Friends of Scottish Settlers help refugees from all over the world to feel welcome in Falkirk District by pairing them with volunteer befrienders who can help them become familiar with the area and learn about life in Scotland.
Home Office policies prevent many new arrivals from working and provide an allowance of just £8.86 per week. In this and other desperate situations, every little bit we can raise helps support people to feel welcome in Falkirk District communities and to access vital support.
£12.50 can buy a train ticket for someone in the asylum system to travel to Glasgow for legal support or to Edinburgh to attend a Cross Party Group, so Falkirk voices are heard in the Scottish Parliament.
£30 can buy a jacket to keep a person seeking asylum warm in the harsh Scottish winter.
£50 can enable a refugee family to have a day out.
£100 can buy a clothing pack for a newly-arrived refugee.
Click the link in our bio to donate.
If you want to know more or are interested in volunteering please get in touch by emailing [email protected].
We are thrilled that the King’s Award for Volunteering is recognising FOSS Volunteers for their inspiring contributions to our communities. Our Volunteers are empowering newly arrived refugees and people navigating the asylum system with a welcome that enables all of us to thrive. Time to celebrate all these amazing people!
Calling all resident in Falkirk South!
Please vote for us in Falkirk council's community choices funding awards to help us continue to support asylum seekers in the area with essentials items like clothes, shoes and toiletries.
Link in bio!
Christmas Appeal!
As some of you may know asylum seekers living in hotels in the UK only receive £8 a week government support. Since they are not allowed to work they often don't have enough for basic items like clothing.
Please help us help them by buying a Christmas gift of an essential item.
You'll find links to items suitable for all budgets in our bio.
Clothing in small and medium is more in demand and we are also accepting second hand coats and luggage.
Items can be dropped off between now and December 21st at the following times at Westfield Park Community Centre in Falkirk.
Monday: 9am - 12 noon
Tuesday: 9am - 12 noon
Wednesday: 9am - 3pm
Thursday: 9am - 12 noon
Friday: 9am - 4pm
Thank you for your support!!
Christmas Appeal!
If you'd like to support refugees this Christmas please donate winter coats, luggage and small and large back packs to our FOSS Christmas appeal (new and used items welcome)
Your donations will be passed on to refugees arriving in Falkirk from around the world.
You can drop off your donations at:
Westfield Park Community Centre
Westfield Street, Falkirk from today until December 21st during the following time slots.
Monday 9am - 12 noon
Tuesday 9am - 12 noon
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 12 noon
Friday 9am - 4pm
Or at Falkirk Sewing Studio, Callendar Square Shopping Centre
on Saturday December 10th
between 12 and 2pm.
Introducing our team!
Doro is one of our Volunteer Coordinators, organising the Befriending and support for refugee families in Falkirk.
Doro is originally from Hamburg, and has always loved to engage with people & cultures. Focusing on Politics, Communications and Culture in her BA she went on to work as a Human Rights Observer in the Philippines, before coming to Scotland to study the Arabic language at the University of Edinburgh in 2017 - and staying on since!
Community has always been what makes her feel at home, and so she wants to build community for and with others through the things she loves - the outdoors, nature, food, coming together!
Introducing our team!
Dr Sarah Stewart is FOSS's Volunteer and Partnership Manager as well as a keen knitter, forager, auntie, gardener, researcher, writer, camper, jam-maker, and crafter.
Originally from Aotearoa New Zealand, Sarah grew up in Guam, Hawai'i, American Samoa, Spain and the continental US, and has called Scotland home since 2010. Crafting with found materials is how she bridges distance between herself and people and places she’s fond of, collecting reminders of them and making something new.
Working with FOSS means she gets to find out what others do and need to thrive in new places.
It is our 2nd AGM on Thursday 20th October at 7pm. We have a quiz and delicious refreshments in the lovely surroundings of Christchurch Falkirk -- please join us to hear about our work and find out how YOU can help local refugees and asylum seekers!
We wanted to introduce ourselves for those of you new to Friends of Scottish Settlers (FOSS).
FOSS is a befriending charity helping New Scots arriving in Falkirk to access the support they need to settle in in their new home. We currently support refugees recently arrived from Ukraine, as well as asylum seekers and settled refugees from all over the world. Alongside befriending and helping new arrivals to access local services we organise English classes, art sessions and community outings.
We are always looking for new volunteers to help us support the New Scots as best we can so to find out more about FOSS and the volunteering opportunities we have right now please contact us at [email protected], we would love to hear from you.
Picture: Two of our new members of staff Doro, Volunteer Coordinator and Sarah, Volunteer and Partnership Manager meeting with some of our trustees.
#refugeeswelcome #falkirk #asylumseekers #scotland
