Call to harness staff skills at refugee centre

LABOUR councillors have called for measures to ensure the "experience" of staff at the Edinburgh Refugee Centre is not lost when it closes next month.

The Cyrenians charity is shutting its operation in St George's West Church, Shandwick Place, after seeing its council funding cut from more than £30,000 to £7627.

The centre is used by people moving to the Capital from abroad – ranging from eastern European economic migrants to those fleeing persecution and war in their home countries.

The centre was set up in 2004 to help people find homes, health services, schools and work when they first arrived in Edinburgh.

At a council meeting this week, where the impact of inward migration on the city was discussed, Labour councillors attempted to pass a motion agreeing to "liaise with those involved in the centre to make sure that experience is not lost".

Group leader Ewan Aitken said: "I suggested they have a skill set which means they understand how to help people from other places cope with being in Edinburgh, and we should draw on that wisdom." But city leader Jenny Dawe said Councillor Aitken was just "making a political point about our budget".