The National Entitlement Card (NEC), also called a Saltire Card, is a Scottish smartcard used for free or reduced travel costs, membership to libraries or public leisure centres, and discounts for young people.
You can get an NEC if you are:
A person seeking asylum is someone who has fled persecution in their home country. They have sought protection in another country while waiting a decision on their asylum claim.
They have the right to remain in a country while their application is being processed.
It is not illegal to seek asylum in the UK. Seeking asylum is a legal right protected under international law. The UK, like other countries, has signed the 1951 Refugee Convention (Refugee Council website). This gives people the right to ask for protection if they fear persecution.
Asylum seekers do not need to claim asylum in the first safe country they arrive in. This is set out in the 1951 Refugee Convention. Around 70% of those who successfully claim asylum live in countries neighbouring their homeland. You can read statistics on where people who sought asylum stay (International Rescue Committee UK’s website).
Those who do travel beyond the first safe country they enter often choose a country where they have family, friends, or speak the language.
The UK is 17th out of all European countries for the number of people seeking asylum. This is based on population size. You can read about asylum and refugee resettlement in the UK (Migration Observatory website).
The UK Government operates the national asylum system. They manage where and how those seeking asylum are supported. Councils are required to be part of this scheme on a mandatory basis.
Adults waiting on the outcome of an asylum claim:
People seeking asylum are able to:
Some charities, community groups and volunteer organisations provide support to people seeking asylum.
Accommodation and financial support for people seeking asylum is arranged by the Home Office. A person seeking asylum will be granted both if they are assessed as destitute.
Mears Group manage the accommodation and support of asylum seekers in Scotland. They do this on behalf of the Home Office. Accommodation provided to asylum seekers can be in a hotel or an individual private property.
A small daily allowance (Scottish Refugee Council website) of around £7 is given to people seeking asylum by the Home Office. This is to cover food, toiletries, clothing, travel, and other essentials.
Those living in hotel accommodation get a reduced allowance because they do not need to pay for food. They receive around £1.40 per day.
Councils have no role in providing or identifying accommodation for people seeking asylum. Organisations, such as Mears, can ask councils about the suitability of a property for accommodation. Councils cannot prevent a property being used to accommodate people seeking asylum. The only exception is where use of a property would breach legislation. You can read about planning permission for accommodating asylum seekers (UK Parliament website).
Councils are not responsible for housing people who are seeking asylum. Councils are only responsible for providing housing to those who have the right to remain in the UK.
People who claimed asylum and have been given the right to remain then become refugees. They must then leave the accommodation provided by the Home Office. They are given notice of when they need to leave by. At this stage they can ask for accommodation support (housing) from their local council.
Councils assess requests for housing from people living locally who present as homeless. This can include refugees granted leave to remain.
Housing applications by local people and refugees are treated the same way. Their circumstances are assessed in line with existing procedures. Refugees are not given priority over any other group.
Asylum seekers make up 0.12% of Scotland’s population.
In Renfrewshire, there are 133 people seeking asylum (Home Office stats from June 2026, updated every quarter). This is further broken down into:
This is 0.07% of Renfrewshire’s current population. This means for every 10,000 people living in Renfrewshire, around 7 are people seeking asylum.
Renfrewshire has fewer people seeking asylum than the Scottish average. The Scottish average is around 12 people per 10,000. The UK-wide average is around 13 people per 10,000.
The above figures are correct as of 30 June 2026.
See information and statistics on people seeking asylum (UK Government website) from the Home Office. This information shows by country and council area.
See how we support people who present as homeless.
Children and young people under 18 can arrive without their parents or guardians and claim asylum. The law uses the term Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) to describe them. These children and young people are often very vulnerable. They may have experienced significant trauma and abuse.
In recent years, there have been a high number of children and young people arriving in south England. This has led to the development of a new national scheme. It applies to all councils across the UK and children are dispersed across the country. Each council has an equal role to provide support for these children and young people. It is a requirement by law.
In Scotland, the support given to these children and young people must also meet care legislation requirements.
In Renfrewshire, there were 41 children classed as UASC as of 31 March 2026.
A refugee is someone who is unable to live safely in their home country. This can be due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, or political opinion. It can also be because they are a member of a particular social group.
Refugees may be able to apply to come to the UK and stay for an agreed period. These are agreed through formal resettlement programmes.
People are also granted refugee status if their claim for asylum is successful.
The status of a refugee is recognised under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention (UNHCR website).
Refugees are usually entitled to the same social and economic rights as any UK citizen. This can include full access to medical treatment, education, benefits, housing and employment. Entitlement can vary due to resettlement schemes. Their entitlement remains the same for the full period a person is able to stay in the UK for.
Only 0.06% of Renfrewshire’s population are refugees.
A number of refugee resettlement schemes have been supported in Renfrewshire since 2015. These have been supported by the council and partners.
Recently, Renfrewshire has supported refugees through the Ukrainian Displaced Persons (paused to new applicants) and Afghan Resettlement Programme (UK Government website) (closed to new applicants).
Other refugees supported locally have arrived through the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) (Scottish Government website) (open to new applicants recommended by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)). This is the agreed route that brings the world’s most vulnerable refugees to the UK. The scheme prioritises people from regions of conflict and instability. They can be:
Currently, just under 600 refugees are supported in accommodation across Renfrewshire. These figures are correct as of 31 March 2026. These refugees have come through resettlement or humanitarian protection schemes. They include families and individuals from Afghanistan, Gaza, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria and Ukraine.
Resettlement schemes usually operate on the basis of visas. These can last between 3 and 5 years. Those coming to the UK through resettlement are approved prior to arrival. They have rights to education, employment and welfare benefits for the period of their visa.
Renfrewshire receives funding from the UK Government to provide resettlement support. This is used by our resettlement team to support refugees. The team help refugees with support to employment and wider support services.
Following the invasion of Ukraine and Russia, the UK Government opened up this resettlement programme. This allows people from Ukraine displaced by the war to come to the UK. The period they can remain is 3 years and this is granted through a visa. Anyone who came to the UK through this route was able to work and access any other entitlements of UK citizens.
Due to the ongoing nature of the conflict, people who came to the UK under this scheme have been able to apply for an extension. They can apply for an 18-month extension above the initial 3-year visa.
In Renfrewshire, there are over 500 people living here under this scheme. They live in 215 households. These figures are correct as of 31 March 2026.
Some of the funding for the Ukrainian Displaced Persons scheme has now ended.
An immigrant is someone who leaves one country to settle permanently in another. People typically immigrate:
A migrant might have left their home for some of the same reasons listed above. They may have no specific intention to remain in their new country permanently.
There is no single definition of immigrant and migrant in law. This means these terms are often used interchangeably.
Student visas allow people to live in the UK while they study at a university.
The UK is the second most popular place in the world for international students. They make up 24% of all UK university students. The main countries where international students come from are India and China.
Changes to student visas have changed which students come to the UK.
EU students no longer have home-fee status or access to student loans. New EU students at UK universities have fallen to 7% of all international students.
Dependent visas are heavily restricted since January 2024. This means many students are not eligible for this type of visa. It means they cannot bring family members with them to the UK.
The above figures are correct as of 31 March 2025.
Read about student migration to the UK (Migration Observatory website).
International students who graduate can apply for a Graduate Visa.
International graduates are now more likely to remain in the UK than in the past. 41% have remained in the UK five years after their course of study ended.
It can take around 10 years for people who first come to the UK as students to be granted permanent settlement status.
The above figures are correct as of 31 March 2025.
Councils must provide adult learning support for everyone in the community. This is required under law and is known as Community Learning and Development.
English classes are also known as English as a Second or Additional Language (ESL or EAL) classes. They are part of the adult learning programme.
The programme also includes adult literacy classes which are also available for those who speak English as a first language.
Anybody that wants to attend an English or literacy class is able to do so. This includes:
In Renfrewshire, English and literacy classes are delivered using national funding. People can also access English classes at West College Scotland.
Renfrewshire is a welcoming place for all. Many people have made our area their home over many years. We have a proud history of supporting people to settle here.
People come to live here for a variety of different reasons. They come from other places in Scotland and the UK. They come from abroad for work or study. Some have also come through the asylum system or refugee resettlement programmes.
We are often asked questions about what support is available for people who come to live here. We are also asked what the difference is between someone seeking asylum and a refugee. Here, we have provided factual information from national organisations to help answer these questions.
Questions about Renfrewshire's communities can be sent to stronger.communities@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
The Renfrewshire Voices Fund supports organisations that are led by, represent, or work with equalities groups in Renfrewshire.
The fund helps organisations gather insight, evidence, and lived experience from communities whose voices are often underrepresented.
We want projects that improve understanding of the experiences, needs, and priorities of local equalities groups. The information gathered will help shape future services, policies, and support across Renfrewshire.
Examples of equalities groups include:
You can apply if you're a:
If you're an informal group, you can still apply. However, if you're awarded funding, a constituted organisation with its own bank account must manage the grant on your behalf.
We also welcome proposals from national organisations, but the funding must be used towards activity focused on Renfrewshire residents.
You can use the funding for short-term projects that gather information, experiences and insight from equalities communities.
The fund can support project running costs such as:
Projects we may fund could include:
You cannot use the fund to cover the ongoing day-to-day costs of existing services or activities.
The fund is for one-off projects that gather insight and evidence.
You can apply for up to £4,000.
You should plan to spend the funding by June 2027.
If your project requires a longer delivery period, we'll consider an extension on a case-by-case basis.
Your proposal should:
Your proposal should explain how it provides insight into at least 1 of our Equality Outcomes for 2025 to 2029, and/or provide insight into one of the equalities groups which we do not have local and up to date information on.
Equality Outcomes for 2025 to 2029:
Equalities groups which we have gaps on local and up to date information on include:
Your proposal should also show how your project will:
You should describe your expected outputs, for example in reports, videos, or events.
If you need the application form in an alternative format (such as a paper copy) or support with your application you can contact Astrid Smallenbroek by:
If you are a British Sign Language User you can use the Contact Scotland-BSL app and ask the interpreter to dial 0141 487 3212.
Applications for this fund closed on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
We’ll email you to ask for:
Please have these ready so we can process applications quickly.
If you have provided these files for previous form of funding, we may not need to ask for them again.
A panel of staff from Renfrewshire Council, Engage Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership will review your application.
We’ll consider how well your application meets the Equality Outcomes, the gaps in local knowledge and evidence, and how it aligns with our services and priorities.
We'll consider:
The Leadership Board will make the final funding decisions.
We'll email you in late December 2026 to let you know whether your application has been successful.
We may contact you for further information about your project before making a decision.
We can offer successful applicants support with:
If you’re awarded funding, you must accept and comply with our standard grant terms and conditions.
We’ll ask you to report on the impact of your project once it has finished. We’ll send you a feedback form to complete, and we may visit your project.
Successful organisations must join the Diversity and Equality Alliance Renfrewshire (DEAR) network. This will give you opportunities to:
As well as agreeing to our grant terms and conditions, organisations should follow the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First Guidance (Scottish Government website).
The current guidance states that from 1 July 2023, all organisation receiving Public Sector Grants should be paying staff at least the Real Living Wage and providing effective channels for employee voice.
If you would like to discuss the priorities, application process, or other funding opportunities, you can contact us by:
If you are a British Sign Language User you can use the Contact Scotland-BSL app and ask the interpreter to dial 0141 487 3212.
Free public Wi-Fi is available in outdoor areas such as Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew town centres.
The service is in addition to the customer Wi-Fi available in many of the shops, cafes and restaurants in Renfrewshire's town centres.
See a map of the locations where you can access our free public Wi-Fi service.
You can also see the full list of buildings and locations where our free public Wi-Fi service is available:
Please contact the building directly to find out if the service is available there.
The service is also available on Street Stuff buses and the Skoobmobile mobile library at various locations around Renfrewshire.
To connect to our free public Wi-Fi:
There is no contract to sign, and we will not ask you for payment details when logging on or using the service.
Once you’ve connected to our free public Wi-Fi service, you can take advantage of ‘on-the-go’ connectivity in our town centre outdoor areas or public buildings, such as:
There’s no restriction on how long you can connect to the free public Wi-Fi in outdoor public areas or while buildings are open.
While no time limits apply, you must comply with the fair usage policy to help ensure the network remains available and performs well for everyone. You may also be required to re-accept the Wi-Fi terms and conditions periodically to maintain access to the service.
Connection speed is shared and will vary depending on:
When using our public Wi-Fi service, the device information we collect is the MAC (Media Access Control) address of your wireless interface, but we do not collect any other personal data.
We use this information to:
We will not disclose this information to any third party. Find out more about how we look after personal information with our privacy policy.
Our Wi-Fi service complies with the Digital Economy Act 2017 (UK Government website).
We use technologies to make sure our Wi-Fi service and network are resilient, reliable and available. For ease of connection, it is an unsecured network. This means you can connect to it quickly and easily without needing to enter a password.
We use technology to keep our Wi-Fi service reliable and available.
For ease of access, this network does not require a password, so you can connect quickly and easily.
Although no password is needed, our WPA3 network does provide a level of wireless encryption to protect data transmitted between your device and the Wi-Fi access point. This helps to keep your connection secure while you use the service.
This type of network is often called an "open network". You should take care when inputting confidential information, such as your credit card details, when using the free public Wi-Fi service. Make sure you trust the security of the website (for example, a shop or banking website or App) you are connecting to.
You can check if a website or link is a scam, phishing, or legit at Get Safe Online’s Check a website.
For security measures:
For more information about online security, visit the Get Safe Online website.
We use a filter to block content which could be considered a risk to the network or inappropriate to access over a public service. The network is Internet Watch Foundation compliant (Internet Watch Foundation website).
If you have any issues using the free public Wi-Fi service, contact our public Wi-Fi helpline by phoning 0344 848 9555. Calls cost standard network rates.
Our free public Wi-Fi service is available to everyone and offers free access to the internet at town centre outdoor areas and public buildings.
We expanded and upgraded our Wi-Fi service to improve the speed of connection and provide availability at many more council buildings. This includes:
The aim of customer development is to make it quicker and easier for customers to interact with the council while also freeing up valuable resources.
We work alongside the Customer Technology team to examine council services and identify how they can be improved. Often this is through the introduction of new technology, which enables our processes to be quicker and easier.
Any change made to a service is guided by our research into both customer and staff needs, so we greatly appreciate those who sign up to provide feedback.
To get involved, fill out our short survey and we’ll add you to the Customer Development volunteer database.
We’ll seek your opinion as we evaluate council processes, and you may even be first to trial new council services.
Our Customer Development team carry out research projects to improve the experience our customers have when interacting with the council.
A vital part of this research is gathering feedback from the public.
So, we’re looking for volunteers who would be happy to share their views.
We are looking for volunteers to deliver a new parenting programme called Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) to other parents and carers in your community.
Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) courses helps parents and carers to learn how to:
EPEC courses consist of 8 two-hour sessions facilitated by two trained and accredited Parent Group Leaders.
Each course session is interactive and involves a blend of small and large group discussions, role play, demonstrations, information sharing and reflection.
Parents get to practice and use new skills in everyday life to achieve specific goals.
You can become a Parent Group Leader if you:
Parent Group Leaders deliver the EPEC courses locally to small groups of parents of 2 to 11 years olds to help them:
As a Parent Group Leader, you can help other families with:
If you'd like to know more about volunteering for the EPEC programme first, you can get in touch by
You can apply online to become a Parent Group Leader volunteer on the Engage Renfrewshire website.
We will give you training and accreditation to become a Parent Group Leader. You will get comprehensive training and ongoing supervision and support.
The training is delivered one day a week for 10 weeks.
We will arrange the training days to suit parents and carers who volunteer. We can also arrange the training at evenings or weekends for people who work during the week.
We will also provide you with free childcare if you need it during the training.
Renfrewshire Council is proud to support Fairtrade across Renfrewshire, in partnership with a range of local organisations. We are fully committed to fairness and sustainability both at home and abroad.
Renfrewshire first achieved Fairtrade Zone status in 2009, after a campaign led by Renfrewshire Council and involving local Fairtrade groups, schools, churches, and businesses.
Local campaigning continues to increase awareness of fair trade within Renfrewshire and support the ongoing accreditation of the area's Fairtrade Community status.
Renfrewshire's current Fairtrade Community status runs until November 2026.
Towns and schools in Renfrewshire are encouraged to earn Fairtrade status through the Fairtrade Communities and Fairtrade Schools awards.
If you would like more information about campaigning in Renfrewshire, contact us on fairtrade@renfrewshire.gov.uk and we’ll put you in touch with local campaigners.
We encourage schools to become Fairtrade Schools.
Becoming a Fairtrade School means joining a worldwide movement where young people learn that whatever their age, they have the power to make a difference in the world.
It’s an opportunity to look at global issues such as where our food comes from or how we are connected to people around the world.
Students can learn about:
They can also learn a range of skills like:
Fairtrade School status is awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation.
There are three stages to becoming a Fairtrade School:
Each of these three stages will help your school learn about Fairtrade and get pupils actively involved in the promotion and awareness of Fairtrade.
Teaching about Fairtrade also fits different curriculum areas, especially Geography, Citizenship and PSHE.
You can find out about becoming a Fairtrade school or find teaching resources on the Fairtrade website.
Fairtrade Foundation is the independent non-profit organisation that licenses use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products in the UK in accordance with internationally agreed Fairtrade standards.
The Scottish Fair Trade brings together Fairtrade campaigners, Scotland-based NGOs and the Scottish Government, to promote Fair Trade across Scotland and maintain Scotland's status as a Fairtrade Nation.
The Scottish Government has provided funding for Scottish Fair Trade since 2010, to support and promote fair trade in Scotland, with the aim of achieving and maintaining Fair Trade Nation status.
You can read more about fairtrade, global solidarity and citizenship in the Scottish Government’s International Development policy.
International Development policy on gov.scot
SDG Network Scotland is an open coalition in Scotland. They’re for anyone committed to achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Scotland, which was one of the first nations to sign up to the Goals.
The World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) is a global authority on Fair Trade and a guardian of Fairtrade values and principles. It’s the home of fair traders including producers, marketers, exporters, importers, wholesalers, and retailers that demonstrate 100% commitment to Fair Trade and apply the 10 WFTO Principles of Fair Trade to their supply chain.
World Fair Trade Organisation website
Rainbow Turtle is Renfrewshire's only dedicated Fair Trade shop. The Rainbow Turtle volunteers support schools, businesses, and community groups to sell or serve Fairtrade goods at events or via their tuck shops and canteens. It also offers a range of educational resources.
True Origin is a Fairtrade import and wholesale company owned by the charitable Balmore Trust. It has helped establish supply chains for hundreds of Fairtrade products securing much needed employment in developing countries. Based in Renfrewshire, True Origin is turning around the fortunes of farmers in Malawi through its 90kg Rice Challenge. Get your challenge underway.
Fairtrade helps producers, farmers, and workers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions, fair pay, and sustainable working environments.
With simple shopping choices you can get them a better deal - meaning they can make their own decisions, control their futures, and lead the dignified life everyone deserves.
Products with the Fairtrade mark are guaranteed to have: