Sewing2gether All Nations is a grassroots group founded in 2018 that empowers refugees and asylum seekers through creative workshops and community connection. Our mission is to provide a welcoming space where refugees can practice English, build friendships, and develop practical skills.
Sewing2Gether All Nations
New Scots reached
250
Key Information
Geographical reach
Renfrewshire and Greater Glasgow.
Dates
July 2022 – December 2023
Target Groups
Refugees & Asylum seekers
Female refugees
New Scots learning English
Project Type
Supporting Innovation
Key Information
Geographical reach
Renfrewshire and Greater Glasgow.
Dates
July 2022 – December 2023
Target Groups
Refugees & Asylum seekers
Female refugees
New Scots learning English
Project Type
Supporting Innovation
Situation
We facilitate workshops, conversational cafés, and provide assistance to the refugee community, including coaching in accessing public transport, with an aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the families we engage with and prevent isolation.
Involvement of New Scots in project
We have representatives with refugee lived experience on our Board of Trustees, as sessional staff and volunteers. We consult widely with with our group’s participants on plans for activities and developments
Impact
We have engaged with large numbers of New Scots, and built a nurturing environments where participants can grow and develop in many ways.
One of our successes is integration with the local community, as we are based in a local church and café, and we receive a lot of donations to pass on to those in need e.g., clothing, Food Pantry, household goods, and a team who collaborated and provided a Christmas gift for every mother and child on our register.
The organisation continues to grow and develop, with volunteers and sessional staff with lived experience stepping up.
Challenges encountered
Financial barriers: The high cost of public transport can exclude New Scots from accessing help and support.
Instability and uncertainty: Changes in accommodation imposed by the Home Office can disrupt access to support networks and services.
Solutions
Transportation costs present a significant barrier for many New Scots. Funding to reimburse travel expenses can help to alleviate the cost on people.
Reflections
Members of the refugee and asylum seeker community are motivated to learn and engage with the community around them, and have much to contribute as New Scots when they are given the opportunity to do so.
