The Welcoming

What The Welcoming does

The Welcoming Association is a Scottish charity founded in 2000 that supports refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants — collectively known as 'New Scots' — in Edinburgh. The organization delivers a coordinated portfolio of free services addressing both practical integration and emotional wellbeing: weekly ESOL English language classes, employment support programmes (including GROW, Bridges to Success, and ESOL for Employability / STEP), one-to-one befriending and group friendship services, a Community Fridge redistributing over 600 kg of surplus food per month to 234 households annually, welfare rights and debt advice, home energy advice, holistic casework, and a Refugee Integration Service offering one-to-one appointments. It serves nearly 4,000 New Scots per year (per the Autumn 2024 CEO newsletter), delivered via its 20 Westfield Avenue office and through venue partners including the Salisbury Centre, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and community locations across Edinburgh, supported by approximately 94 volunteers contributing 2,727 hours in the most recent financial year.

Underlying technology is minimal and explicitly characterized in the input as 'not applicable': there is no proprietary platform, no AI/ML capability, no mobile app, and no API. The digital surface comprises a WordPress-based website, a multilingual 'Useful Resources' hub, standard social media profiles (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X), and a quarterly newsletter. The organization runs a Digital Skills Course for beneficiaries with limited computer experience, but as a service, not as a technology product. Operational delivery is fundamentally in-person, with selective hybrid/online elements.

The revenue model is a non-profit, donations-and-grants blend. Income is generated from individual donations and from grants awarded by institutional funders including the National Lottery Community Fund (documented £21,000 in 2020 for a Volunteer Coordinator role), the Scottish Government (e.g., the Climate Challenge Fund backing the Welcoming a Greener Future project, which saved 701.5 tonnes CO2 over seven years and won the 2021 Ashden Award for Green Communities), and EVOC's Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (two-year mental health project). All beneficiary services are free at the point of use. The legal entity is The Welcoming Association, a company limited by guarantee (SC398913) and a registered Scottish charity (SC041952), with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no external equity investors; it is led by CEO Tesfu Gessesse, has a Board of Directors, and is staffed by a small team in the 11–50 employee band.

Name

The Welcoming

Legal name

The Welcoming Association

Website

https://thewelcoming.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Welcoming Association is a Scottish charity founded in 2000 providing free ESOL classes, employment support, befriending, Community Fridge access, and welfare advice to approximately 4,000 refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants annually in Edinburgh.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and migrant support services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

Keywords

• Refugee support services
• Migrant integration programmes
• ESOL English classes
• Community befriending services
• Charity employment support

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from supporters to fund services such as Community Fridge, English classes, and befriending activities.
2. Government and Lottery Grants: Funding from government bodies and charitable foundations including National Lottery Community Fund, EVOC's Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, and Scottish Government.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Welcoming is a Scottish charity providing free, in-person support services to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants ("New Scots") in Edinburgh. Its core offerings include English language (ESOL) classes, employment support, friendship and befriending services, a Community Fridge food redistribution programme, and multilingual advice services covering welfare rights, debt, and home energy.

Product overview

The Welcoming is a charity organization providing a coordinated portfolio of services supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants (collectively referred to as 'New Scots') in Edinburgh. The core offerings include free English Language Classes (ESOL), Employment Support with programs like GROW and Bridges to Success, Friendship Groups with one-to-one befriending, a Community Fridge for food security, and Advice Services covering home energy, welfare rights, and debt. Additional programs include a Digital Skills Course, Health and Wellbeing Services with mental health support, a Community Garden, and a multilingual Useful Resources Hub. These services work together to help New Scots learn English, find employment, build social connections, access food and advice, and integrate into Edinburgh communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Language Classes (ESOL) Free weekly English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes delivered in Edinburgh to help New Scots improve their English language skills.
• Employment Support Free support helping New Scots find work, develop skills, and plan careers in Edinburgh, including CV building, interview preparation, and job search assistance.
• Friendship Groups and Befriending Friendship groups and one-to-one befriending services connecting refugees and migrants in Edinburgh to reduce social isolation and build community.
• Community Fridge Free weekly food redistribution service open to all refugees and migrants in Edinburgh, providing nutritious food to those facing food insecurity.
• Advice Services Free, confidential advice services helping New Scots with home energy advice, benefits, debt management, holistic casework support, and welfare rights.
• Refugee Integration Service One-to-one appointments supporting refugees with their integration journey in Edinburgh.
• Health and Wellbeing Services Activities and support helping New Scots maintain physical and mental health, including a two-year mental health project funded by EVOC's Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.
• GROW Employability Programme Free course for New Scots parents providing skills and knowledge to navigate work in the UK, covering Scottish work culture, UK rights, CV creation, and interview skills.
• Bridges to Success Employability course supporting New Scots parents to build confidence and explore work and study opportunities.
• Digital Skills Course Course supporting New Scots with limited or no computer experience to develop digital skills and tackle digital exclusion.
• Community Garden Gardening group providing opportunities for members to learn about food growing and spend time outdoors in nature, with sessions at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Quantifiable outcome

• GROW programme supported 92 New Scots parents with employability skills
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ramblers' Community ChampionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Community Champions project designed to help people gain confidence and experience as leaders in the outdoors. Two Welcoming community members (Polly and Nataliia) participated, working toward becoming qualified to lead group walks for other people from refugee and global majority backgrounds. They completed 8 walks with 40 community members participating.
• Granton Information CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership ensuring members can access vital advice services, part of expanding support networks for New Scots.
• Edinburgh RemakeryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership providing access to digital resources and financial support for members.
• Rock TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organization hosting taster events at The Welcoming, offering free courses and activities for New Scots aged 18-25 including barista skills, circus skills, and art activities.
• Business GatewayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides business start-up advice workshops for members interested in entrepreneurship and self-employment.
• Volunteer EdinburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer Edinburgh delivers information sessions about volunteering importance and opportunities, helping connect volunteers with The Welcoming's programmes.
• Salisbury CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for GROW employability course, helping reach different local communities across Edinburgh.
• Micro RainbowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for LGBT History Month Scotland event on building solidarity between LGBTQIA+ and refugee communities.
• Scottish Refugee CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in refugee integration ecosystem, collaborated on UN High Commissioner visit and shares expertise on asylum and refugee issues.
• Royal Botanic Garden EdinburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Back to the Botanics gardening group, providing space for growing, learning, and connection activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scottish Refugee Council: Scotland's national refugee support charity providing parallel services including asylum advice, integration support, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable as both organizations serve New Scots in Scotland with overlapping service lines and are referenced as key partners.
• Bethany Christian Trust: Edinburgh-based charity addressing homelessness, poverty, and social exclusion, including specific refugee and asylum seeker support services. Directly comparable as a same-geography peer with overlapping beneficiary support models.
• Cyrenians: Scottish charity tackling homelessness, food insecurity, and social exclusion through community-based services including food redistribution and integration support. Comparable on the Community Fridge / food security and social inclusion dimensions.
• Citizens Advice Edinburgh: Edinburgh branch of the national advice charity network providing welfare rights, debt, and benefits advice. Comparable on the welfare rights and debt advice service line that The Welcoming also delivers to New Scots.
• Micro Rainbow: UK charity supporting refugee and migrant women, including LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, with housing and integration support. Comparable as a niche integration-focused peer with active partnership ties to The Welcoming.
• Rock Trust: Edinburgh-based youth homelessness charity delivering skills courses and support for young people aged 18-25. Comparable through joint delivery of taster events and youth-focused integration programming.
• Granton Information Centre: Edinburgh-based charity providing advice, training, and community support services including for vulnerable residents. Comparable as a same-city partner delivering complementary advice services to New Scots.

Broad incumbents

• Refugee Council (UK): The UK's largest charity working with refugees and asylum seekers, offering advice, advocacy, and integration services. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same refugee integration space with significantly greater scale and national reach.
• British Red Cross: National humanitarian charity with refugee support, family reunion, and integration programmes across the UK. Operates as a broad incumbent in overlapping service areas including befriending, ESOL, and emergency food/relief support.

Others

• Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC): Edinburgh's voluntary sector infrastructure body that distributes grants and supports charities including The Welcoming. Comparable as a funder and sector support organization rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WelcomingEdi
• Facebookfacebook.com/thewelcoming
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-welcoming-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/welcomingedinburgh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Welcoming