A Church of Scotland backed partnership project which helps refugees and asylum seekers play a full part in community life is expanding so it can reach more people. Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees and Faith in Community Scotland have been awarded a £69,000 grant for the Faithful Welcome project, which will partly be used to hire a new development worker.

They will play a key role in ensuring faith groups are properly equipped to play a vital part in a two-way integration process between refugees, asylum seekers and the settled community.

Sabine Chalmers, co-ordinator at Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees, said: “Both Faith in Community Scotland and Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees are thrilled to be working together on this new project, because it builds on the passion and commitment of both organisations to work with people and communities who are fighting against poverty and who have so much to contribute to community life.

“Faith groups have always played a huge part in welcoming refugees and asylum seekers and supporting them to get involved in what’s going on in the local community.

“We’re really hoping more faith groups will join us on this journey of offering a Faithful Welcome to all New Scots seeking to settle here.”