Female refugees who arrived in Scotland under an acclaimed resettlement programme are struggling to integrate, a new report has revealed.

The study of the long-term experiences of a group of Congolese refugees who arrived in Motherwell in 2007 has found that a lack of childcare and support services is leaving women from the group isolated and finding it difficult to access services such as health and education, or to find work.

The Gateway Protection Programme run by the UNHCR in partnership with the UK Border Agency saw 80 of the world's most vulnerable people resettled in North Lanarkshire, in a scheme which took two years of preparation involving charities, housing associations, the police, job centre and health board.

It has been seen as a great success, with many refugees attending college, or gaining employment and the incomers receiving a warm welcome for the most part from the people of Motherwell.

However the new findings from a study carried out by the University of the West of Scotland and Oxfam say a lack of childcare and support services mean much more needs to be done.

The work follows up on a report carried out for North Lanarkshire a year after the arrival of the Congolese refugees - and is the first such longer term research.

The report co-author Dr Duncan Sim, recently-retired Reader in Sociology at UWS, said women weren't able to access the same services and found it harder to fit in than men.

"A lack of available childcare and English classes limited opportunities for employment and socialising, meaning some women sit in the house all day as they feel they cannot integrate," he said.

"There is a clear need to establish a befriender scheme to provide this support and help women make friends locally."

Many refugees felt that local employment agencies were not offering fair access to permanent positions or skilled work, and it was difficult to get work that matched their skills, Dr Sim added.

"There is a problem with proving abilities as the refugees don't have any paperwork to prove qualifications," he said, calling for a work shadowing scheme to help refugees demonstrate their skills and learn how to adapt them to work in Scotland.

Some refugees told researchers they had been rushed too quickly into homes and jobs after the traumas which caused them to seek asylum. The programme had almost been too effective, Dr Sim added. "In some areas we were too quick to offer help," he said. "The Congolese refugees came to Scotland in difficult circumstances, often losing or being separated from friends and family. Some felt they didn't have time to wipe away the tears before starting new jobs and learning about their new home.

"That said, many of the refugees said they felt welcomed by the people of Motherwell, who have on the whole been friendly and supportive since they've arrived. Gratitude was shown to the churches in particular, who offered help wherever they could."

Among those who had friends or family who had been relocated to England said those settled in Motherwell had done better, Dr Sim said. "Many also feel their experience is superior to those who had been relocated to England, saying they'd felt more welcome, had a better chance of employment and better access to services. But while much of the support offered works well in Scotland, there is clearly still room for improvement. Refugees want to work and are keen to integrate into the community and we need to find better ways to help them do that."

Blob

The Home Office must find quality accommodation for asylum seekers in Glasgow before their current housing is demolished, the Scottish Government has demanded.

Public Health Secretary Alex Neil said asylum contractor Serco's suggestion of using a backpackers' hostel as temporary accommodation is "completely unsuitable and unacceptable".

He has called on Home Secretary Theresa May to take action and find new accommodation before the current site, which includes flats at Petershill Drive, is demolished.

Mr Neil said: "Asylum seekers, many of whom are vulnerable, must have good quality, safe and secure accommodation.

"As existing housing is due for demolition, new accommodation needs to be urgently found to meet the needs of asylum seekers.

"However it is troubling to find out that at one point a backpackers' hostel was being considered by Serco as a place to bridge the gap. That is completely unsuitable and unacceptable."