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 It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.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

"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

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 It was superseded by a revised funding programme: the current Equality and Human Rights Fund.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 "Promoting community support and rights for older people facing additional challenges" project was funded to support work with older people who live with disabilities and/or face other challenges and who want more services that give them real choices and enable them to live as independently as possible. The project would work alongside those older people to improve the number, range and quality of community services and to raise public and professional awareness and change attitudes to this group of older people. The project would bring people together, share good practice and publicise positive examples.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Older people with disabilities are better able to shape the services they use and so get support that reflects their circumstances and gives them a good quality of life.
• Public and professional awareness about older people and the contribution they make is increased and older people with disabilities have more opportunities to participate

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 Skills for New Scots project was funded to enable the Welcoming Association

to help newly arrived migrants and refugees in Edinburgh to find employment or start businesses that match their skills and talents. The project would also help them to build social networks and participate in their local communities. It would achieve this through a focussed programme of activities including workshops, coaching, networking and language support. As a result, migrants and refugees would be more likely to achieve their potential, and the economy, culture and society of Scotland would better reflect the diversity of the people who live in the country.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Our beneficiaries are more likely to find employment, or set up businesses that make the most of the talents and skills they bring to Scotland.
• Our beneficiaries have developed stronger social networks and are more likely to feel part of, and actively contribute to, their local Edinburgh 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 Scottish Government is very interested in the development of the screen industry as a whole including the animation sector. The animation sector is monitored through the Economic Value in Screen Report published by Screen Scotland, the report is published retrospectively and the closure of Axis Studios will be reflected in future reports.

A range of support was offered to staff at Axis Studios including, PACE Introduction to Redundancy Support Webinar, sourcing vacancies suitable for former Axis Studios and a Webinar on Skilled Worker Visas. We hold no information on if the people effected in the closure gained new employment with local digital and technology companies.

Halon’s investment in Scotland marks a major boost for the digital tech, film, TV, and games industries, reinforcing Scotland’s position as a global hub for creative technology.

The 2025-26 budget delivered record funding of over £15.1 billion for Local Government, a real terms increase of 5.5 per cent, as confirmed by the Accounts Commission.

As part of the record funding package for Local Government, in 2025-26 North Ayrshire Council will receive £383.8 million to support day to day services, which equates to an extra £21.2 million or an additional 5.8 per cent compared to 2024-25. Taken together with the decision to increase Council Tax by 7 per cent, North Ayrshire Council will have an additional £25.7 million to support front line services in 2025-26.

Decisions on future local government finance settlements will be the subject of negotiations with COSLA on behalf of all 32 local authorities and announced as part of the outcome of future Scottish Budgets.

However, the record funding settlement for Local Government in 2025-26 was the result of early and meaningful engagement between Scottish Government, COSLA and Councils. We remain committed to ensuring the sustainability of local services going forward and budget engagement ahead of the 2026-27 Scottish Budget has already commenced.

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 New Migrants Action Project was funded support work to counter the uncertainty that was facing European Economic Area (EEA) nationals living in Scotland. The project was intended to provide excellent, up-to-date, accessible and impartial advice, information and support on welfare rights, residence rights and housing and homelessness rights. Its service was intended to reach out to otherwise “easy to ignore” EEA nationals to prevent crises of poverty and homelessness as far as possible and tackle crises effectively where they arise.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• EU nationals, especially Romanian Roma people, will better understand and be more able to assert their welfare rights, maintain tenancies and fulfil their responsibilities.
• EU nationals, especially Romanian Roma people, will better understand and be more able to assert their housing and homelessness rights and fulfil their responsibilities.
• EU nationals, especially Romanian Roma people, will better understand and be more able to assert their UK residency rights.

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 Govanhill Welfare Rights Hub project was funded to support provision of a welfare rights support service to local residents in Govanhill, Scotland’s most ethnically diverse neighbourhood. The service would particularly target residents from the area’s large Roma community, 3-5,000 of whom live in Govanhilll. Clients would be supported firstly to demonstrate their eligibility for benefits providing with expert support to maximise their welfare entitlement.

The project would be delivered by a team of dedicated welfare rights workers supported by dedicated Romanian and Slovakian speaking community development workers, to facilitate engagement and also to bridge deficits in relation to Education, Employment, Health, Housing, social connections and access to local services.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Ethnic minority residents are supported to maximise household incomes
• Ethnic minority residents are supported to access educational and economic opportunities

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 LGBT Age Project was funded to provide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people over 50, including those coming out later in life, with support, social groups and activities. The voices and experience of older LGBT people would be at the centre of the project, including its work to create a platform to raise awareness of the needs of older LGBT people and promote greater inclusion both within the LGBT community and more widely in services working with older people.

The specific outcomes to be achieved were:

• Older LGBT people have developed new and improved social connections and relationships leading to improved mental and emotional wellbeing and reduced isolation
• Older LGBT people are more involved in their community and are more able to access and influence services
• Services working with older people are more inclusive and better equipped to respond to the needs of older LGBT 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 "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