A Glasgow refugee charity has appointed a new chief executive as it prepares to expand its support for asylum seekers and refugees across Scotland.
Ronald Tagwireyi will take up the top role at Refugee Sanctuary Scotland (RSS), a charity supporting people at risk of homelessness and destitution during the asylum process.
Mr Tagwireyi brings extensive experience from across the refugee sector, having previously chaired the strategy committee of the Scottish Refugee Council and served as co-chair of Migration Exchange’s advisory group.
Originally from Zimbabwe, he first came to the UK in 1991 on a Commonwealth visa to study in Leeds before later working for BT in England.
He eventually moved into volunteering and now lives in Glasgow.
RSS currently operates mainly in Glasgow and Edinburgh, providing accommodation and support for asylum seekers and refugees.
The organisation currently houses 17 people across nine flats in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh.
The charity is also preparing to expand into Aberdeen in response to changes to the UK’s asylum dispersal policy, with plans to offer accommodation there from the end of the year.
RSS is supported by a network of partners including the British Red Cross and the Scottish Refugee Council.
Although the organisation has only three permanent staff, it has supported thousands of asylum seekers and refugees since it was established in 1996.
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Ronald Tagwireyi said: "I am very proud to have been appointed to this post, and I am determined to use all my experience of the ups and downs of the asylum journey to help others who are struggling to navigate their way through the process.
"We exist to help give people a measure of dignity at a time when the need it most – a time when they may be feeling lost and friendless in a strange and often disorienting environment and just need someone to talk to."
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