International Migrants Day 2024

On the 18 December, International Migrants Day 2024 will be shining a light on migrant achievements worldwide. This year, the focus is on helping people stay safe by providing healthcare support throughout their migration journey. You can find out more about International Migrants Day 2024 from WHO.

At OPFS we know that the immigration or asylum processes can be especially challenging if you are also a single parent.

OPFS is dedicated to helping all single parents in Scotland, no matter the situation.

 

The Scottish Refuge Council

If you’re a single parent in Scotland who is looking for immigration information, or if you are going through the asylum process and seeking support, get in touch with the Scottish Refuge Council.

This organisation helps individuals looking for immigration advice and those going through the asylum process in Scotland to understand their rights and navigate financial and legal issues. They can work with the Home Office to help you through the process, and they can also aid you in social aspects such as enrolling in English classes and finding local community support.

Contact the Scottish Refuge Council by calling the free helpline on 0808 1967 274 or emailing families@scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk

Find your local Citizens Advice Bureau. Find out more information about the different types of Visas available in Scotland.

Support for Ukrainian individuals seeking safety in Scotland

The Scottish Refuge Council can also offer free, confidential legal advice to Ukrainians and their families on how to legally seek safety in Scotland. This service can be provided in other languages such as Ukrainian, Russian or Polish via interpreters on the helpline.

To access this service visit the  Scottish Refugee Council Ukraine Family Project or telephone the free helpline on 0808 196 7274

 

Healthcare in Scotland

Migrants play a key role in the health sector across many European countries. A 2020 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) assessment found that 23% of doctors and 14% of nurses in 31 European countries were migrants.

In Scotland, healthcare is provided free to all Scottish residents by Scotland’s National public health service (the NHS).

If you are a displaced person, refugee, asylum seeker, or if your asylum claim has been rejected, you are entitled to:

• Register with a GP in Scotland. More information on registering with a GP in Scotland
• Register with a dentist in Scotland. More information on registering with a dentist in Scotland
• Have eye tests in Scotland. More information on receiving eye tests in Scotland
• Access specialist healthcare, including maternity care, mental health services, sexual health services and care for specific conditions in Scotland
• Contact NHS 24, Scotland’s telephone service providing health advice 24 hours a day. Call them on 111 if you are looking for health services and cannot access your GP.
• Access emergency healthcare. In an emergency, do not phone NHS 24. For all life-threatening emergencies you should always dial 999 and request the ambulance service.

Find out more information about what healthcare you are entitled to on NHS Scotland.

Anyone can access free health information including topics such as dental care, smoking, alcohol, food and nutrition and mental wellbeing on the NHS inform website.

 

OPFS Helpline

We care, and we are here to help you. Our helpline is available to contact on 0808 801 0323 from Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 4pm. We are here to discuss anything that is worrying you. We also operate a live chat during the same hours, which you can use if you would prefer.

Our helpline offers an interpreting service for around 250 different languages. If you’re a single parent and English isn’t your first language, just call us and let us know which language you require, and we will immediately connect you to an interpreter.

Users of Scotland’s British Sign Language Interpreting Video Relay Service can contact us via contact SCOTLAND-BSL. You’ll need to be online and have the Contact Scotland’s BSL video calling software app downloaded. Call 0131 510 4555 to connect to the online interpreter using your usual phone. Alternatively, you can download the BT Relay UK app and an assistant will help you throughout the call, free of charge.

We will always listen without stigma, shame, or discrimination.