The Welcoming Association hosted Scotland’s Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart as part of her ongoing engagement with organisations supporting New Scots.
The Minister joined The Welcoming’s leadership and community representatives at their Edinburgh base to discuss their impactful work, explore new initiatives for supporting New Scots, and address challenges in local service provision.
Ms Stewart also participated in a roundtable discussion led by Tesfu Gessesse, CEO of The Welcoming Association, alongside trustees and members of the Senior Leadership Team.
Following the discussion, the Minister’s visit included a tour of The Welcoming’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, where she observed first-hand the resources and support offered to newcomers working to establish themselves in Scotland.
Positive Working Relationship
During the roundtable discussion, Tesfu Gessesse expressed his appreciation for the Scottish Government’s commitment to refugee and migrant support and shared The Welcoming’s experiences and perspectives on successful integration.
He highlighted the positive working relationship between The Welcoming and the Scottish Government and commended the launch of the New Scots Refugee Integration 2024 strategy.
Additionally, he raised important questions about how local authorities will be equipped to implement the strategy effectively and meaningfully and explore long-term solutions for growing service demands.
A Commitment to Cohesive Communities
Ms Stewart thanked Tesfu Gessesse for recognising the Scottish Government’s contribution in welcoming New Scots. She welcomed the importance of recognising and celebrating the positive outcomes and hard work under the Equalities portfolio.
Ms Stewart expressed her strong support for creating a warm and welcoming Scotland and commended the ongoing efforts of the faith communities. She also reaffirmed her commitment to cohesive communities and pledged not to let that commitment be compromised.
Ms Stewart also praised the First Minister’s excellent response to the riots in England during the summer of 2024, a response she supported.
Tesfu Gessesse said, “We’re honoured to have welcomed Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart to see firsthand the impact of our work. Their support reaffirms our commitment to an inclusive Scotland where everyone can feel at home and thrive regardless of background or status. We are building a stronger, more welcoming community for all.”
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said:
“I welcomed the opportunity to meet with Tesfu and other members of staff at the Welcoming Association and take part in a New Scots class for English for speakers of other languages.
MSP Kaukab Stewart
Language development is such a crucial part of the New Scots resettlement journey as it opens doors to education, employment, builds confidence and encourages social integration.”
If you’d like to support the impactful work of The Welcoming and help create a more inclusive Scotland, find out how you can get involved here.