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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 It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.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

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 ESOL for Work Project was funded to help Glasgow English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Forum support 1240 Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) jobseekers and employees to improve their English language skills through high quality ESOL for Employability courses (144 learners achieving SQA qualifications), ESOL classes in the workplace and/or in partnership with community organisations with an employability focus (106 learners) and a support service to signpost learners to other opportunities (990 learners)

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Improved language skills and job readiness for BME jobseekers and ESOL learners through the provision of accessible SQA accredited ESOL for Employability courses
• Increased opportunities for BME employees and jobseekers to access tailored, accessible ESOL provision at workplaces &/or community projects
• Reduce barriers to employment, educational opportunities and participation in public life for BME communities through ESOL provision

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 "Music – A Language for Social Change" project was funded to support Limelight music to work to address discrimination, social isolation and limited life choices experienced by individuals with impairments. These challenges would be met through: continued development of musicians with impairments & provision of employment opportunities; provision of recreational music programmes for individuals with impairments experiencing social isolation; and facilitating the self-representation and self-determination of individuals with impairments.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Increase in employment, training & educational opportunities for individuals with impairments.
• Reduce social isolation experienced by young people and adults with impairments
• Improve self-representation of individuals with impairments

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 Scottish Government has not undertaken an analysis on the financial impact of stroke on Scotland’s health and social care services in the next ten years.

Research suggests that, on average, every patient treated with a thrombectomy procedure could save the NHS £47,000 over five years, due to the reduction in length of hospital stays and a reduced need for social care input. This economic benefit is in addition to the significant improvements in outcome and quality of life for patients.

We have already invested over £39 million in the thrombectomy service and remain committed to expansion of the service and maximising access to thrombectomies.

On 9 June the UK Government announced their plans to extend the Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales to Pensioners with an individual income of £35,000 or less a year. This U-turn is welcome; the UK Government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment last winter was a betrayal of millions of pensioners.

Following careful consideration of the options available, the Scottish Government has decided to mirror the approach taken by the UK Government. We will therefore withdraw the current amendment regulations before the Scottish Parliament and bring forward amendment regulations to ensure that, from this winter onwards, all pensioners will receive £203.40 or £305.10 per household, depending on age, and we are in discussion with the UK Government to extend the proposed arrangements in England and Wales to recover payments from those pensioners with an individual income of more than £35,000 through the tax system. The intention is that the payment will be recovered automatically, and pensioners will not need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action.

In taking this decision Ministers have considered carefully the importance of prioritising the additional funding available to those who need it most. This approach ensures a higher level of support which those most in need will receive. Over 720,000 Scottish pensioners are estimated to benefit from the higher payment. Revised Impact Assessments will be updated and published alongside the updated regulations.

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 Scottish Pensioners' Forum (SPF) project was funded to enable SPF to work with the STUC, particularly through their equality structures, to engage and consult with trade union members in communities throughout Scotland to provide older people with a democratic voice and the opportunity to influence decisions that affect their daily lives, particularly around health and social care, social security, pensions and transport.

SPF would also utilise the STUC equality structures to engage in specific activities around ageing and the impact that this has within many minority frameworks including LGBT, disability, Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and youth and would place particular emphasis on women and the focus of inequality in state pensions.

Meetings and consultations undertaken would be used by the SPF to gather evidence on the views and needs of older people, making sure that their voices were heard and that their needs were taken into consideration. This would help them to develop stronger community connections and be more aware of services available to them in their local areas.

Through consultation, the SPF would also work with trade unions and other older people's organisations to inform government policy in key priority areas; care and care homes, social security, transport and health and social care and how they relate to loneliness and isolation in older people.

SPF would also develop intergenerational work between older and younger trade union members to share experiences of the world of work, ageing, and transition into retirement and how the Fair Work Framework can deliver for the ageing workforce .

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• People with protected characteristics are confident in asserting their rights on ageing in society, and in the workplace, and feel confident in challenging inequality in pensions and other issues that potentially have an impact on the quality of their retirement.
• Older people have the confidence to have their say on issues affecting them in their local communities and are supported to share the views on future design and delivery of public services at local and national level that can improve their lives.
• The SPF increases and improves engagement with Scottish Government on public policy affecting older people, retired trade unionists and workers by taking their views forward and ensuring that they have access to information on all activities the SPF carry out as representatives on their behalf which will result in less social isolation and more active participation when making the transition from working life into retirement

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 ‘True Colours’ project was funded to help young people who experience racial bullying in schools. The project’s focus was to implement a peer education programme, tackling issues of bullying, prejudice and discrimination, whilst promoting equality and good relations among students within schools in Edinburgh area. The project supported the input of numerous young volunteers for them to gain new skills and hands on work experience thereby increasing their employment prospects.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Improve knowledge and awareness of up to 25 young volunteers on equality, human rights, discrimination, hate crime and bullying; Improve their research, public speaking, social media and presentation skills.
• Enhance confidence amongst young people and school workers by increasing their awareness and knowledge in relation to equality, with particular emphasis on prejudice-based bullying, stereotyping, racism, gender equality and homophobia.
• Promote anti-bullying culture in schools trough creating anti-bullying videos, encouraging creativity, empathy and interpersonal skills.

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 Equality Engagement project was funded to support a tailored mentoring program (the PLC scheme) and a shadowing scheme to provide support to Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) individuals to access public life and increase their engagement. All the activities would be inclusive, aimed at both BME men and women equally. Joint work would be carried out in partnership with major political parties at the grassroots level. Initiatives would be undertaken to get BME individuals involved in local democracy and community councils in West Lothian, Midlothian and East Lothian. IN addition, a pilot study would be carried out to determine the level of participation of the BME community in the Scottish Parliament’s committees/activities. That research aimed to raise awareness on current BME representation in the Scottish Parliament and encourage policy makers to work towards more positive actions towards BME representation.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Increase the engagement of the BME community into Public Life
• Increase representation of BME communities in the political process
• Increase awareness on barriers to engagement among key public agencies and organisations

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 Scottish Seniors Alliance (SSA) project was funded to take forward the agendas for older people that had been developed and nurtured by SSA through the seniors forum model. The methodology would be to support extant forums, and grow and support those groups of older people who wanted to take forward their issues in a cohesive way. From that grassroots approach the project would be able to provide the authentic voice to statutory sector, government agencies and others who serve older people and the wider community.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Older people with sensory and physical impairment, and from the minority communities will be supported to better influence policy and service developments and be recognised for their contributions.
• 6 bi-monthly senior forum meetings per-year will be held. These will be attended by older people representing grassroot members from 32 local authorities in Scotland with 20-30 members attending per meeting.
• Provide a high quality information service which includes email, news bulletins, policy briefings and 6 Newsletters per year to approximately 100 forums per year in the 32 local authority areas in Scotland.
• SSA will continue the collaborative process between older people's groups and local and national government, health boards etc, representing the voices of older people .
• SSA will be proactive in responding to issues of concern to older people both at a local and national level, involving older people in policy debates and responding to consultations.

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 Making It Work project was funded to support Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SASLI) in its work as the only government funded organisation in Scotland specifically working towards monitoring, supporting and developing the profession of sign language interpreting and associated functions, SASLI aims to broaden and develop its scope to meet legislative, demographic and societal changes. The project would focus on developing new pathways to validate skills, protecting user communities through driving up and maintaining professional standards will increase accountability to deaf and deafblind people.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Deaf people have a greater choice of appropriately skilled and registered communication support professionals, making possible effective communication and inclusive participation in daily and public life and in educational/learning environments.
• Deaf people have a greater choice of appropriately skilled and registered communication support workers, to ensure effective learning and inclusive contribution in educational/learning environments.
• Deaf and deafblind people are trained and employed to provide training to enhance skills of communication support professionals
• The SASLI Register includes a specific category to recognise deaf people who have developed life and work skills through their lives. This replaces the need of accredited qualifications to encourage recognition and value of skills gained through life and not through education pathways.

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