Technology Supports Refugees During Lockdown

Councils continue to provide support to refugees with the use of available technology.

13:21 15 April 2020

Scottish local authorities have turned to technology to provide continuous support to Syrian New Scots during the lockdown. 

 

Pammy Johal, the founder of Backbone, said that they operate by getting groups together to communicate and build on their knowledge in nature. The organisation, which is based in the Highlands, also gives outdoor opportunities to other marginalised groups. 

 

Pammy said: "We have managed to use the time to restructure though so that we can work with a better staff to group ratio so there will be less people with a staff member.

 

"It means once restrictions start lifting, we can get people back quickly and back to learning." 

 

Meanwhile, Aberdeen City Council has assigned a family practitioner to Syrian New Scots. The council also offers them virtual cooking and exercise classes. 

 

Aside from mailing information in Arabic directly to families, including how to access health information, a spokesman said: "A council youth worker is doing some fantastic work with children and young people helping them to keep up with their schoolwork and links in closely with the council's English as an additional language teachers."