HUNDREDS of immigrants are set to boost Scotland's dwindling blood stocks after the number of donations dipped by 10% during the Easter school holiday period.
It is hoped the 'Bloody Foreigners' campaign will cast immigrants in a positive light ahead of the General Election on May 7.
Only 5% of Scotland's population regularly give blood, according to The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS).
Meanwhile, the most recent census in 2011 found that there are almost 370,000 migrants in Scotland.
The drive to mobilise this population to give blood is organised by a coalition of groups representing the country's migrant communities.
Campaign coordinator Joanna Zawadzka, 31, who was born in Poland and now manages charity Fife Migrants Forum, said: "We are always looking for new ways to encourage better integration of migrant and ethnic minority groups.
"I was thinking about how popular donating blood is in my native Poland - my own grandfather was involved in setting up the first blood donor centre in my home town.
"I was speaking to lots of people and it turns out everybody knows someone who gives blood and would be willing to do the same. So we decided to encourage even more people."
Zawadzka admits the campaign's title is "controversial" but she insisted that it is pertinent as the country prepares to go to the polls.
"In the build up to the national elections migrants will be one of the hot topics and we fear immigration will be used in a negative context," she said.
"We want to balance that out by reclaiming the phrase that's been used for decades to describe newcomers to this country.
"We're aware how controversial the title sounds but we feel it's very fitting.
"We want this phrase to take on a new meaning and that's to describe blood-donating migrants.
"It will also allow us to promote a positive image of migrant groups and show the general public that we are fully capable of integrating and giving back."
The Bloody Foreigners campaign will be launched tomorrow on social media and will be supported by a week-long series of local events.
Ethnic minority organisations in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Fife, London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Oxford are expected to encourage their members to become donors.
Volunteer Barbara Wesolowska, 31, who lives in Edinburgh, said: "Blood is a warm reminder of how similar we are to each other, and this campaign will be yet another positive contribution to society by migrants."
Dr Moira Carter, Associate Director of SNBTS, welcomed the initiative.
She said: "At this time, we would like to encourage everyone to make an extra special effort to give blood.
"Blood supplies reduced 10% during the Easter holiday period as people were busy with school holiday and various other activities.
"Although supplies are at healthy levels, we are currently contacting donors with the blood groups A Negative and B Negative asking them to come forward within the coming days and weeks.
"This will ensure Scotland's eight blood groups remain at the desired six day supply levels during the remainder of the Easter period."
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