As we approach the end of 2024, I want to take a moment to reflect on We Are Here Scotland’s fourth year—a year of growth, collaboration, and resilience. We’ve expanded our initiatives, supported more creatives, and amplified Black and Global Majority voices across Scotland’s creative industries. To everyone who has supported us, thank you for your unwavering belief in our mission. Your support over the past four years has been invaluable.

This year, we launched several new projects, including the Creators' Fund+, providing vital funding and mentorship to Black and Global Majority artists. Our Creative Balance project, led by Halina Rifai and Matt Hickman, continues to address the mental health needs of our community, highlighting the importance of long-term support for future generations. Last week, we launched our directory of Black and Global Majority artists, creatives, and cultural change-makers in Scotland. This initiative, long overdue, fills a gap that others with greater resources should have addressed years ago. To the white-led organisations offering thanks, you're welcome. But we know that systemic change requires more than words. It starts with grassroots action, free from the constraints of outdated systems, so you can support our continued labour and efforts via the donation tab on our website.

We’ve been privileged to form new partnerships this year. A heartfelt thank you to the artists, creatives, mentors, and collaborators who’ve joined us on this journey. Together, we’re building a community rooted in mutual support, respect, and shared values of kindness and empathy.

I want to especially acknowledge my colleague Halina Rifai, whose tireless dedication, expertise, and care have been integral to the growth of We Are Here Scotland over the past four years. Thanks also to Matt Hickman for his contributions and support towards Creative Balance, and to Arusa Qureshi for her help and guidance with the development of our Directory and her continued work and insight co-curating the AMPLIFI music series with our friends at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh, an organisation who’ve been a great support in recognising the importance of creating spaces for our community.
 
This year has brought challenging and painful moments, as we’ve witnessed the continued disregard for Black and Global Majority lives in the UK, Palestine, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Congo, and beyond (please see links to resources at the end of this piece). Sadly, this is not new to us, and these stories persist across generations. Yet, I remain hopeful that we can continue to use our voices to amplify those in need. Our stance is clear: every Black and Global Majority community facing oppression or genocide deserves the right to thrive, live freely, and achieve justice.

As we look ahead to 2025, our mission remains focused: to deepen our impact, strengthen our community, and create spaces where Black and Global Majority artists and creatives can flourish. Spaces built by us, for us, are essential to our growth in an industry often resistant to change. While we welcome collaborations, it will never come at the expense of our community. We are intentional about building sustainable relationships that benefit many, not just a few. To our community, I would always implore you to create your own spaces and seek neither acceptance nor validation from those who cannot fully understand your lived experiences. We also have to acknowledge that as an organisation we are conscious that we are still finding our way in terms of accessibility and further highlighting the importance of intersectionality for our community, and this is something that is important for us to address whenever possible.  I would also encourage white-led organisations and peers in this sector to truly reflect and think about what they can do better beyond performative gestures or EDIA box ticking going into 2025. 

Finally, as we head towards the end of the year, I hope everyone can take out time for rest and self-care. Like 2023, this year has been demanding, and we all deserve moments to recharge. Thank you for being part of our journey. We’re excited to see what we can achieve together in 2025.

With gratitude and hope
Ica Headlam (Founder)
We Are Here Scotland

Resource List for Humanitarian Support & Education

Palestine

• Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP): https://www.map.org.uk/

• Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF): https://www.pcrf.net/

• UNRWA: https://www.unrwa.org/

• Defense for Children International - Palestine: https://www.dci-palestine.org/

Lebanon

• Lebanese Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.lb/

• UNICEF Lebanon: https://www.unicef.org/lebanon/

• Beit el Baraka: https://www.beitelbaraka.org/

• Lebanese Food Bank: https://lebanesefoodbank.org/

Libya

• UNHCR Libya Operations: https://www.unhcr.org/libya.html

• International Medical Corps: https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/country/libya/

• Islamic Relief Libya: https://islamic-relief.org/where-we-work/libya/

• Save the Children Libya: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/libya

Yemen

• MSF Yemen: https://www.msf.org/yemen

• UNICEF Yemen: https://www.unicef.org/yemen/

• WFP Yemen: https://www.wfp.org/support-us/stories/yemenappeal

• Yemen Emergency Appeal: https://humanappeal.org.uk/appeals/yemen-emergency-appeal

Syria

• Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS): https://www.sams-usa.net/

• Syria Relief: https://syriarelief.org.uk

• White Helmets: https://www.whitehelmets.org/

• Hand in Hand for Syria: https://hihfad.org/

Sudan

• Save the Children Sudan: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/sudan

• UNICEF Sudan: https://www.unicef.org/sudan/

• Sudan Relief Fund: https://www.sudanrelieffund.com/

• International Rescue Committee Sudan: https://www.rescue.org/country/sudan

Democratic Republic of Congo

• Congo Peace Network: https://congopeacenetwork.org/

• Action Against Hunger DRC: https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/location/africa/democratic-republic-congo/

• Eastern Congo Initiative: http://www.easterncongo.org/

Additional Resources for Context & Updates

• Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.org/

• Human Rights Watch: https://www.hrw.org/

• ReliefWeb: https://reliefweb.int/

• The New Humanitarian: https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/

• Migrant Women Press: https://migrantwomenpress.com/