In 1994 the Scottish Refugee Council began to undertake outreach work in Aberdeen and surrounding area. Around a 100 asylum seekers and refugees were identified in the area, coming from Algeria, Bosnia, Russia, Ethiopia, Sri lanka, Kurdistan, Iraq and Malawi. Although the vast majority was to be found in Aberdeen city there were pockets of refugees and asylum seekers in Aberdeenshire.
These refugees and asylum seekers although coming from different cultures have common problems arising from their status and experiences including language barriers, isolation and loneliness, housing and racial harassment.
Article 1 of the 1951 UN Convention defines a refugee as:
"a person who has a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of that country or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his/her former habitual residence, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it."
In a legal context, in the UK a person is a refugee only when the Home Office has accepted their claim for asylum and given them leave to stay in the UK as a refugee. While a person is waiting for a decision on their claim he/she is called an asylum seeker.
Contact
For more information on refugees and asylum seekers please email social.work@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Local Offices
- Aboyne
Upper Deeside Office, Low Road, Aboyne, AB34 5GW
Tel: 013398 87096 - Banchory
45 Station Road, Banchory, AB31 3XX
Tel: 01330 824991 - Banff
Seafield House, 37 Castle Street, Banff, AB45 1DQ
Tel: 01261 813424 - Ellon
25 Station Road, Ellon, AB51 3AA
Fax: 01358 723639, Tel: 01358 720033 - Fraserburgh
14 Saltoun Square, Fraserburgh
Tel: 01346 513281 - Huntly
25 Gordon Street, Huntly, AB54 8AN
Tel: 01466 794488, Fax: 01466 794624 - Inverurie
1) Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie, AB51 3WB
Tel: 01467 628037
2) 8 North Street, Inverurie
Tel: 01467 620660 - Laurencekirk
42B Blackiemuir Avenue, Laurencekirk
Tel: 01561 378333 - Peterhead
53 Windmill Street, Peterhead, AB42 1UE
Tel: 01779 477333 - Portlethen
Rowanbank Road, Portlethen, AB12 4NX
Tel: 01224 783880 - Stonehaven
1) 56 Cameron Street, Stonehaven, AB39 2HE
Tel: 01569 767553
2) Carlton House, Arduthie Road, Stonehaven, AB39 2DL
Tel: 01569 763800 - Turriff Area - including Turriff, Fyvie, Aberchirder, Auchterless, Cuminestown, New Byth, Rothienorman:
Towie House, Manse Road, Turriff, AB53 7AY
Tel: 01888 562427 - Westhill / Kemnay
Unit 3/5, Westhill Shopping Centre, Old Skene Road, Westhill, Aberdeen, AB32 6RL
