Appendix 1 - Council of Sanctuary Action Plan - 1st 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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1 Appendix 1 Perth and Kinross Council – People Seeking Sanctuary Action Plan 2024-27 (1st annual update September 2025) Linked to Perth and Kinross Local Housing Strategy – Specific Action “Continue to work with partners to offer housing and support options to refugees and asylum seekers in response to national dispersal and resettlement programmes” Proposed Action Local Priority National Outcome* Lead Officer responsible Timescale Current Progress 1. Theme - Language and Education 1.1 All people seeking sanctuary will be offered the opportunity to access some form of ESOL provision in the first instance Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 3 PKC Perth College UHI Ongoing Cross-sector ESOL provision in place – ESOL Provider Network established 1.2 All people seeking sanctuary will be offered access to their nearest library provision through partnership arrangements with Culture Perth and Kinross Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 3 CPK Ongoing CPK Libraries continues to work with Mears to ensure anyone who has recently moved to Perth is encouraged to join the library. 1.3 Anyone seeking sanctuary of school and nursery age will be supported through the school or nursery enrolment process Enabling our children and young people to achieve their full potential 3 PKC Ongoing To date, all known families with school and/or nursery age children have been supported through the enrolment process to ensure the children are registered and can
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2 attend their local catchment school and/or local nursery. 1.4 People seeking sanctuary will be advised of options and supported to access any further education opportunities where appropriate Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 3 Perth College UHI Ongoing Classes in place 1.5 As a Council of Sanctuary, we will offer quarterly leadership courses specifically for members of our Sanctuary Seeking population Working in partnership with communities 3 PKC Ongoing During 2024/25 3 blocks of leadership courses have been held for people seeking asylum with 32 people successfully completing the courses 2. Theme - Health and Wellbeing 2.1 All people seeking sanctuary will receive a health check upon arrival Supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing 1 HSCP Ongoing Service users registered with local GP Practice and appointed to CTAC clinic for Health Assessment appointment as soon as possible upon arrival. Opportunistic health assessments offered where there has been lack of engagement which is
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3 easily facilitated with health assessments being carried out in the hotels. 2.2 All people seeking sanctuary will be supported to access GP registration upon arrival Supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing 1 HSCP Ongoing Admin Team compiles list of Service Users to ensure equitable registration to local GP Practices in Perth City. Process reviewed in August 2025. 2.3 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of the process for accessing further health and care services (e.g. dental services) Supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing 1 HSCP Ongoing Service Users at heath assessment clinic appointment will be offered GP appointment/Dental service / Optometry if required. 2.4 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of mental health and wellbeing support available Supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing 1 HSCP Ongoing Service Users are offered/signposted to Primary Care Mental Health and Wellbeing service if required. 2.5 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of the process for accessing appropriate vaccinations should they choose to do so Supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing 1 HSCP Ongoing Service users will be offered vaccination referral if required at health assessment appointment. 2.6 Age-appropriate care, welfare and support will be offered to any unaccompanied young person seeking sanctuary Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 1 PKC Ongoing We continue to support unaccompanied young people either
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4 referred through NTS, who are spontaneous arrivals or young people accommodated from the hotel, after being assessed as a child/ given benefit of the doubt pending further assessment. The CASA Team continues to offer a holistic package of support from living arrangements, financial support, ongoing advice, support, and guidance, liaising with professional networks, mental wellbeing support, and ESOL &youth work activities. 2.7 As a Council of Sanctuary, we will ensure positive engagement with the welfare support provider for those people seeking sanctuary based in local hotel accommodation Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 1 PKC Ongoing Mears represented at all Asylum Steering Multi-Agency Group meetings (and other meetings as appropriate) 3. Theme - Employability and Welfare
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5 3.1 All people seeking sanctuary who are eligible to access benefits will be supported to do so upon arrival Tackling Poverty 2 PKC Ongoing Information shared 3.2 All people seeking sanctuary will be supported to access employment and volunteering opportunities in accordance with their eligibility to do so Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 2 PKC Ongoing Ongoing support to access support with writing CVs, job searches, and college applications alongside signposting 4. Theme - Digital Inclusion 4.1 All people seeking sanctuary will be supported to ensure they can access some form of digital device as soon as possible upon arrival Working in partnership with communities 1 PKC Ongoing Those requiring digital devices are referred to appropriate local third sector advice/support 4.2 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of options available to them to receive any additional digital learning where required Working in partnership with communities 3 PKC Ongoing LEAD Scotland offer services 5. Theme - Housing 5.1 All people seeking sanctuary will be supported in the accommodation that is allocated to them within the relevant resettlement scheme that they are here under Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 2/6 PKC Ongoing The following families have been supported to resettle in Perth & Kinross and continue to engage with the resettlement support
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6 including any unplanned crises provided. We have commissioned a resettlement and integration service from Scottish Refugee Council and established a multi- disciplinary Resettlement Team Homes for Ukraine 150 families/358 people from 2022 onwards UKRS 1 family of 4 people, from Sudan, in 2023/24 Afghan ARAP 1 family of 7 people in 2024/25 Afghan ARP 3 families/23 people in 2025/26 to date 5.2 Should an individual’s circumstances or status change they will be supported to have their individual accommodation needs assessed and be advised of their available options Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 2 PKC Ongoing Families are all connected to the resettlement support and in the event of a change in circumstances would be supported to access housing advice to discuss their options and agree the appropriate
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7 solutions. At present all the families are settled in their current accommodation. 6. Theme - Community and Social Connections 6.1 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of the social, leisure and sporting opportunities which are available to them. An updated ‘Activities Sheet’ is co- ordinated by Community Integration Network members. Working in partnership with communities 3 PKC Ongoing Activities Sheet regularly updated and network in place for community and third sector groups providing those activities 6.2 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of the local relevant places of worship and introductory contacts appropriate to them Working in partnership with communities 3 PKC Ongoing A ‘welcome map’ is being finalised which includes all relevant support and contacts 6.3 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of the most appropriate public transport options available to them (including access to bicycles if required) Working in partnership with communities 1 PKC Ongoing Public Transport Unit (PTU) would always provide all information in this regard to anyone seeking sanctuary requesting it. However, thus far, PTU have not received any such requests.
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8 Access to bicycles available to hotel residents via identified charity. 6.4 All people seeking sanctuary will be offered the opportunity to participate in the Council’s ‘Equalities Conversations’ programme (shaped around the Place Standard Tool) to share their lived experiences in the local area Working in partnership with communities 5 PKC Ongoing Sessions have been held with ESOL learners and specific discussions around the Council of Sanctuary have taken place with CASA young people and New Scots Advocacy Group participants 6.5 As a Council of Sanctuary, we will ensure that work is appropriately linked into specific programmes such as Scottish Refugee Festival and 16 Days of Action Working in partnership with communities 4 PKC Ongoing Programme of local events took place during Scottish Refugee Festival in June Links made for sharing any 16 Days of Action opportunities 7. Theme - Art, Culture and Sport 7.1 As per 6.1 above Working in partnership with communities 3 PKC Ongoing See 6.1 above 7.2 As per 1.2 above Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 3 Culture PK Ongoing See 1.2 above
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9 7.3 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of the process for accessing subsidised Live Active Leisure (LAL) Compass Membership Cards (for which they are a priority grouping) Supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing 3 LAL Ongoing Between 1st April and 8th September 2025 - 94 Refugees or Asylum Seekers have held a LAL Compass Membership. Looking at these 94 members alone – they have amassed 370 usages at LAL venues. Between 1st April and 8th September 2025 – 331 different residents of the two hotels in Perth City have held a specific membership that is offered to them free of charge. Looking at these 331 members alone – they have amassed 4,004 usages at LAL venues. NOTE: In both cases – the individual memberships may have been issued as far back as 2nd April 2024 – every membership lasts 12 months and so
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10 therefore someone who was issued a membership on 2nd April 2024 would still have a ‘live’ membership on 1st April 2025. 7.4 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of local historical and cultural attractions and how to visit them (where possible to do so introductory visits will be offered) Working in partnership with communities 3 In partnership with Culture PK Ongoing A tour of Perth Museum was offered in partnership with Independent Advocacy. A discounted fee was offered for a historic tour of Perth. 7.5 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of the multi- cultural and wider events programme which take place in the area (many of which are free to attend) and be encouraged to come along. If there is a key date in their own ‘cultural’ calendar which they may wish to be marked or celebrated support will be offered to consider the most appropriate way to do so Working in partnership with communities 3 PKC Ongoing Events programme shared widely 8. Theme - Legal Rights and Citizenship
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11 8.1 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of their legal rights in accordance with their status and advised of the support available to them Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 3 In partnership with Home Office Ongoing Home Office attend multi-agency steering group meetings and pass on details of approved legal contacts for sharing with people seeking sanctuary 8.2 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of the laws of the land to ensure they don’t place themselves at risk of harm, exploitation or illegal actions Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 3 PKC Ongoing There have been various visits and presentations at the hotels - from Police, Fire, Support and Enforcement Officer - regular liaison visits by Support and Enforcement Team and PIP ensures intelligence is shared regularly allowing tactical interventions when necessary. Regular contact with ESOL providers and other community services. 8.3 All people seeking sanctuary will be advised of the support available to them in relation to hate crime and community safety Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 1 PKC Ongoing There have been various visits and presentations at the hotels - from Police, Fire, Support and Enforcement Officers - regular liaison visits by Support and Enforcement Team
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12 and PIP ensures intelligence is shared regularly allowing tactical interventions when necessary. Regular contact with ESOL providers and other community services. 8.4 As a Council of Sanctuary, we will ensure that people seeking sanctuary and Council staff are aware of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) process Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 2 PKC Ongoing Represented at NRPF Network and information shared as appropriate 9. Theme – Communication and Governance 9.1 As a Council of Sanctuary we will produce a communications plan to ensure this work is promoted to people seeking sanctuary, staff and the wider population Working in partnership with communities 2 PKC Ongoing Webpage developed 9.2 As a Council of Sanctuary we will hold twice yearly sessions with all stakeholders including those people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary to review the progress of the plan Working in partnership with communities 5 PKC Ongoing Sessions held with multi-agency steering group; New Scots Advocacy Group and CASA young people.
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13 9.3 As a Council of Sanctuary we will develop a mandatory e- learning module for all staff to raise awareness of individual responsibilities whilst working for a Council of Sanctuary Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people 4 PKC Ongoing E-learning module launched June 2025 9.4 As a Council of Sanctuary we will commit to representation at UK City of Sanctuary Network meetings and relevant associated learning events Working in partnership with communities 5 PKC Ongoing Network events are shared to allow staff to attend 9.4 As a Council of Sanctuary we will produce an annual progress report submitted to the Housing and Wellbeing Committee with regular updates to the Equalities Strategic Forum and Community Integration Network who will have an oversight role Working in partnership with communities 5 PKC October – annually Report prepared *National Delivery Plan Outcomes from the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: 2024 - 2026 1. New Scots live in safe, welcoming, inclusive communities, where everyone’s dignity is respected, and everyone is able to build diverse relationships and healthy intercultural bonds. 2. New Scots are able to access well co-ordinated services which recognise and meets their rights and needs. 3. New Scots understand their rights, responsibilities and entitlements in Scotland and are able to exercise these to pursue full and independent lives. New Scots can pursue their ambitions through education, employment, culture and leisure activities in diverse communities. 4. Communities in Scotland understand integration interculturally and respect the diversity and strengths that New Scots bring.
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14 5. Policy, strategic planning and legislation, that have an impact on New Scots, are shaped through their participation and informed by their rights, needs and aspirations. 6. The principles of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy guide all future responses to crises that bring forced migration to Scotland and seek to ensure all such migrants will be treated equitably.