Chamber and committees

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

• Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.
• People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.
• Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

The "African representation and participation in all levels of Scottish society" project was intended to employ two staff members to work on tackling the imbalances arising from the lack of representation and poor participation by Africans in all areas of public life in Scotland, and to promote active citizenship and social cohesion, the Council will employ two staff members. They would facilitate the Council’s engagement with the members of the diverse and fragmented African communities as well as relevant institutions and organisations to better understand the nature and extent of the barriers and develop means of mitigating them. They would engage and develop the competencies and confidence that many Africans would require in order to actively and effectively participate and contribute towards Scotland’s social, political and economic future. This is in line with Scotland’s vision “where all play their role in creating a fair and equal Scotland with a common sense of purpose and belonging”. This was not only support the Council’s mission and vision, but was in furtherance of the UN objective of the International Decade of People of African descent.

To achieve the intended outcomes the Council would utilise different tools and methodologies to ascertain the nature and extent of underrepresentation, poor participation in the labour market as well as public life, and identify ways of reducing and overcoming them. They would also engage with key stakeholders to influence and change people's attitudes as well as organisations' policies and create opportunities for Africans leading to a greater array of career and personal choices.

This project work would deliver the following outcomes:

• Africans are empowered, are actively participating and visibly represented in all spheres of public life (political, private and local community structures)
• Improved employability skills and competencies for Africans to better reflect the ethnic diversity in Scottish society
  

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

• Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.
• People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.
• Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

The ‘Safety Net’ project was funded to increase the capacity of the community to identify and address issues around radicalisation. The next steps and proposed project were to deliver a range of workshops to adults and young learners to raise awareness of online safety issues and in particular cover extremism in all its forms. In addition the plan was to deliver a suite of knowledge transfer events to relevant agencies in Scotland to widen the awareness and impact of Safety Net.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Women will have improved understanding how extremist groups target young people and what to do if they have concerns.
• Other organisations are equipped and have the skills and knowledge to support their client groups

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

• Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.
• People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.
• Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

The Faith in Community Dundee project was funded to:

1. Develop the Fairness Conversation – involve faith communities, ethnic groups, people with protected characteristics in the Fairness Conversation in Dundee.

2. Increase community cohesion – through training (developing womens’ volunteer roles/skills sharing within faith community projects) and building partnership working.

3. Develop current and new initiatives to increase community cohesion - the Wonderbox Initiative and other faith community initiatives.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Faith communities, and other protected characteristics, have increased participation in city-wide Fairness Conversations and can better influence local and city-wide actions.
• Improve community cohesion through increased skills and knowledge within faith communities, leading to more effective community engagement.
• Improve community cohesion through increased capacity of, and engagement with, faith community projects in areas of multiple deprivations.

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

• Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.
• People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.
• Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

The Ethnic Minorities Law Centre was funded to support the provision of a culturally sensitive legal advice and representation service for people from Minority Ethnic communities in Edinburgh and the Highland region, respectively. The project would deliver a range of specialist client centred services that would be targeted towards individuals and families from Minority Ethnic communities, and existing advice agencies and local organisations in those areas.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• The project will continue to work diligently towards the elimination and abatement of all forms of discrimination which impacts on the lives of the Minority Ethnic population through legal representation, advice, information and education so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• The project will support minority ethnic people and communities to participate in and engage with services and civic society ensuring that they contribution is recognised and community cohesion is increased.
• The project will work to address current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life including education and employment to better reflect our communities. The project provide access to information, advice and representation.

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

• Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.
• People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.
• Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

The Maryhill Integration Network project was funded to support the Maryhill Integration Network (MIN) to design and deliver a varied, inclusive and user-led, weekly programme of activities focusing on community cohesion, participation, and the development of social bonds. This programme of activities would run alongside advice & support, outreach partnership projects and regular community events across the city, and beyond. MIN would focus on the arts as a tool for integration, environmental awareness and building community resilience. Through developing a weekly programme, community events, and partnership projects, MIN would enable people with the protected characteristics of race, religion, age and sex, to reduce barriers to community participation, increase access to skills development volunteering opportunities, and experience safer and more confident communities in Glasgow.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Increased opportunities to engage in activities promoting positive community cohesion for those with the protected characteristics of race, religion and sex
• People with protected characteristics of race, religion and sex have increased opportunities to access community learning and volunteering to help them to progress into further education and employment.
• Communities are better equipped to take preventative measures to reduce instances of poverty, discrimination and hate crime based on the protected characteristics of race, religion and sex

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

• Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.
• People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.
• Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

The “Developing Management and Leadership Skills” (DMLS) in Public Life, Education and Employment Programme was funded as a positive action measure to reflect the fact that Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) men and women were absent in leadership roles at all levels of public life, education and employment.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• BME programme participants demonstrate improved leadership/management ability and improved career and public life aspiration, including education and employment, resulting in better representation of communities in all aspects and levels of public, work and community life
• BME Programme participants feel more able to access all levels of employment, community and public life opportunities resulting in public life, including education and employment, being more representative of our communities and fewer barriers to full participation in society
• BME Programme participants demonstrate satisfaction with the goals of the programme

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

• Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.
• People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.
• Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

The Professional Online Training in Specialist Interpreting and Working with Deaf People project was funded to support Queen Margaret University to improve access to public services and remove barriers to participation experienced by Deaf people. The intention was to develop online modules at postgraduate level for two key audiences: (a) BSL/English interpreters wishing to advance their practice in specialist areas of interpreting; (b) professionals working with Deaf people in diverse settings, who require a deeper understanding than is currently available through generic BSL awareness sessions.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Improved competence of BSL/English interpreters working with Deaf BSL users in specialist domains of work (eg healthcare, mental health, legal, education, the arts)
• Improved competence in professionals working with Deaf BSL users ensuring that the needs of this population are better understood and addressed

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

• Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.
• People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.
• Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

(a) Empowering Pathways for Women

The Empowering Pathways for Women project was funded to support delivery of a programme designed to strengthen women’s choices and participation in all aspects of their lives. Women would be supported to shape their life journeys and fulfil their potential; to experience a sense of belonging; raise their aspirations; and to speak up and tackle inequality, prejudice and discrimination; to engage in cultural and civic life.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Women experience a sense of belonging, raise their aspirations and speak up and tackle inequality
• Women have improved their skills to achieve their goals in becoming more successful learners

(b) Young Women Lead project.

The Young Women Lead project was to deliver a new leadership programme for young women aged 30 and under living in Scotland and the Young Women’s Movement would provide a safe space for up to 100 young women to explore gender and equality and develop new and innovative ways to lead change.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Young women feel confident to give evidence on behalf of the Young Women’s Movement in Scottish Parliament Committee sessions
• Young women improve the pipeline to more equal representation in the public and third sector.
• Young women influence and improve Scottish Parliament Committee social media.

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

• Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.
• People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.
• People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.
• Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

The Opening Doors project was funded to support Generations Working Together (GWT) to build strong and mutually beneficial working partnerships with local and national organisations and groups who work with people who fall under the protected characteristics of age, disability and race. Through sharing of learning, providing networking opportunities and giving practical support, people would gain the confidence and knowledge on how to connect younger and older generations with the aim of reducing discrimination, isolation and loneliness, creating more opportunities within the community for people to connect and build relationships between the generations.

GWT would also influence and campaign, enabling organisations to fully understand the impact intergenerational work can have when the approach is embedded within local and national policy and organisational plans. In addition it would grow and diversify local networks inviting and connecting members with new groups of people including disability and ethnic groups.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Organisations, including those working with protected characteristics age, disability & race will increase and develop knowledge, understanding and projects that use intergenerational approaches to challenge and reduce ageism and discrimination and promote the inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds.
• People within protected characteristics groups (age, disability and race) will experience a reduction in discrimination, loneliness and isolation and barriers to connecting to other generations. They are more included in their communities and acknowledged for their contributions.
• Empowering people within local and national organisations, local authorities, national public agencies and government to adopt and embed intergenerational approaches to address the challenges of our ageing population whilst promoting positive images of younger and older people.

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund initially ran from 2017 to 2020, and was then extended to October 2021 due to the impacts of covid-19. It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.

The Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund was used to fund projects that would contribute to one or more of four outcomes:

Discrimination against people who share protected characteristics is reduced and multiple discrimination is addressed so that barriers to participation are reduced.

People covered by hate crime legislation experience lower levels of hate crime.

People and communities are supported to participate in and engage with services and civic society; their contribution is recognised, and community cohesion is increased.

Current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life, including education and employment are addressed to better reflect our communities

The “Hear for Welfare” project was funded to support Welfare Rights provision based in Glasgow and to employ a Welfare Rights Officer and administrative support. The project covered 12 local authority areas in Scotland and worked with and on behalf of people suffering from hearing loss. The provision delivered benefits and welfare advice in a community setting and in beneficiaries’ homes ensuring they had the right access and opportunity to maximise their income and enhance their financial capablity and inclusion. More specifically the outcomes were listed as:

• 80 deaf or hard of hearing people would engage fully with the service
• meetings would be held locally to discuss personal circumstances with preferred communication support
• 1 Information session would be held in each local authority area per annum
• Income maximisation reports would be produced
• 50% of beneficiaries would report having an increase in disposable income
• Deaf and hard of hearing people would have an increased awareness and management of individual rights, benefits and services available to them, their families and carers

The Fund was managed on a day to day basis on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Impact Funding Partners initially and then Inspiring Scotland. You can find a Final Progress Update report for the Fund summarising its impacts here: Promoting-Equality-and-Cohesion-Fund-Final-Report-Jan-Sep-2021-for-SG-publication.pdf