cross volunteers take refugee iss-
celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK,
ues into the classroom with the Positive Images
and encourages a better understanding
workshop for secondary pupils which aims to
between communities.
challenge discrimination and stereotyping and
build positive attitudes to diversity. In 2007 the During Refugee Week, hundreds of activities
Wee Positive Images project adapted this take place across the UK including exhibitions,
material into an interactive session for Primary film festivals, workshops, community celebra-
5 & 6 pupils. tions, theatre and music.
The Positive Images toolkit and the Wee Positive The marketing and media work that surrounds
Images toolkit for teachers and other educators Refugee Week provides an important opportu-
are available online. The Red Cross, Oxfam and nity to highlight positive stories and influence
others through Development Education Centres public opinion.
support teachers through continuing profes-
sional development training that enables them to For more information, please see
tackle refugee, humanitarian and other interna- www.refugeeweek.org.uk and
tional issues in their classrooms. www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk
Link: www.redcross.org.uk/positiveimages
Link: www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources
Link: www.amnesty.org.uk
32 Working in Communities
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements and special thanks to members of the Network.
Amnesty International
British Red Cross
Careers Scotland
Commission for Racial Equality/Commission for Equalities & Human Rights
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
Glasgow Caledonian University
Exiled Journalists Network
Glasgow City Council
Karibu
media co-op
National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
Pollok Integration Network
Positive Action in Housing
Refugee Survival Trust
Scottish Government Equalities Unit
Scottish Iraqi Association
Scottish Refugee Council
Stirling University
Strathclyde Police
Strathclyde University
Student Action for Refugees (STAR)
This guide has been part funded by the ESF under the Equal Community
Initiative Programme. The contents do not necessarily reflect the opinion or
position of the European Commission or the Department of Work and Pensions.
The producers of this publication cannot accept responsibility for the acts or omissions of any of the organisations, third parties or websites mentioned in the guide, and
inclusion within this guide does not signify endorsement. The producers of this guide have made every effort to ensure that the information within is accurate.
Photography credits: Peter Iain Campbell, Gareth Harper, Chris McNulty, Chris Watt.
Oxfam 2007 - a member of Oxfam International. Registered Charity No. 202918. www.oxfam.org.uk
Forward
Together
Ideas for working with asylum seekers,
refugees, the media and communities.