Community leaders, faith groups, service providers, and residents came together at a Community Cohesion Event to reaffirm Aberdeen’s proud tradition as a welcoming, multicultural city.
The event, which brought together a diverse cross-section of the city, focused on supporting asylum seekers, resettled individuals, and all those who call Aberdeen home.
The event at the Town House explored the vital role of faith communities and local organisations in supporting new arrivals, sharing best practices, and developing shared commitments to integration and resilience. Attendees reviewed data on local asylum and resettlement activity, celebrated Aberdeen’s successes, and discussed the city’s ongoing need to grow its population and support changing community needs.
Participants heard powerful case studies and research insights, highlighting both the challenges faced by newcomers and the city’s robust response through its Resettlement Delivery Plan. The event also addressed the importance of maintaining a warm welcome, acknowledging risks to community cohesion such as misinformation, poverty, and the impact of external protest activity.
A key focus was on practical action: through workshops and open discussion, attendees identified opportunities for joint working, immediate actions, and longer-term strategies to strengthen community cohesion. The event concluded with a collective commitment to ensure Aberdeen remains a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and able to thrive.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “Aberdeen’s strength lies in its diversity and its people’s willingness to support one another. We are committed to working together so that everyone—regardless of background—can feel at home here. Community cohesion is not just a goal, but a shared responsibility.”