GREENOCK, SCOTLAND — A small Scottish port town is rolling out the red carpet for migrants and refugees as it seeks to reverse decades of population decline.
Greenock, in Inverclyde, has lost about 22,000 residents since 1981, prompting the local council to make repopulation a major priority. The town, which has a population of around 78,000, has introduced initiatives aimed at attracting international newcomers and encouraging them to settle permanently.
Since 2021, Inverclyde Council has introduced measures including specialist English-language support for migrant families and community events designed to help refugees settle into the area.
Hundreds of African migrants and refugees have moved to Greenock in recent years, with many others arriving through skilled work visas to help address shortages in the health and care sectors.
According to the BBC, local residents say the town has become noticeably more diverse in a relatively short period. Some residents noted that seeing people from different backgrounds would have been unusual in Greenock just five years ago.
The council hopes that welcoming migrants will help strengthen the local workforce, support public services and bring new life to communities affected by long-term population decline.
For Greenock, migration is increasingly being viewed not only as a humanitarian issue but also as part of a wider strategy to secure the town’s economic and demographic future.
