This project was undertaken by researchers at the University of Glasgow in 2020-21. It focuses on adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), alongside initiatives not branded as ESOL but related to language learning and/or migrants’ socio-cultural integration. In…
During August and September 2020, GREC conducted a survey to gather feedback from people with protected characteristics to feed into Aerdeen City Council’s Equality Outcomes. The survey was complemented by a series of focus groups held in October and November.…
In an online roundtable discussion, members of community groups and third & public sector organisations reflected on Brexit’s impact on EU citizens in North East Scotland. Six speakers presented diverse perspectives and more than 65 people attended the discussion that…
The following research is summarised below: In the 2018 research, a similar proportion of ethnic minority and Scottish/British participants felt their neighbourhoods were safe places to live: 89.5% and 86.3%, respectively. There were similar findings in the 2016-17 research: more…
During August and September 2020, GREC conducted a survey to gather feedback from people with protected characteristics to feed into Aerdeen City Council’s Equality Outcomes. The survey was complemented by a series of focus groups held in October and November.…
While data was not collected on participant ethnicity in the Community Survey or Citizens’ Panel Survey, both found that participants knew people in Aberdeenshire who had experienced prejudice, discrimination or harassment (66% and 39%). A smaller proportion (38% and 22%)…
In an online roundtable discussion, members of community groups and third & public sector organisations reflected on Brexit’s impact on EU citizens in North East Scotland. Six speakers presented diverse perspectives and more than 65 people attended the discussion that…
At the end of 2020, the Scottish Alliance of Regional Equality Councils (SAREC) carried out a research project to better understand the experiences of Chinese, East and South-East Asian communities in Scotland during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. In a…
Whilst the respondents were not a representative sample, it was of interest that relatively few of them had made use of ESOL classes, and most of those who did had self-reported as seeking improvement rather than the basics. Both SSAMIS…
Language was a key issue for the group of migrants interviewed in the SSAMIS project: it cut across every sphere of life and had a significant impact on migrant experiences of moving to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Language affected what kind…
Less than a quarter of ethnic minority participants disagreed with the phrase ‘I can understand the local accent’ 41.6% had lived in the UK more than 10 years, and only 23.5% were relative newcomers. Nearly all rated their spoken English…
By far the top concern for Syrian New Scots was language learning. While most were attending ESOL classes, many felt that provision was inadequate, citing classes at limited times and locations, lack of opportunity for progression, or conversely, classes that…
While data was not collected on participant ethnicity in the Community Survey or Citizens’ Panel Survey, both had participants who felt that a lack of translation and interpretation services make it difficult for people who do not have English as…
The following research is summarised below: 351 people took part in the 2018 research, of whom 105 were ethnic minorities (29.6%), including several who completed the surveys in Polish. 197 participants were Scottish, English or British, 29 participants skipped the…
Focus groups were conducted to discuss migrants’ early experiences in Aberdeen, particularly around health related issues. For newcomers, a key source of information was word of mouth within their own ethnic or language communities, including friends, family, and even local…
