FORWARD-thinking members of Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council are going the extra mile to ensure that young refugees are well represented in this region.
The Youth Council has agreed to create an extra position within their organisation that is dedicated to New Scots, writes Marc Mclean.
The Scottish Government has a New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy to help refugees and asylum seekers feel welcome and receive support in integrating into communities.
There are hundreds of New Scots living in Dumfries and Galloway from places including Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine, and it was recently confirmed that there are 40 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) being supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council.
These are young people under the age of 18, many of whom have escaped war or conflict in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
New Scots will be discussed at a joint meeting of the youth council and full council next Wednesday.
A report, due to be tabled at the meeting, reads: “The youth council spent some time in 2024 reviewing their structure following representation from some young people who are New Scots and now living within Dumfries and Galloway.
“Benchmarking also took place against other youth councils in Scotland and a number of these have created positions for New Scots to ensure that the voices of these young people can be heard.
“Therefore, the youth council agreed to create an additional nominated youth councillor position dedicated to New Scots.
“This will take the total number of nominated youth councillors to eight. This position will be recruited to in early 2025.”
Dee and Glenkens Councillor Dougie Campbell supported many asylum seekers when he volunteered with the Scottish Refugee Council, and he later joined its board of directors.
Speaking about the plight of New Scots, he said: “I don’t think you can underestimate how traumatising the experience is for many refugee adults and unaccompanied children arriving in the UK.
“They are forced to find safety by what the UK Government describes as illegal routes, into the country because there are no legal ways.
“So many who are fleeing war or persecution, hoping to find refuge in the UK are forced to arrive in boats and lorries, which has caused so many to die.”
He added: “In my experience with Scottish Refugee Council, refugee children are invariably scared, confused, undernourished and traumatised.”
