Refugees and asylum seekers

People in Aberdeenshire work together to give refugees and displaced people the safety and stability they need to rebuild their lives after war, conflict, or disaster. Welcoming and integrating new residents strengthens our communities and helps everyone thrive.

View the Aberdeenshire New Scots Integration Strategy 2025 (PDF 2MB).

How many people are resettled

To find out how decisions are made about numbers of refugees and asylum seekers we pulled together a timeline of key decisions.

September 2015 and March 2021

On 24th September 2015 Aberdeenshire Councilors approved the resettlement of 50 families through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons’ Relocation Scheme (SVPRS) and 8 families via the Vulnerable Children’s Relocation Scheme (VCRS).

In March 2021, the UK Government launched the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), replacing SVPRS and VCRS.

September 2021

On 13th September 2021 the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) began, alongside UKRS, and Aberdeenshire committed to resettling up to 30 families per year from all UNHCR refugee resettlement schemes.

March 2023

On 30th March 2023 Communities Committee reaffirmed support to continue resettling up to 30 families or households each year via Home Office resettlement schemes.

March 2025

On 27th March 2025 Communities Committee reaffirmed support to continue resettling up to 30 families or households each year and they also agreed to:

• Support Ukrainian displaced people and their sponsors
• Recognise the impact of the Home Office’s Widening Asylum Dispersal Policy in Aberdeenshire

Contact

For queries about refugee resettlement or volunteering, please email rrt@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

For queries about asylum dispersal please email asylum@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Find out how to make a Freedom of Information request.