The United Nations Convention’s definition of an Asylum Seeker/Refugee is:
"Any person, who owing to 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 Nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country."
Glasgow City Council entered into a contract with the Home Office to assist the Government discharge its duty under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The new Government system is administered by a new branch of the Home Office called the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). There are two elements to the new scheme:
- Support only (NASS only provide financial support)
- Full Package (NASS will arrange for accommodation and financial support)
Glasgow City Council provide NASS with 2500 flats for those persons claiming full package support and who are dispersed to Glasgow.
A freephone telephone number is now available to asylum seekers and refugees living in the Glasgow area to provide information on a range of services and local resources including language classes, childcare, social and leisure activities. In addition, Asylum in Glasgow is part of the 3rd Party Reporting scheme co-ordinated by Strathclyde Police. The service is available as follows:
Tuesday Turkish Freephone: 0800 027 6545
Wednesday French Freephone: 0800 027 6547
Thursday Arabic Freephone: 0800 027 6544
Friday Albanian Freephone: 0800 027 6546