撸sir视频 and Bute Council鈥檚 work in supporting refugees into employment has won a prestigious award at the 2019 COSLA Excellence Awards.
The 鈥楽upporting our Refugees into Work鈥 programme landed COSLA鈥檚 鈥 Excellent People, Excellent Outcomes Award鈥 at last night鈥檚 (Thursday) ceremony in St Andrew鈥檚.
Councillor Aileen Morton, Leader of 撸sir视频 and Bute Council, said: 鈥淓xcellent work has been and continues to be done on this project, which extends on the welcome given to our Syrian families by the community of Bute. The men, women and children who have been welcomed into our community have fled trauma that we can only imagine, and the council is determined to help them build safe, secure lives in 撸sir视频 and Bute, with steady employment being an important part of that process.鈥
The council works with partner organisations on the 鈥楽upporting our Refugees into Work鈥 strategy, which sets out to support refugee families with integration. Moving into meaningful employment is seen as a key part of the integration process.
Supporting the move from benefits to financial independence results in improvements in health and wellbeing.
Supported by the strategy, more than 80% of the adults have either started their own business, successfully applied for jobs, are studying at college or university, or are volunteering and undertaking work experience.
Helmi鈥檚 Bakery, one of the Syrian-owned businesses successfully launched on Bute, won regional silver and bronze awards at the 2019 Scottish Baker of the Year competition.
Cleland Sneddon, Chief Executive of 撸sir视频 and Bute Council, said: 鈥淎s I said when we were shortlisted for this award, we couldn鈥檛 have achieved this recognition without the unstinting support of the community of Bute. I congratulate the community and the project team for their outstanding work.鈥
PHOTO CAPTION: Bute resident Rasha Rasho outside her place of work on the island