Faith communities are part of the landscape in towns and villages all over Scotland. Not everywhere will have a refugee charity or group, but most will have a place of worship. And for the past decade, one organisation has been dedicated to bringing these communities together to support people seeking safety.
We spoke with Esther, one of the coordinators at Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees (SFAR), who told us more about their work.
“We are a multi-faith partnership of Scotland’s religious communities who work together in support of refugee integration,” she explains.
“We work on two levels, nationally and locally, and both are really important.”
At the national level, SFAR helps faith groups speak with a shared voice on issues that affect refugees. Esther describes a recent example: the campaign for free bus travel for asylum seekers.
“Our role was to make sure voices from the faith community were involved.
“We agreed with the organisers of that campaign on the need for free bus travel, while also highlighting additional points specific to people of faith, such as the importance of being able to attend worship services and travel to purchase halal food.”
When the policy was at risk of being scrapped, SFAR supported the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church to write to every MSP urging them to resist the changes. Right now, they are focussed on encouraging faith communities to support calls to reinstate family reunification.
On a local level, SFAR’s work looks different but is just as important.
“It’s about supporting communities to get involved in integration work,” says Esther.
“We provide information, training, resources, and networking opportunities to help faith groups take that first step in supporting New Scots or develop the work they’re already doing.
“Because faith groups are rooted in almost every town and village, they often become natural hubs of welcome. Not every town is going to have a refugee charity, but it will most likely have a place of worship.”
Esther works with a broad range of faith groups and says they share common values.
“In almost every tradition you will find some language around welcoming others, showing hospitality. And many communities can draw on their own migration stories through their own ancestry, which creates a natural empathy.”
SFAR also produces resources that help congregations engage meaningfully with refugee issues. Their annual Sanctuary Sunday materials encourage churches to hold a service focused on refugees.
“Last year we shared a series of stories with New Scots sharing their lived experience. We have also created welcome videos highlighting integration projects and offer practical guides such as Sanctuary in Scotland. Right now, we are gathering materials to help faith groups respond to far‑right hostility – it focuses on what it means to be faithful peacemakers in a time of hostility,” explains Esther.
Partnerships are central to SFAR’s approach. One vital partnership is with Faith in Community Scotland.
“They are an amazing organisation with a long history in community development and anti‑poverty work. We appreciate them a lot and lean on them to help us reach out with a ground presence in the west,” she says.
There are challenges too. Faith groups are not always included in conversations about refugee support, and many do not know who the New Scots are in their area.
“Faith groups are not always included because they’re not necessarily who people think of,” says explains.
“SFAR often acts as a bridge, helping connect local congregations with refugee organisations and building confidence for groups supporting refugees for the first time.
“All this work is about us genuinely wanting to care for people.”
To encourage wider involvement, SFAR visits congregations, shares stories and resources, and sends newsletters that help people understand the needs of refugees and how they can help.
As Esther puts it: “Sometimes all a community needs is a nudge to realise they can make a difference.”
