Pack for Dundee
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WELCOME TO DUNDEE For international workers, students and their families WELCOME TO DUNDEE For international workers, students and their families Being able to speak some English is migrant workers although there may be a important. It will help you get work and waiting list. make life easier so try and do a basic course before you come here – for more You can request help with interpreting and details see the Across the Language Barrier translating to access public services such as section. There are plenty of opportunities those from Tayside Police, Health Services for you to improve your language skills once (NHS Tayside) and Dundee City Council. you’re here – courses are available at every level and are often provided free to new Map courtesy of Dundee City Council’s Public Relations Department. WELCOME TO DUNDEE For international workers, students About this guide and their families We want to give you the important facts and information about what you will need when Contents you arrive in Dundee We cannot include all Welcome to Dundee 5 the details here but we will point you in the right direction so you can get expert advice. Living in Dundee 5 We recommend you follow up weblinks Housing Associations 8 directly with organisations to get detailed information. You should always take further Living in Your Home 1 advice based on your own situation. Bills and Services 15 This guide provides information about living and working in Dundee – from gaining Money Issues 18 employment, to looking for housing and Working – Finding a Job, finding schools for your children - as well as Rights and Responsibilities 19 information about the leisure and cultural opportunities which Dundee has to offer. The National Minimum Wage 20 Emergency Services 26 Laws in the UK 28 Welcome by Lord Provost Health Services 0 On behalf of the citizens of Dundee, I would like to reach out and welcome you to the Transport and Getting Around 35 City. Education and Training 40 Dundee’s economy is growing and we Across the Language Barriers 42 welcome new people who can bring fresh talent and ideas to the City. Childcare 45 I hope that you will settle and prosper Faith 46 here in Dundee and contribute to our LGBT 46 shared future. Leisure And Culture 47 Useful Contacts 50 Advice and Information Services 54 Holidays and Celebrations in Dundee 56 John Letford Lord Provost Useful Retail Outlets 57 Thanks and Welcome Pack for Migrant Workers Initiatives which gave us a good basis from which acknowledgements to start. We are delighted to have produced this booklet through the Dundee Equality and Diversity Partnership and Dundee Partnership. Christine Lowden & Sgt Iain Glass The Partnership aims to lead and champion Co-chairs Equality & Diversity Partnership the promotion of equality and diversity issues, challenge discriminatory practices and promote a culture which values Welcome to Dundee all individuals and communities. The Welcome to Dundee – the City of Discovery, Partnership is committed to fostering and Scotland’s fourth city. sustaining an inclusive environment that empowers all members of our community Dundee is a modern and vibrant city with to achieve their full potential without fear of a rich history and proud traditions. It has prejudice or discrimination. had strong links with Baltic and Northern European countries, through trading, since Following consultation with black and ethnic the 12th century. minority communities in the city the need to develop more information for newcomers Set by the River Tay, one of Europe’s most was identified. At the same time the Migrant impressive geographic locations, Dundee Workers Scoping Group had identified the is a place where the future is now being same need. Further consultation took place forged. with overseas workers and students living in the city to establish what information should Dundee is Scotland’s student city with more be included. young people in full-time education per head of population than any other city. Dundee We would like to thank all the contributors boasts two universities, a College of Further for their valued input, individuals who and Higher education and an Institute of took time to make comments and Higher Education. the members of the task group for all their work. This included staff and Massive advances in medicine and the volunteers from:- development of electronic entertainment are achievements of the city and its people are Dundee City Council famed for their innovation and invention. Dundee Voluntary Action A revitalised city centre and retail scene, NHS Tayside the thriving Dundee Contemporary Arts Tayside Police Centre, Dundee Repertory Theatre and Volunteer Centre Dundee the impressive Ice Arena are some of the huge choices of leisure options on offer Dundee Interfaith Council symbolising a confident and optimistic city Hillcrest Housing Association in the 21st century. We would also like to acknowledge the Living in Dundee Scottish Executive’s ‘Scotland is The Place’, There are many types of housing available and both Angus and Devon and Cornwall’s in Dundee ranging from bed-sit flats to larger detached homes. Your choices about 4 5 the type of property available to you will Student Accommodation depend on your circumstances, your income Students new to Dundee normally look and your immigration status. for somewhere affordable, comfortable Nearly half of the properties in Dundee and within daily travelling distance of are privately owned. The rest can be their University, College or Institute.There rented through the local council, housing are a variety of different types of student associations or private landlords. If you are accommodation. Staying in any of the halls a student you can rent through universities of residence means that you can look forward and colleges. to living in modern comfortable surroundings with all the facilities you need to make your Like most cities there are areas where stay enjoyable. demand for housing is very high and other areas where demand is lower. Over the Both the University of Dundee and the last 10 years a lot of work has been done University of Abertay Accommodation to regenerate parts of the city to improve Offices can provide information to students housing and the environment. about student and privately rented accommodation. The University of Abertay Renting a Home prioritises first entrants and overseas students who are new to Dundee. The main way to rent a home is either from the local council, a housing association Contact: [email protected] or a private landlord. Another option is for further information. bed and breakfast and guesthouse accommodation. This type of For the University of Dundee visit their accommodation may be expensive but is website: www.dundee.ac.uk suitable as a short-term option. Dundee College offers a comprehensive Rented properties are available furnished accommodation service with a number or unfurnished. Rent is usually paid on a of flats and bed sits. In addition they can monthly basis and you will also have to pay arrange for students to stay with families in Council Tax (a tax based on the value of the the area - a particularly attractive option for property you are living in which contributes overseas students. to paying for council services). Contact Tel: 01382 825802 Depending on where you rent your property or Email: [email protected] from you will have different rights and responsibilities, for example the type of Local Council Housing tenancy, what is included in the rent and Dundee City Council’s Housing Department how much notice you have to give if you has many types of property mainly in want to move out. housing estates located in the suburbs of the Your accommodation could be provided city. Rental charges vary depending on the by your employer or arranged by an type and size of the property. The Housing employment agency. It is important Department’s aim is to match tenants with that you are aware of your rights on a home that best meets their needs. The what can be deducted from your wages Housing Department is happy to accept you for accommodation. on to their waiting list but it will be unlikely that you will qualify for housing immediately. If you wish to apply for council housing 6 7 you will have to complete an application Bield Housing Association: form. You can get forms and discuss your 1 Bonnethill Gardens, Dundee DD 7HB. housing needs at any of the council’s Tel: 01382 228911 housing offices. Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.bield.co.uk Lettings Centre 169 Pitkerro Road, Dundee DD4 8ES. Hillcrest Housing Association Ltd: Tel: 01382 307400 4 South Ward Road, Dundee DD1 1PN. Tel: 01382 224083 East District Housing Office Email: [email protected] 169 Pitkerro Road, Dundee DD4 8ES. Web Address: www.hillcrestha.org.uk Tel: 01382 307401 Home in Scotland Ltd: West District Housing Office Cleghorn House, 27 Albert Square, Sinclair Street, Lochee DD2 BE. Dundee DD1 1DJ. Tel: 01382 307301 Tel: 01382 203023 Web Address: www.homeinscotland.org.uk If you are homeless or think you may become homeless in the near future Margaret Blackwood Housing you can call the Homeless Advice Line Association Ltd: Blackwood Court, 088 633 5843 for advice and information. Glamis Road, Dundee DD2 2EG. Tel: 01382 45855 Housing Associations Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.mbha.org.uk/ Housing Associations are not-for-profit organisations which lease houses and flats. Servite Housing Association: They have different types of properties 118 Strathern Road, Broughty Ferry, in a variety of locations and some have Dundee DD5 1JW. more properties than others. Some of the Tel: 01382 480915 accommodation is for specific groups of Email: [email protected] people for example, older people, disabled Web Address: www.servite.co.uk/ people and young people.