FIFE ARABIC SOCIETY (FAS) 

We will use the fund to start new pilot project for the Arabic women in Fife. We will deliver a range of support services using the skills and experience of our trained volunteers, mentors and ....more

We will use the fund to start new pilot project for the Arabic women in Fife. We will deliver a range of support services using the skills and experience of our trained volunteers, mentors and befrienders from previous CCRF projects to address the most critical needs of families and individuals. Unemployment has consistently emerged as a main concern for the Arab and wider Ethnic minority community in all recent scoping studies. Recent figures show that male unemployment in the Fife Arab community is around 15%, compared with 7.7% among the general population of Fife, 8.1% for Scotland and 7.6% for the UK. Equivalent figures for females show 38% unemployed Arab women in Fife, 8.3% among the indigenous population, 6.5% in Scotland, and 6.7% for the UK. Lack of English Language skills and skills development is the biggest barrier to employment and progression. We will utilise the skills of our volunteer, mentors and befrienders in delivering ESOL tuition in homes, community meeting places and in our own Arab community centre in Kirkcaldy. We will build on the success of our skills academy model which was developed for the Syrian community. This model requires intensive one-to-one working with individuals to determine what skills and abilities they have, their level of proficiency in written and spoken English, their familiarity with IT, and the skills development and training that will be needed to help them achieve individual goals. Participants will have access to certified training in ESOL, IT, driving licence, catering and food hygiene. Several of our skills academy graduates are now playing a vital role as befrienders in working with the wider community. We will dedicate resources to empowering Arab women, to reduce their isolation and inequality of access to skills development, employment and training, as well as social, cultural, and leisure opportunities. Women will be encouraged to get engaged in culturally sensitive sporting and leisure activities such as Keep Fit, Swimming and Zumba sessions which will have a positive impact on their health and well-being. We will recruit suitable candidates for accredited VQ training in early years, childcare, and care of the elderly. Our plan is for our community centre to provide nursery, crèche, child care, and day care of the elderly services and activities which will provide a range of full and part-time posts. As a result of these activities we will see: • Clear evidence of the benefits of community led development activities. • An increase in the numbers of people accessing training and employment, and undertaking certificated training. • Higher levels of spoken/written English leading to increased self-confidence and optimism in the Arab women. • Evidence of greater integration between communities.

It will increase the capacity of FAS to deal with the continuing influx of refugees, and cope with the constantly increasing demand for services. It will also enable us to provide support over a ....more

It will increase the capacity of FAS to deal with the continuing influx of refugees, and cope with the constantly increasing demand for services. It will also enable us to provide support over a wider geographical area. It will increase our IT capacity to provide online access to Jobsearch and Skills Training. It will provide employment for a Project Worker to help manage the increasing volunteer workload, and activities at the Skills Academy

The Funding will build the capacity of FAS to deliver a wider range of support services in befriending and mentoring, advocacy, interpreting and translation, and increase our ability to support ....more

The Funding will build the capacity of FAS to deliver a wider range of support services in befriending and mentoring, advocacy, interpreting and translation, and increase our ability to support vulnerable community. It will give FAS the opportunity to develop and test a model of volunteer recruitment and placement and to establish Skill Academy which will be major step in the development of skills and enhancement of opportunities to the community which will be effective and sustainable after the lifetime of the project. It will improve knowledge understanding and communication between communities and FAS, as well as partnership working. The most disadvantaged and isolated individuals and families, particularly Syrians from war zones, will be identified more quickly through engagement in structured and secured environment. We expect the total number of participants in the project to be over 600.

The tragic events related to the current influx of refugees on the borders of Europe have touched the hearts of most people. It is only natural that the good people of Scotland have been among the ....more

The tragic events related to the current influx of refugees on the borders of Europe have touched the hearts of most people. It is only natural that the good people of Scotland have been among the first to open their hearts and minds to those fleeing with their lives from the areas of raging conflict. Fife offered to accommodate 140 refugees in the coming 4/5 years is to be welcome as our own contribution in caring for those in dire need of care and compassion. The first group of families has arrived in December 2015 and by the end of April 2016 there will be around 14 families located in Fife. Fife Arabic Society (FAS) feel that it is its duty as well as privilege to be the main point of contact as well as a conduit to offer counselling, help and representation for these refugees. Not only that its members share the same background, culture and language, but also because it has unrivalled record in presenting and serving the Arab community in Fife as well as the whole of Scotland. The project will provide the opportunity to recruit 8 volunteers, of whom 5 will be from the new Syrian arrivals, 3 from the Arab community. The project will allow us to PILOT an IT training course at which twice weekly sessions for 8 participants from the Syrian families. The project will offer Money Advice sessions for the Syrian and people on benefit and/or needing support.

The heritage of Arab culture and civilisation and its relevance to life in modern Scotland

Detailed information not yet available.