Glasgow has the biggest asylum population in the UK after London. The city has declared a housing emergency, and other councils across Scotland have done the same.

Across Glasgow and other towns and cities, we support refugee and asylum seeking families from Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Ukraine and beyond. People arrive carrying loss, trauma and the hope of a safer future. Too many fall into poverty the moment they reach our borders.

Our work is simple and direct. We help people survive a crisis so they can rebuild their lives and not need us forever. We provide bus travel, phone top ups, food, clothes, shelter and digital access. This is the first country-wide crisis appeal focused on the most vulnerable within refugee communities.

Each winter we deliver emergency relief to five hundred families and individuals. Our goal is to raise £50,000 so no one is left cold, hungry or cut off.

Every year we support more than 4,000 refugees and asylum seeking men, women and children. Many fled war or persecution, surviving dangerous journeys and leaving loved ones behind. They arrive here seeking safety and face new barriers created by the Home Office. The cost of living crisis has pushed many into extreme poverty.

Iman

Iman is 24. She has been raising her two disabled children in a single hotel room for over a year. She is not allowed to work. The hotel gives her one plate for all three of them. She receives £25 a week. Most of it goes to feeding her children because the hotel food is unsuitable. £4 disappears on bus fares so she can attend English classes twice a week. She fled Syria after her husband was abducted by government forces. She has not heard from him in four years and fears the worst.

Farzad

Farzad finally moved into a permanent flat after 18 months in a hotel. It was unfurnished. No curtains, no sofa, no microwave, and he could not afford winter heating. A grant helped him buy essentials and keep the place warm. It gave him a base after years of upheaval.

Sayed

Sayed, 21, was surviving in Aberdeen on £9 a week. He could not afford food, clothing or phone data. His mental health was slipping fast. A grant gave him food and clothing vouchers and enough data to stay connected to the people who keep him steady.

Mariam

Mariam, her newborn daughter and her husband were stuck in a hotel in Edinburgh where cooking was banned. They relied on costly ready meals that damaged her health and her ability to breastfeed. A grant paid for baby formula, nutritious food and essentials, and helped them relocate closer to shops, hospitals and support.

Ahmed

Ahmed, an elderly asylum seeker in Glasgow, was struggling to heat his home or cook hot meals. His family relied on inadequate NASS support. He was carrying trauma and depression on top of financial hardship. A crisis grant covered their energy bills and groceries, giving the family warmth and relief through winter.

Baran

Baran is a high school student in Glasgow. She was at risk of missing school because her family could not afford her uniform and supplies. A grant covered everything she needed. Her father also received help to clear tuition arrears so he could continue his PhD. The support steadied the family and gave them hope.

Fatima

Fatima, a single asylum seeker from Afghanistan in Aberdeen, had no winter clothing and no money for food or basics. A grant let her buy warm clothes, food and essential items. It helped her survive winter and begin to rebuild her life.

Ibrahim

Ibrahim left Gaza in fear of his life. He lives with PTSD and a disability caused by torture. After three years in the asylum system he was finally recognised as a refugee and able to apply for family reunion for his wife and children, who remain in Gaza, living in a tent under bombardment. He stays awake at night to make sure they are still alive. He sends whatever he can so they can survive while he waits for permission for them to leave Gaza, travel to Jordan for biometrics, then reach Glasgow. He has now been offered his first accommodation in the city. We are helping him furnish it and prepare it for his family, giving him a stable base while he waits for them to be allowed out.

Who we are supporting

The people we work with are among the most vulnerable in society. Malnourished pregnant women and new mothers surviving on just over £8 a week. War refugees. Survivors of torture. Victims of trafficking. Cancer patients alone in temporary accommodation. Families trying to keep the lights on. Elderly people and those with chronic illness living in isolation. Children growing up in hotel rooms.

We provide vouchers for food, baby items, clothing and shelter so people are not left hungry, cold, disconnected or isolated from essential services.

We prioritise those most at risk of exploitation. Unaccompanied children, pregnant women, new mothers, the elderly and people with physical or mental health issues. Many are left in hotels for months, surviving on £1.40 a day.

Our mission is to help people rebuild their lives after crisis. The outcomes speak for themselves. Last year, our Lifeline Service provided advice, shelter and crisis support at crucial stages in refugee resettlement. Volunteers opened their homes to refugees from Palestine, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Ukraine. We distributed almost £140,000 from our Emergency Relief Fund.

We need your support to continue this work. Every donation helps. If you can, please leave a message of solidarity.

This is a direct giving appeal. All Gift Aid will support our core humanitarian work.