The Welcoming
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
The Welcoming firmographics
Firmographics- 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
The Welcoming industry classification
Industry- 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
Where The Welcoming is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Welcoming business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters to fund services such as Community Fridge, English classes, and befriending activities.
- 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
The Welcoming product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use The Welcoming
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Welcoming technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Welcoming partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ramblers' Community ChampionscoreCommunity 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 CentrecoreNew partnership ensuring members can access vital advice services, part of expanding support networks for New Scots.
- Edinburgh RemakeryminorNew partnership providing access to digital resources and financial support for members.
- Rock TrustminorYouth 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 GatewayminorProvides business start-up advice workshops for members interested in entrepreneurship and self-employment.
- Volunteer EdinburghcoreVolunteer Edinburgh delivers information sessions about volunteering importance and opportunities, helping connect volunteers with The Welcoming's programmes.
- Salisbury CentreminorVenue partner for GROW employability course, helping reach different local communities across Edinburgh.
- Micro RainbowminorPartnership for LGBT History Month Scotland event on building solidarity between LGBTQIA+ and refugee communities.
- Scottish Refugee CouncilcoreKey partner in refugee integration ecosystem, collaborated on UN High Commissioner visit and shares expertise on asylum and refugee issues.
- Royal Botanic Garden EdinburghminorVenue 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
The Welcoming competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
The Welcoming social profiles
Digital presenceThe Welcoming financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Welcoming leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The Welcoming funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Welcoming M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Welcoming
What does The Welcoming do?
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.
Is The Welcoming a public or private company?
The Welcoming is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Welcoming founded?
The Welcoming was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Welcoming based?
The Welcoming is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Welcoming make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are government and Lottery Grants.
Who are The Welcoming's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Scottish Refugee Council, Bethany Christian Trust, Cyrenians, Citizens Advice Edinburgh, Micro Rainbow, Rock Trust and Granton Information Centre. Broad incumbents are Refugee Council (UK) and British Red Cross. Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) is listed as an others.
Does The Welcoming have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Welcoming.
What industry is The Welcoming in?
The Welcoming's product category is Refugee and migrant support services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAI, Refugee & Immigrant Support Services, with a secondary code of EDAAADAI, Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support). Its NAICS code is 6242 and its SIC code is 8300.