Salaam

Supporting refugees & asylum seekers, through a family-focused Weekend Club, crafts course Peaced Together, English Conversation Classes, Christmas hampers and more.

At the beginning of 2020, Edinburgh City Mission expanded its work among the most vulnerable in our city to encompass refugees and asylum seekers through our Salaam Ministry.

Salaam is Arabic for ‘hello,’ ‘welcome’ and ‘peace’. In the Bible the equivalent Hebrew word, Shalom, paints a picture of harmony, completion and wholeness; the state of the world as the loving Creator intended it.

Our prayer for our refugee friends and neighbours is that they find safety, peace, and the wholeness that comes from knowing that we are loved by our Heavenly Father.

Below are some key ministries and courses within the Salaam network. Get in touch to find out more!

The Weekend Club...

The Weekend Club is a fun monthly activity hosted by churches throughout Edinburgh for New Scots. Our aim is to create a safe and relaxed atmosphere where friendships can begin and grow, and where New Scots and their host communities can learn from each other’s cultures.

It is a fantastic way for churches to get a taste of what is like to share God’s love and welcome with their New Scots neighbours.

To find out more, please email our office – office@edinburghcitymission.org.uk.

Peaced Together...

Peaced Together is a creative arts course for women, that encourages participants to reflect on their lives and set out on a personal journey to hope. Each craft encourages a discussion of topics such as beauty, thankfulness, peace with the past and positive choices.

The Creative English version is for women who don’t have English as a first language, incorporating English practice in a creative and fun way.

For more information about when and where the course is running, please email Lydia at lydia@edinburghcitymission.org.uk.

English Conversation Class...

During the summer, we offer a fun and friendly online English conversation group for New Scot women. The sessions use an embodied approach to language practice, incorporating games, drama, videos, and real-life scenarios to learn vocabulary in a fun and practical way.

Email Lydia to find out more at lydia@edinburghcitymission.org.uk.

Befriending Programme...

As part of promoting integration and community-wide flourishing, our Befriending Programme connects New Scots with volunteers from different churches to facilitate friendship on an individual basis.

If you’d like to volunteer as a befriender, please contact Fiona C at fchristie@edinburghcitymission.org.uk.

Newcomer Welcome...

In Autumn 2021, Salaam and Christians from 8 partner churches organised and coordinated events and activities for Afghan families who arrived temporarily in Edinburgh. We hope to continue the welcome for new families and individuals who might be living in Edinburgh temporarily or in a more permanent basis.

New Scots Christmas Hampers...

In 2021, Salaam, in partnership with Central Church and 40+ other churches in Edinburgh, coordinated the delivery of 232 Christmas hampers across Edinburgh to New Scots. Each hamper was delivered by church volunteers as a symbol of welcome, love and solidarity.

If you would like to contribute to this initiative or get involved, please email Lydia at lydia@edinburghcitymission.org.uk.

Refugee Prayer Meetings...

Refugee Prayer Meetings are bi-monthly prayer gatherings in which we ask God for peace and protection for people who live in the midst of war, violence, poverty, climate change, etc. and for the situation of asylum seekers and refugees in Edinburgh, in the UK, and in the world.

To be included in our mailing list, please email Natalia at natalia@edinburghcitymission.org.uk.

Over and over again, the Bible commands us to love and care for all, in particular the widow, the orphan, and the immigrant. Salaam’s goal is to help Churches fulfill their calling of holy hospitality towards our refugee and asylum-seeking friends, and to share God’s love through all our words and deeds.

We continue to support some of our new neighbours through our Foodbanks+, Clothesbank+, and other Edinburgh City Mission ministries