Imagine being a mother who has been forced to flee her home, leaving behind the people, places and routines that shaped your everyday life. You and your family are resettled in a place called Inverclyde on the west coast of Scotland. Eventually, your children begin school, your husband finds work, and slowly the pieces of a new life start to fall into place.
But even with these steps forward, many migrant women still find day to day life very isolating and lonely. A new country, no familiar faces and a language you are still learning can make it hard to feel connected.
“It can be as simple as a chance meeting in the shop when a woman hears about the women’s network,” says Yalda, a Community Development Officer.
The Women’s Integration Network in Inverclyde began in 2024, supported by community development officers Yalda and Farkhonda from Scottish Refugee Council.
It started small, but with a clear purpose. Yalda explains more:
“At the beginning it was just a few women meeting up. We didn’t have a big plan. We just knew women were feeling isolated and needed somewhere relaxed and friendly to get together.
“We now have over sixty women from Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, Nigeria, Ukraine and many other places who meet regularly in an informal, relaxed way. It’s a safe place where women can learn about the local area, share experiences and try new things.”
As the women have continued to grow in confidence and shape the group in their own way, a new chapter is beginning to unfold…
“It’s an exciting time for the group,” says Yalda.
“They are in the process of becoming fully independent, with the women taking on the leadership themselves exactly what we hoped for from the beginning, something that truly belongs to them.
“To prepare, the women will join a seven-day course with the Social Enterprise Academy. During the course they will learn how to organise the group, plan activities, welcome new members and keep everything going.”
The next few months will bring lots of learning and new experiences as the women shape the group in their own way. It will be exciting to see where they take it next.
