Refugee Week is a time to celebrate the stories, cultures, contributions and courage of people who have come to the UK in search of safety.

It is also an important moment to challenge some of the myths and misconceptions that can shape public conversations about refugees, people seeking asylum and migration.

Here in Edinburgh, we see every day that people are much more than the headlines written about them. They are parents, students, volunteers, neighbours, colleagues, artists, campaigners, community builders and friends. Many are rebuilding their lives after experiences of war, persecution, displacement, loss and uncertainty. Many are also contributing deeply to the places they now call home.

Scotland has a long-standing commitment to welcoming New Scots and supporting people to rebuild their lives from the day they arrive. But for that commitment to mean something in everyday life, we all have a role to play in creating communities where people feel safe, respected and included.

That includes challenging misinformation when we see it.

This Refugee Week, The Welcoming Association is sharing this Mythbusters resource to help people respond to common myths with facts, compassion and confidence.

Why this matters for a welcoming Edinburgh

Misinformation doesn’t stay online. It can affect how people are treated in everyday places – in streets, schools, workplaces, services and neighbourhoods.

In Edinburgh, we know community is built through small, human moments:

A conversation in an English class
A shared meal
A volunteer shift
A walk around the city
A parent finding support
Someone gaining confidence to speak, study, work or make new friends

These moments help people rebuild their lives, and they help all of us build a kinder, fairer and more connected city.

This Refugee Week, we invite you to challenge myths, share facts and help create a Scotland where people seeking safety are met with dignity, not suspicion.

Download the Mythbusters PDF:

Mythbusters – (A4) (2)Download

You can download our Refugee Week Mythbusters PDF and share it with your friends, family, workplace, community group or organisation.

Please help us spread the word by downloading the resource, sharing it widely, and following The Welcoming Association on social media for more Refugee Week stories and updates.

Useful resources and sources

International Rescue Committee – 11 myths and misconceptions about refugees debunked
https://www.rescue.org/uk/article/11-myths-and-misconceptions-about-refugees-debunked

Migration Observatory, University of Oxford – Long-term international migration flows to and from the UK
https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/long-term-international-migration-flows-to-and-from-the-uk/