On Wednesday 16 September, more than 80 leaders, practitioners and community representatives from across the refugee and migration sector came together for the New Scots Gathering, a day of learning, connection and reflection for people working across Scotland’s refugee and migration sector.
New Scots is an inclusive term for refugees, people seeking asylum and others who have been forcibly displaced and now live in Scotland. It is a positive and inclusive term that helps break down barriers, recognising and celebrating the neighbours, colleagues and friends who have made Scotland their home.
The gathering brought together an incredible room of people to explore “Stories That Shape Change”, how the narratives we tell can challenge prejudice, influence policy and help build a more welcoming Scotland.
The gathering took place against a difficult backdrop. Throughout the summer, headlines had been dominated by rising hostility towards migrants and shocking attacks on people of colour. These events were a stark reminder of the harm caused by narratives that divide communities, and of our shared responsibility to challenge them.
At the heart of the day was a vital question: how do we tell a better, more hopeful story, one that pushes back against division and intolerance and helps create a Scotland where everyone feels welcome and included?
We were delighted to open the event with speeches from Simita Kumar MSP, Minister for Equalities and International Development, and Jane Meagher, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council. Both spoke of their personal commitment to inclusion and highlighted how the Scottish Government and the Council are putting the New Scots approach into practice.
The morning session was led by John Halliday, CEO of Community Renewal, and Pinar Aksu, activist and researcher at the University of Glasgow. Drawing on their extensive experience as leaders and campaigners, they explored how stories can strengthen frontline work and shape the policies that affect the lives New Scots.
Four workshops showed what these ideas look like in practice, with case studies from Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness and Edinburgh revealing what integration looks like on the ground. And in the afternoon, filmmakers Felipe Bustos Sierra and Macrine Harune explored how art can carry important messages, challenge assumptions and change minds.
One of the day’s most powerful messages came from Alistair Dinnie, Refugee and Migration Programme Manager at the City of Edinburgh Council, and was echoed by Helene Rodgers, CEO of Passion4Fusion: we must make space for JOY in our work.
Working alongside refugee communities means confronting immense challenges. Many people have experienced profound loss, displacement and trauma, not only during the journeys that brought them to the UK, but also through the brutal realities of navigating the asylum system. Supporting people through these experiences, in an increasingly hostile environment, can take an emotional toll.
But this is only part of the story.
Working alongside refugee communities is also an immense privilege, filled with moments of connection and new beginnings: meals shared, rights secured, new words learned, families reunited and communities built. These everyday experiences of kindness, resilience and belonging remind us that, even amid the challenges, there is cause for hope and joy.
The attendees of the New Scots Gathering left with a challenge. How can we tell that positive story with boldness and confidence? Migration is a blessing for Scotland, not a burden. Together we can build a nation where Scots, old and new, can grow thrive and belong. If you would like to explore what this could mean in your context, please reach out to Esther Moodie [email protected] to connect.
Esther Moodie
EVOC Development Worker
Leave a Reply