Council of Sanctuary - 1 Year Annual Update
Perth and Kinross Council · 26 November 2025
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 26 November 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee Date of Meeting: 26 November 2025 Report Title: Council of Sanctuary – Year 1 Annual Update Report Number: 25/324 Report Author: David McPhee, Team Leader – Equalities Organisational Lead: Elaine Ritchie, Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this Report is to provide members with an update in relation to our work as a Council of Sanctuary. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendation 3. Background/Context 4. Update on the work as a Council of Sanctuary 5. Update on Our Sanctuary Seeking Population 6. Overview of Concerns and Local Protests 7. Recognition of our work as a Council of Sanctuary 8. Conclusion 9. Impact Value Assessment 10. Appendices 2. Recommendation It is recommended that the Committee: 2.1 Notes the content of this report and approves the continued work, as per Appendix 1, in relation to the Council’s commitment as a Council of Sanctuary.
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3. Background/Context 3.1 Perth and Kinross remains home to a number of different groups of people seeking sanctuary from war, persecution or other troubles in their home countries through the various Resettlement programmes for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. This work reflects our overarching Council Vision of ‘a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality’ and is underpinned by our wider Equalities commitments to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations across all communities. 3.2 Perth and Kinross Council was officially recognised as a Council of Sanctuary by UK City of Sanctuary in September 2024, following a successful evaluation process. This came after the Council’s decision on 6 March 2024 to submit the bid (report 24/70 refers). 3.3 As a Council of Sanctuary we are now proactive within the umbrella organisation called the City of Sanctuary UK (https://cityofsanctuary.org/) which provides coordination and development support for networks of community groups supporting people seeking sanctuary including local authorities. Officers have been able to attend online events and share good practice, learning opportunities and resources as a Council of Sanctuary member. 4. Update on Our Sanctuary Seeking Population 4.1 To provide clarity and avoid confusion regarding the immigration status of individuals welcomed into Perth and Kinross, the following provides accurate definitions and an overview of our sanctuary-seeking population: • Refugee - Someone who flees from risk, danger or persecution and seeks humanitarian protection. A Refugee is someone whose individual application for protection has been recognised under the UN Convention on Refugees 1951. The UK Government operates several ‘safe and legal routes’ for people fleeing war and persecution. The routes are coordinated through UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), which supports vulnerable refugees identified by the UNHCR to resettle in the UK, or in some cases through the specific Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP). There is no specific geographical focus. Local authorities receive funding to provide five years of integration support for people assisted through the UKRS and three years for the ARP. UK Government works with local authorities to provide settled accommodation from the point of arrival to those on resettlement schemes. It is important to note that people arriving through resettlement schemes come to the UK with refugee status already granted, unlike asylum applicants who apply after arrival.
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The number of people arriving under these schemes is relatively small, compared to overall immigration figures, and all have legal status. Their rights and entitlements are the same as other residents in Scotland, including access to benefits and welfare support, social housing, education, and healthcare. People are entitled and expected to work if able, supporting integration and independence within our communities. • Asylum Seekers (People Seeking Asylum) - a person who has made a claim to be considered for protection to a state which has signed the UN Convention on Refugees 1951. The UK has signed this Convention, and people can only claim asylum within the UK once they are in the country. People seeking asylum are provided with accommodation and financial support by the Home Office while their asylum claim is being assessed - £49.18 per week if living in dispersed housing, which is not applicable in Perth and Kinross, and £9.95 per week if living in hotel accommodation. Accommodation is procured and managed by Mears, the current asylum accommodation provider in Scotland, on behalf of the Home Office. Accommodation is provided on a no-choice basis and people seeking asylum must live in the accommodation offered by the Home Office. Participation in asylum dispersal is mandatory for all local authorities in the UK. Local authorities do not choose where asylum accommodation is located. 4.2 Our current sanctuary seeking population broken down by the respective groups is shown below (based on figures at 8 October 2025) – the combined totals equate to 0.44% of the total population of Perth and Kinross: Table 1 – Refugees Group Numbers Detail Homes for Ukraine Programme 358 First arrivals in 2022 supported by Housing Resettlement Team and local community host families. Various resettlement schemes, including Afghan, Sudanese & Syrian 75 Since 2015, 15 families have settled in the area supported by the Housing Resettlement Scheme.
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Table 2 – People Seeking Asylum Group Numbers Detail Asylum accommodation in hotels 185 From 22 different countries accommodated in 2 city centre hotels (first arrivals November 2021) multi-agency support. Separated/ unaccompanied children and young people (Children Alone Seeking Asylum) 54 Aged 16-25 from 13 different countries (first arrivals 2018) supported by Social Work CASA Team and accommodated in supported lodgings, private sector housing and supported accommodation. 4.3 At the same time as receiving approval to submit a bid to become a Council of Sanctuary, we committed to supporting the resettlement of a minimum of 20 people seeking sanctuary each year through existing refugee resettlement schemes, using private-sector accommodation for this purpose. We have met this commitment in our first year as a Council of Sanctuary, welcoming three Afghan families (23 people in total) under the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), as shown in Table 1 above. 4.4 According to the 2022 Census, Perth and Kinross had 150,953 residents, an increase of 2.9% (4,301 people) since the previous Census. Although the area is experiencing negative natural change (deaths outnumber births), the population is at its highest ever, driven by immigration from both within the UK and internationally, and not just from the groups outlined in Tables 1 and 2. Without immigration, the population would have declined, particularly among working-age people. Of the 150,953 residents, 137,351 (91%) were born in the UK and 13,602 (8.6%) were born outside the UK. 5. Update on the work as a Council of Sanctuary 5.1 Significant progress has been made on our work as a Council of Sanctuary. To ensure this work is co-ordinated effectively an Action Plan is in place (Appendix 1), and this report provides the first annual update of it. 5.2 It should be emphasised that this is a Multi-Agency Action Plan which reflects the cross-sector support provided. Below are some highlights from this Plan: • Cross-sector provision in place for teaching of English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL). • The Council continues to offer an innovative leadership course for members of our local sanctuary seeking population. During this reporting period, three course blocks were held, with 32 people successfully completing the course.
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• All new arrivals are offered a health assessment and support with GP registration (UK Government funding is provided to the Health and Social Care Partnership to support this). • A holistic support package is provided to Children Alone Seeking Asylum (CASA), coordinated by the Council’s dedicated team and where some young people have achieved Duke of Edinburgh and Youth Achievement awards. • A regularly reviewed programme of activities is available to support integration, engagement and wellbeing including a weekly Friendly Welcome football programme in partnership with Jeanfield Swifts with an average attendance of 37 during the most recent block of sessions. • Access to Live Active Leisure Compass Membership Scheme, with 94 individuals obtaining a card between April and September this year. • A programme of local events was delivered as part of the Annual Scottish Refugee Festival. • There has been positive engagement with Police, Fire and Community Support and Enforcement colleagues. A community safety programme has been developed covering water safety, fire safety, personal and community safety, and basic first aid skills including CPR. • A staff e-learning module on the Council of Sanctuary which was launched in June 2025. To date 129 staff have completed the module. • Two information sessions on the Council of Sanctuary were delivered to those with lived experience. 5.3 A local Community Integration Network is in place, bringing together multi- agency representation from groups and services that directly support our minority ethnic population, both new and longer established communities. This Network is currently chaired by representatives from the Scottish Refugee Council and has shaped its agenda throughout the year around the Council of Sanctuary Action Plan Key Themes. 5.4 Progress on the Council of Sanctuary work is reported as a standing agenda item on the Equalities Strategic Forum throughout the year. 6. Overview of Concerns and Local Protests 6.1 Unfortunately, this report coincides with a time of unrest and heightened tensions across the country ostensibly around the process of accommodating people seeking asylum in hotels. Perth has been affected by protests locally with 6 anti-asylum protests (including 1 unauthorised city centre march) taking place between August and October. All of these protests have been met by counter protests organised by Perth Against Racism. It is necessary and appropriate to reference some of the issues relating to this within this report to ensure full transparency.
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6.2 It is important to recognise that local residents have raised genuine concerns, whether through protests or as a result of information they have encountered online. These concerns can be summarised below, alongside the Council’s current position: Issue and Concern Position Increased use of hotels UK Government policy aims to reduce reliance on hotels for accommodation. While alternative models are being trialled elsewhere in the country, there are currently no plans to introduce these in Perth and Kinross. It is also important to note that the population is not static, both the number of individuals and their circumstances change as asylum claims progress. The UK Government has expressed a clear ambition to accelerate the processing of these claims, which will influence future accommodation needs. Community safety concerns There is no evidence of increased criminality as a result of there being an asylum population in the area. As with any population there may be isolated incidents which are addressed within the law. Members of the hotel-based asylum population receive information about the law in Scotland; engage regularly with Police and Community Support and Enforcement Officers and receive information sessions on cultural integration and community and cultural integration and rights as well as a wider programme on community safety, personal safety, fire safety, water safety. The Home Office contracted hotel support provider has safeguarding measures in place for all residents. It should also be noted that the majority of community projects which support people seeking asylum locally are led by women and no concerns have been raised by them. Housing pressures When someone seeking asylum receives a positive decision on their claim, responsibility shifts from central to local government. E.g. from the UK Government to Perth & Kinross Council. In Scotland, there is no priority needs test to access homelessness assistance. This means that Councils have a duty to assist and accommodate everyone who presents as homeless. When someone receives a positive decision on their asylum claim, they are given 28 days to vacate the accommodation provided by the Home Office. Many people in this situation relocate to other areas, but some make a homelessness application to Perth & Kinross Council and are provided with temporary accommodation and then social housing. In the last 5 years, we have received 70 homelessness applications from people with refugee status. In 2024/25, 35 former asylum seekers made a homelessness application, and in 2025/26 up to the end of October, we have received a further 28 applications from this group. Unlike the UKRS and ARP schemes, there is no funding provided to Councils by the UK Government for people with a positive asylum claim moving into the homelessness system and then social housing.
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Funding Immigration Policy is reserved and therefore administered by the UK Government through the Home Office and Department for Housing, Levelling up and Communities (DHLUC). There is funding available for post-arrival resettlement support, including housing and education costs. The funding tapers-off over 5 years on the basis that resettled people will become more integrated and independent over time. To date, Perth & Kinross Council has received around £2.5 Million from the UK Government to support the resettlement of the various refugee groups referred to in Table 1. In addition, almost £5.4 Million has been received from the Scottish Government, specifically for supporting Ukrainian displaced people. A Resettlement Team has been established with Housing, Support, Community Engagement and Social Work staff being funded on a fixed-term basis using the funding mentioned above. The Scottish Refugee Council has also been commissioned to provide community integration support to all resettled groups mentioned previously. In terms of people seeking asylum Home Office Grant funding is allocated. For 2025/26 Home Office Grant funding for people seeking asylum was based on a per capita count of the hotel population, as at 30 March 2025, with a quarterly adjustment thereafter. A further allocation was received to acknowledge the pressures placed on housing services for those moving on from the hotels once they receive a positive decision. To date, we have received over £244k. For our Children Alone Seeking Asylum (CASA) population funding is provided through the Home Office National Transfer Scheme. 6.2 To respond and address public concerns, a multi-agency group has now been established which has been meeting twice weekly (pre and post protest) since August. This group consists of representation from Police Scotland, key council services and the hotel support provider (Mears). An Action Plan is in place which is implemented as soon as a protest has been confirmed. This Action Plan has been identified as Good Practice and requested by other local authorities experiencing similar challenges. 6.3 The Council is represented at a fortnightly national cohesion sub-group co- ordinated by CoSLA and co-chaired by the Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council and the Chief Executive of Scottish Refugee Council. We have recently held our own cohesion workshop from services and third sector/community/faith groups currently providing services to our local asylum/refugee/minority ethnic populations and including 6 people with lived experience from our asylum hotel population in the overall attendance of 36. This was independently facilitated by Show Racism the Red Card and included a session on Challenging Harmful Narratives. Proposed actions arising from this workshop will be progressed once approved by senior management.
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6.4 There have been a range of communications issued in relation to this issue often in response to misinformation on social media. This is detailed in Appendix 2. The Home Office have now provided a template for completion for any incidents of misinformation, disinformation or malinformation relating to this topic (definitions of which are also provided in Appendix 2). 6.5 Incidents have been occurring within the wider community coinciding with the anti-asylum protests, and these have been recorded and reported where appropriate. These are also listed in Appendix 2. Nationally similar incidents are logged by Police Scotland on a Dashboard which is used to assess risk across local authority areas. 7. Recognition of our work as a Council of Sanctuary 7.1 Members are asked to note the continued work in relation to the Council’s commitment as a Council of Sanctuary and also the following recognition of this work to date at a national level: 7.2 On the 26 August, the New Scots Leadership Board hosted an event in Perth, bringing together individuals working with New Scots and those with lived experience. The event included a presentation on our work as a Council of Sanctuary. The Board oversees the strategic direction of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy, ensuring a collaborative approach between the Scottish Government, local authorities and the third sector to tackle issues affecting refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland. Locally Perth and Kinross Council has aligned the New Scots Strategic Themes with our Council of Sanctuary Action Plan. The Board is chaired by Professor Alison Phipps, with members including COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson: Councillor Maureen Chalmers, Minister for Equalities: Kaukab Stewart and Chief Executive of the Scottish Refugee Council: Sabir Zazai. 7.3 Following this visit, during which the Board met with individuals with lived experience, staff, community and third sector organisations, faith groups and Elected Members, Kaukab Stewart delivered a Ministerial Statement in the Scottish Parliament on 25 September acknowledging the work undertaken locally. 8. Conclusion 8.1 Earlier this year, the Council’s political leaders reaffirmed their commitment to our status as a Council of Sanctuary, in response to the rise in anti-asylum protests in recent weeks. This public statement of support was warmly welcomed by all those involved in supporting people seeking sanctuary. This report and action plan seeks to provide reassurance to political leaders that officers continue to support refugees and asylum seekers as part of the Council’s vision where all people in Perth and Kinross can live life well, free from poverty and inequality. The report also seeks to demonstrate that the level of support being delivered locally not only reflects but fully justifies that commitment whilst also acknowledging the concerns and additional impact on this area of work as a result of the protests.
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9. Impact Value Assessment This report has been classified as being an operational report and as such does not require a full Impact and Value Assessment. 10. Appendices Appendix 1 - Council of Sanctuary Action Plan – 1st Annual Update Appendix 2 – Incident and communication timeline – Anti-Asylum Protests