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 It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.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 Economic Barriers and Community Cohesion project was funded to support Grampian Regional Equality Council’s work with partners to better understand and address inequalities faced by ethnic minority groups in employment by tackling and removing specific barriers. It will work with community groups and workers to engage with ethnic minority groups in regeneration areas with the aim of improving community cohesion and access to services (particularly English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) & employability).

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• There are effective mechanisms to gather, analyse, disseminate and use ethnicity & employment data to influence policy & practice and improve equal representation of ethnic minorities in employment in the North East of Scotland
• There is improved community cohesion and access to services and employment in target areas (Tillydrone, Torry and Fraserburgh)

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 It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.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 Men in Childcare project was funded to support national media advertising of college based SQA certificated training courses, that would help encourage men to consider childcare as a career. It would support the offer of SQA level 6 qualifications to encourage better parenting and an awareness of the importance of Play and Child Development. Through HNC qualification the number of men working in Early Years settings would increase, providing a more gender balanced workplace. The project would also promote the importance of fathers’ involvement with their child from birth.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Men in Childcare will increase the number of men entering the childcare workforce, by recruiting male students to a free of charge College based SQA Certificated Training Course.
• Men in Childcare to advise a network of employers in the Early Years Sector on positive effect gender balance in the workforce
• Men in Childcare will promote awareness of the need for more Father friendly Early Years environments throughout Scotland, in keeping with the National Parenting Strategy and the principles of Getting it Rights for Every Child (GIRFEC)

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 Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC) “Equality in the Community” project was funded to reduce the negative effects of inequality, hate and marginalisation experienced by individuals and groups of Minority Ethnic and Refugee backgrounds; Disabled people and LGBTI people living and working in Central Scotland. The project would take an intersectional approach and would address the challenges faced by those with multiple protected characteristics.

The project was intended to play a supportive role in building the capacity of those community members and community groups to engage with the wider public to enhance community cohesion and prevent incidents of hate crime and discrimination; increase confidence in reporting and reduce barriers to reporting hate crime. The project will engage with local community groups to discuss and address their experiences and concerns and liaison between them and partner public and third sector agencies to ensure that practical solutions are developed and delivered.

To achieve these aims, the project would through its support and advice service and the people’s forums facilitate greater participation in public life and engagement with public authorities and address issues of discrimination, exclusion and hate crime; it would organise events and awareness sessions on hate crime and how it can be challenged by those affected; it would organise community events to facilitate greater community cohesion with particular focus on fighting rising Islamophobia, anti-immigration sentiment and its impact on communities in Central Scotland. It would also help equality community groups to capacity build to organise and achieve their aims and objectives.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Individuals from Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTI persons and those with disabilities will experience less discrimination and will have reduced barriers to participation in civil society
• Individuals from Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTI persons and those with disabilities will be more aware of hate crime legislation, their rights as victims and will develop the ability to challenge and respond effectively to hate crime against themselves and in the wider community
• Members of Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTI persons and those with disabilities will be more organised and collectively and individually contribute to development of services and feel a part of 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 Action on Prejudice project was funded to enable Youthlink Scotland to develop and build a new national interactive platform called ‘Action on Prejudice’. This would be based on the ‘Action on Sectarianism’ model, adopting an assets-based approach, drawing together the wealth of content created by young people, adults, community groups and practitioners tackling prejudice and discrimination in their community. The central online presence would challenge hate crime, promote intersectionality and ensure a joined-up approach.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• People and communities are better informed about prejudice, the protected characteristics and hate behaviour and the work taking place to tackle it.
• Practitioners have improved access to a wide range of resources to tackle prejudice and can adapt these to better reduce barriers to participation.
• Young people and communities are engaged in online discussion about prejudice, the protected characteristics and what can be done to prevent prejudice and hate crime.

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

Shirley-Anne Somerville: 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 Govanhill Law Centre project was funded to enable Govanhill Law Centre to continue to provide free, holistic and confidential legal support to the residents of Govanhill to tackle discrimination, fight rogue landlords and substandard living conditions, support the people to engage and participate with the service, improve community cohesion and to assist in addressing the current imbalances in public life with particular focus on the Roma and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) population within the community.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• To improve the living conditions within the Govanhill area of Glasgow, with emphasis on the private rented sector and the treatment of the Roma and BME population, and to prevent people being made homeless.
• To improve the health and well-being of the Roma and BME population of Govanhill by maximising their income, enforcing their rights and tackling unmet legal needs
• More BME clients access our advice and legal services. To continue building on the trust we have built up within the community and to work with key services to improve the health and well-being of the people of Govanhill.

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

Shirley-Anne Somerville: 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 Interfaith Glasgow project was funded to support Interfaith Glasgow to improve community cohesion, reduce the ignorance and prejudice that leads to discrimination and hate crime, and increase civic participation. This would be done by organising activities and events that promote friendship, encourage cooperation and provide opportunities for dialogue to occur between people of all faith and belief traditions. Interfaith Glasgow would also continue to build relationships with different faith communities and wider civic society to make Glasgow a safer, more harmonious city for all.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Glasgow’s religious diversity is valued and there is increased social interaction, communication, and friendship between people of different religions and beliefs
• People of different religions and beliefs have developed greater mutual understanding and respect through focused dialogue activities challenging ignorance, prejudice, and misconceptions
• People of different religions and beliefs are working cooperatively with each other and engaging in civic society to address inequalities

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

"Equality, Access and Citizenship for Deaf People: Deaf Sector Partnership (DSP) support" project was funded to support Scottish Council on Deafness (SCOD) to provide specific infrastructure to support the national planning cycle, the BSL National Advisory Group (BSL NAG) set up to lead the BSL National Plan and contribute to the engagement required to include and involve Deaf / Deafblind and other people to develop the national plan priorities.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• DSP activities and communications are effective, planned and co-ordinated to increase and improve the quality of communications, engagement and involvement of the Public Sector and Deaf / Deafblind people whose first or preferred language is BSL
• Public bodies supported to increase and improve engagement with Deaf / Deafblind people in their local areas when they are drafting their local plans

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 Volunteer and Project Coordinator project was funded to enable Stirling Citizens for Sanctuary to continue to employ Continue employment of a Volunteer and Project Coordinator (VPC) to manage and support a growing body of volunteers; ensure checks on background prior to acceptance as volunteers; deliver induction and regular training; and monitor and support volunteers. This is critical to our ability to deliver, through our volunteers, sensitive and effective support to refugee families who have fled violence in their country and whose friends and extended families are still in camps or relocated to other countries

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Syrians will feel confident in their new surroundings and be aware of local services and facilities and how to access them
• Syrian families, both adults and children, will become integrated into the community and be involved in local activities
• Develop Volunteer Skills for supporting vulnerable refugees

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 ‘Gaining Recognised Employment and Training’ project was funded to provide an employability service for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women including: a) sector specific English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes for women who speak English as a second language (six weeks), followed by a placement with a local employer (eight weeks); b) accredited training courses; c) one to one advice on cv writing, application forms, interview skills, etc.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Women from BME and Migrant Communities will have increased access to employment through the provision of vocational ESOL classes and supported volunteer placements with local employers
• Women from BME and migrant communities will have improved opportunities to gain qualifications and move towards employment through the provision of accredited training
• Employers in Dundee will become more confident to employ women from BME communities

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 ‘Building Bridges not Barriers’ project was funded to support the strategic exchange of information and knowledge in order to better support those with protected characteristics. The project would specifically focus on providing access and connecting young people with accurate information on faith groups; developing more supportive connections between the elderly with dementia and/or living alone and their faith communities; and between faith communities, services and civic society.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Religious prejudice among young people is reduced
• Fewer barriers to participation of the elderly in their faith communities
• Increased engagement and participation between people and communities with services and civic 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