Our projects
Practical help for a fresh start
At Re-Act, we run a range of projects designed to support refugees as they build new futures in Scotland. Our projects are shaped by the needs of the people we support – whether it’s providing essential Welcome Packs, creating safe spaces for children to play, offering mental health support, or helping families settle into their new communities.
Playgroup
Our weekly playgroup in Edinburgh welcomes 30-40 New Scot children every Saturday, offering a variety of activities like music, sports, arts, and crafts. These activities help children develop social skills, learn new practical abilities, and integrate into their new community.
In addition to the playgroup, we also run workshops for teens, covering skills like animation, podcasting, and photography.
This project is made possible with support from The Robertson Trust. Our teen workshops are supported by the Essentia, administered by Foundation Scotland.
Welcome packs
Since 2015 we have providing Welcome Packs to newly-arrived refugee children aged 0-18 years. Initially for children from Syria, we now also support those arriving from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan, and other countries.
To date, we’ve distributed over 1,000 packs. Each backpack can be used as a school bag and includes essential items such as stationery, water bottles, snack or lunch boxes, hats, scarves, gloves, underwear, pyjamas, soft toys, books, games, and a Welcome to Edinburgh booklet in both English and the child’s first language. We also provide New Baby Welcome Packs and Starting School Packs.
This programme is supported by Safe Deposit Scotland, the Scottish Lottery Children's Fund, and the University of Edinburgh Community Grant Fund.
Homework club
The Home Work Club Project provides 1 to 1 after-school tutoring for primary school students.
In partnership with the University of Edinburgh, experienced tutors volunteer to provide personalised classes tailored to each student’s needs, delivered virtually. This helps students develop the language skills needed to integrate into their Scottish communities, and improve their prospects of further education and employability.
Happiness group
The Happiness Group is a weekly social meeting for the older members of Edinburgh's refugee community.
Each week, the participants explore and learn about the city, ask for practical information, and interact with a wider community of friends, all of which helps with social integration and general wellbeing.
The group was launched in 2020 at the request of participants aged 50-75, who play a central role in organising the group's activities.
Mental health
Re-Act is leading a project that focuses on enhancing the mental health and well-being of Syrian, Kurdish, and Afghan refugees. The initiative includes two community-based psychosocial support groups for Syrian and Kurdish refugees and one for the Afghan community, using a person-centred approach that integrates Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Problem Management Plus (PM+).
These sessions provide psychoeducation, reduce mental health stigma, and address key psychosocial challenges, while fostering a sense of community and resilience among participants. The support groups have focused on addressing the unique cultural and emotional needs of individuals and families adjusting to new environments after displacement.
This initiative would not have been possible without the trust and support of the Syrian, Kurdish, and Afghan communities, whose engagement and contributions have been central to its success. Re-Act’s work highlights the vital importance of culturally sensitive, community-driven approaches in supporting refugee mental health and building stronger, more inclusive communities.
The project is led by Liz McArthur and Sawsan Osso, in collaboration with Dr. Clara Calia, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Dr. Alice Gritti, Teaching Fellow in Psychology, Arabic-speaking counsellor Lama Bouchema, and several MSc Clinical Psychology students from the University of Edinburgh.
Voting rights for Syrian refugees
In partnership with Syrian Futures, Media Education, and the Edinburgh Electoral Registration Office, Re-Act created a step-by-step video to guide Syrian refugees through the process of registering to vote.
The video was made in response to feedback from the New Scot community, who shared that completing the paperwork to vote during the 2021 elections was challenging.