The Project was set up in 2001 under Part V of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 as a result of dispersal of asylum seekers to Glasgow which began in April 2000. The initial solicitors left the project in September 2003 and January 2004. Two new solicitors were recruited in March 2004. In May 2005 one of the solicitors left the project and the existing solicitor is currently based at the EMLC. In July 2005 the Scottish Legal Aid Board, employing the remaining solicitor, announced that they will not fund this project beyond March 2006 when is due to end.

In the past year the project concentrated on the community side of its remit. Both solicitors were engaged in preparing and executing the Road-Show which was an introduction to asylum law and practice to law students at the Scottish Universities. Each session involved an hour lecture in asylum law and another hour performing a ‘mock hearing’ before an immigration adjudicator. The solicitors took on the roles of the Home Office representative and the appellant’s representative. The role of the appellant was played by our former client Innocent Jakisa, Ugandan refugee. His contribution was invaluable.

The Road Show took us to Glasgow University, Strathclyde University (two shows), Paisley University, Dundee University (one show and two additional lectures), University of Abertay – Dundee, Napier University – Edinburgh, Stirling University, Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and Aberdeen University. The Road Show was seen by 225 students and the events were very well received both by students and University staff. One of the lectures wrote to us:

“Just to say thanks again for the presentation yesterday…I have had very positive feedback from students this morning – one is now contemplating an honours dissertation on the subject, and at least a couple more considering job opportunities in the field. It is certainly a most worthwhile project, and I hope you will visit us again should you be repeating this or something more similar in the future”.

We have also helped the British Red Cross in their series of lectures ‘Positive Images’ aimed at high school pupils. We delivered presentations / lectures on asylum law and other asylum issues to several schools including Hutcheson’s Grammar School in Glasgow and St Thomas Aguin’s RC High School in Edinburgh. We also delivered several training sessions to volunteers working with asylum seekers at local ‘drop ins’. We have also attended several drop ins on a regular basis where we provided advice on a one-to-one basis.

We have taken an active part in ‘framework for dialogue’ across city and as a part of the dialogue we have delivered training on detention and removal issues on seven occasions. We have also been invited as a guest speaker on a few occasions including at the AGM of the Unitarian Churches of Scotland in Dunblane.

The Project carried on dealing with asylum and immigration cases.

Currently the project has 58 active asylum and immigration cases.