…in conversation with Selina Hales
As we move into 2026, it can feel as though the world is a scary place full of uncertainty. But look a little closer at what’s happening across Glasgow and you’ll find people working to make things better. It’s a reminder that individual small acts of support can have – if there are enough of them – real impact. Anne Marie Hillan recently met Selina Hales, founder of Glasgow charity Refuweegee. What she discovered was a powerful story of humanity and determination. And an energised community effort to ensure that those arriving in our city are met with dignity and kindness.
Selina Hailes
I first met Selina Hales while organising an event in Glasgow and wondering if Refuweegee might be willing to come on board as our charity partner. I knew a little about the organisation – or at least I thought I did. But it wasn’t until I sat down to interview Selina for this article that I began to understand the scale of the refugee crisis Glasgow is currently facing, and just how remarkable Refuweegee truly is.
Selina grew up in the Borders and later studied Sociology and Psychology at Glasgow University. She never left the city after arriving as a student. One of her early roles was working in Barlinnie Prison. Coming from the Borders, Glasgow was a complete culture shock. She worked with men convicted of many different offences, but behind so many of their convictions were stories of trauma, poverty, abuse and disadvantage. It reshaped her understanding of how people fall through the cracks and how systems often fail to catch them. Later, in employability work across Glasgow’s deprived communities, she again saw the gap between government initiatives and real need. She wanted to make a genuine difference but hadn’t yet found the right way to do it.
Refuweegee
Then came the Syrian Refugee Crisis of 2015. Selina and her friend Hannah felt compelled to act. Their idea was simple but powerful: to make sure people arriving in Glasgow after fleeing war felt immediately welcomed. The name Refuweegee – combining ‘refugee’ and ‘weegie’ – was inspired and captured the imagination straight away. Glasgow embraced the idea wholeheartedly. With early support and a small space on Cochrane Street, the charity began. No one imagined it would be even more necessary ten years later, or that it would grow into an employed staff team of thirteen, supporting thousands every year.
Many of us will know the city’s slogans over the years – ‘Glasgow’s Miles Better’ and, more recently, ‘People Make Glasgow’. Speaking to Selina, it struck me that the most recent one is not just a publicity line. The response to Refuweegee from the very beginning has been phenomenal. It shows that Glaswegians don’t just talk about being welcoming; so many of us absolutely live it. The warmth, generosity and instinct to help are what have carried this charity for a decade.
Because what astonished me most wasn’t just the level of hardship experienced by people arriving from all over the world – though that is overwhelming – but that Refuweegee is almost entirely funded and supported by the community. They receive no council funding and no government support. Some charitable grants and lottery awards help, but the heart and soul of this charity is powered by the ordinary people of Glasgow and the West of Scotland. Refuweegee is not political. It is humanitarian. Everyone is welcomed and treated with dignity. Hearing of Refuweegee’s work is humbling, but the community support behind it is absolutely extraordinary.
Increasing Need
During 2024 and 2025, Glasgow experienced some of the highest levels of displacement it has ever seen. People are arriving from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, Eritrea, and other regions in crisis. They are also arriving from other areas of the United Kingdom where they no longer feel safe. Referrals to Refuweegee come from schools, NHS staff, health visitors, social work teams and members of the public. Many people simply walk in. Some are living in tents or sleeping bags, or in temporary accommodation that is unsafe or unsuitable. Refuweegee now provides tents, blankets and warm clothing simply so people can survive rough sleeping. On any given day, between 300 and 500 people come through their doors. Selina can recount story after story of families and individuals needing shoes, prams, or basic food and having nowhere else to turn.
One group currently relying heavily on Refuweegee are homeless single Black men who do not feel safe in local hostels. Glasgow’s homelessness accommodation is extremely stretched and often geared towards people with addiction-related or complex needs. These environments can be volatile and are not always appropriate for people who have fled conflict and persecution. This gap in provision leaves many vulnerable, and Refuweegee steps in where it can.
Now based in George Square, Refuweegee operates from a bright, busy community hub. There is a drop-in space, community kitchen, free shop, donation-sorting area, private safe spaces, offices and rooms for language, sewing and activity classes. The drop-ins provide essentials and support in a calm, respectful environment.
Volunteering
The free shop – set up like a real shop – allows people to choose clothing, toys, household items, books and seasonal goods with dignity. Communal meals run twice a week and the team celebrates cultural and religious festivals throughout the year. The Welcome Pack remains one of their most loved initiatives: essentials combined with a small Scottish gift and a handwritten welcome letter from someone in the community. Notes come from schoolchildren, community groups and individuals, and they mean more than many people realise.
Refuweegee also delivers over 150 essential packs each week. These include food, toiletries, nappies, warm clothing, bedding and, when needed, prams or pushchairs. An updated list of needed items is always available on their website, along with a Welcome Pack Appeal and Donation Guide so people can see what is most useful.
Volunteers are vital to the charity. Roles vary from sorting donations and preparing essential packs to supporting the shop, helping at drop-ins and occasionally assisting with driving. Some volunteers come weekly; others help when they can. Volunteering is not about particular skills but about kindness, empathy and willingness. Anyone interested can get in touch via volunteering@refuweegee.co.uk. Refuweegee also relies on businesses and companies who choose the charity for their fundraising – the Kiltwalk teams, bake sales, toy drives and workplace collections all make a remarkable difference.
Despite the enormous need in the city, there is currently no formal government or council funding. Individual social workers absolutely recognise the value of Refuweegee’s work. They see acute hardship daily and often turn to the charity so people are not left without options.
Tenth Anniversary
Social work teams are among Refuweegee’s most frequent referrers. Despite chronic underfunding across the sector, social workers and Refuweegee often work side by side to meet urgent needs. It is a partnership built on shared humanity.
Many of the people supported by Refuweegee are skilled and eager to work, but current legislation prevents most from doing so. Many in the refugee community choose to volunteer with Refuweegee, giving back in whatever way they can. Volunteering provides structure, purpose and connection at a time when paid work is not permitted.
Looking ahead, Selina explains that December 2025 marked the charity’s tenth anniversary. In that time, they have distributed more than 10,000 Welcome Packs, supported thousands across Glasgow and beyond, and worked with schools, community groups and organisations throughout Scotland. Their ‘Safe With Me’ initiative invites businesses and individuals to identify as safe spaces for those experiencing hostility or hate – something that is, sadly, increasingly needed. What began as a response to a crisis has become a vital part of Glasgow’s humanitarian landscape, powered entirely by community goodwill.
Selina and her team continue working, hoping for government support and business involvement, but knowing that the people of Glasgow and Scotland have never once failed to answer a call for help.
Embraced
After speaking with Selina, it’s impossible not to feel in awe of her and her passion and drive to make a difference. It’s also impossible not to feel extremely proud of all that Refuweegee represents. The definition of a refuweegee according to the charity is ‘A person who upon arrival in Glasgow is embraced by the people of the city, a person considered to be local’.
In a city under pressure, Refuweegee as a charity has become a lifeline powered entirely by ordinary people. As we move into 2026 it’s clear that through Refuweegee, Glasgow has shown up to make folk welcome and to help them out. It always has and, if Refuweegee’s story is anything to go by, it always will. But they still need all the help we can give them, so please support them in whatever way you can.
And Selina, thank you for having the idea and being the inspiration behind this incredible charity: we’re all fae somewhere.
