Scotland’s Migration Service Community Benefits Activities Impact Report

As part of our work with Scotland’s Migration Service, Seraphus delivered a programme of sessions for voluntary and community organisations across Scotland throughout 2025. The goal was to help advisers, charities, and community groups improve understanding, access, and outcomes for migrants navigating the UK’s increasingly digital immigration system.

Between May and October 2025, more than 100 frontline advisers from over 50 organisations took part in our sessions and received resources to equip them in the long term. Every participant reported feeling more confident and better equipped to advise on immigration status, migrants’ rights, and access to services.

Because advisers came from a broad range of fields, including housing, welfare, employability, and community engagement, the benefits extended far beyond immigration advice. A housing officer in Stirling or a financial inclusion worker in Aberdeen can now better recognise when a client’s immigration status is blocking access to support and know how to respond effectively.

Our sessions were developed and delivered with over 10 partner organisations and academics, including Citizens Advice Scotland, JustRight Scotland, New Europeans UK, and Child Poverty Action Group. Each brought specialist knowledge that complemented Seraphus’ legal expertise, ensuring the training was both practical and grounded in Scotland’s current social context.

During the session, participants told us the presentations were useful, and the issues explained spoke to exactly what they see in their day-to-day services. 

• Pre-Settled Status Holders under the EU Settlement Scheme (May 2025) – explored barriers facing those with Pre-settled status under the EUSS and shared advocacy strategies.
• Supporting Someone with a Digital Status (June 2025) – tailored practical session to help caseworkers support migrants with digital immigration system
• Caseworker and Community Sessions in Aberdeen and Glasgow (June 2025) – tailored to help local caseworkers support migrants with digital immigration system.
• Advice surgeries for migrant communities in Aberdeen and Glasgow (June 2025) – provided practical support to migrants in Aberdeen and Glasgow in navigating their immigration needs. 
• Third Sector Employers: Recruiting and Employing Migrants (July 2025) – addressed routes in employing non-UK nationals and barriers in the workplace.
• Migrants’ Rights Made Clear (September 2025) – covered the intersection between immigration status and other barriers, especially domestic abuse and obstacles experienced by young migrants.
• Supporting Vulnerable Migrants in Scotland: Access and Entitlements (October 2025) – examined how to support people with No Recourse to Public Funds and its impact.

Feedback showed the sessions bridged a critical gap between legal frameworks and knowledge, and frontline practice:

One participant shared that the content presented in the 90-minute session would help them a lot when working with migrants and refugees. 

The Community Benefits Activities have helped extend Scotland’s Migration Service’s reach into local communities, ensuring that advisers across sectors, and not just immigration specialists, can give informed support to migrants in Scotland.

The programme’s practical knowledge sharing between legal experts and community-level practice is helping to make the migration systems in Scotland more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to people’s real-world needs.