Funding For Community Integration Projects

The allocation of new funding to support race equality and ensure refugees are able to play their part in Scotland’s communities has been announced. The £2 million fund is targeted at locally based projects designed to support cross community integration, helping organisations and communities in their efforts to bring people together, tackle racism and promote equality.

The Race Equality, Integration and Community Support Fund (REICSF) is to be allocated between 36 projects across Scotland from 2006-08 and Ethnic Minority Grant Scheme projects.

Funding through the Scottish Refugee Integration Fund (SRIF) has been strengthening support for refugees and asylum seekers and the communities in which they live since 2003. Now 21 projects will benefit from over £600,000 over the next year.

Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm announced the funding when he met people involved in the REICSF funded joint project between Glasgow Ansar, Glasgow Maccabi and Belshill Athletic FC.

This project aims to bring young people together to combat racism, foster integration, build friendships and promote diversity through a football-based fitness and training programme.

Speaking at the Sports Medicine Centre at Hampden Park, Mr Chisholm said:
“Scotland is stronger for its rich diverse communities which embrace different cultures, religions and backgrounds. But we also know that equality for all has yet to be achieved fully and racism and discrimination still occur, often through a lack of understanding or through ignorance.

“Through the funding I am announcing today we hope to strengthen our society as one which fosters integration but respects diversity.

“It is particularly important that young people growing up in Scotland today and those choosing to make Scotland their home are able to flourish and contribute to communities, to build relationships and understand others without difficulty, fear, isolation or abuse.

“There is a wide range of projects being funded across Scotland. I look forward to seeing the benefits and impacts they make.”

The projects to receive funding under REICSF will benefit many people – men, women, children, young people, refugees, older people, migrant workers – and include:

• £85,256 to LINKnet Mentoring Limited for its work in Edinburgh to provide mentoring to minority ethnic students to help them develop skills and access employment
• £99,701 to the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO) to encourage civic engagement by ethnic minority communities through establishing a national Ethnic Minority Civic parliament
• £93,353 to Planning Aid for Scotland for its ‘Reach Out’ community engagement project aimed at empowering ethnic minority communities to participate in the planning process
• £9,712 to YWCA Roundabout Centre for young women to develop an anti-racist peer education programme
• £27,300 to Grampian Race Equality Council to develop Scotland’s first Inter-Community Conflict Prevention and Resolution Project working with children and their families to address racial abuse and harassment

The projects to receive funding under SRIF include:

• £50,000 to expand the Operation Reclaim project run by Strathclyde Police which organises sports activities for young asylum seekers, refugees, minority ethnic and indigenous young people in the Red Road and Sighthill Areas of Glasgow
• £21,194 to Community Service Volunteers, to run volunteering programmes for asylum seekers and refugees to enable greater integration and participation in local communities
• £27,463 to North Glasgow College for its project which encourages refugees and asylum seekers to participate in Further Education and develop their skills

The Race Equality, Integration and Community Support Fund was announced in November 2005 as part of the immediate actions being put in place as a result of the Executive’s Race Equality Review. The funding is for years 2006-07 and 2007-08. {mospagebreak}

The 36 successful bidders for projects to benefit are (funding for 2006-08):
Lochaber Citizens Advice Bureau 20,845
Dumfries & Galloway Citizens Advice Service 49,393
Youth Counselling Services Agency 72,350
Youth Counselling Services Agency 20,000
LINKnet Mentoring Limited 85,256
Eildon Housing 80,000
West of Scotland Racial Equality Council 5,000
CEMVO 99,701
Workers’ Educational Association 12,300
PATH Scotland 62,450
Midlothian Voluntary Action 785
Catholic Church Hall Hawick Users Group 1,415
Project Ability 6,376
Multi Cultural Family Base 74,801
Minority Ethnic Carers of Older People Project 100,000
Edinburgh and Lothians Racial Equality Council 66,005
Planning Aid for Scotland 93,353
Duncholgan Playgroup 18,622
YWCA Roundabout Centre 9,712
The Ethnic Minorities Law Centre 100,000
Contact Point in East Dunbartonshire 26,849
Save The Children 88,100
Crossroads Youth and Community Association 45,822
Grampian Racial Equality Council 27,300
Gorbals Initiative 52,292
Amina – the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre 56,356
Glasgow Ansar 85,080
The Hidden Garden 20,000
Disabled and Carers Information Centre Association 44,870
Sikh Sanjog 18,849
Dundee International Women’s Centre 59,736
Central Scotland Racial Equality Council 50,000
Glasgow ESOL Forum 69,500
Pan African Arts 78,800
Traveller Education and Information Project 78,796
REACH/BEMIS 98,509

Total £1,879,233

The Scottish Refugee and Integration Fund will be allocated between (funding for total 2006-07):
The Bridges Programme 48,000
British Red Cross Orientation Service 49,132
BTCV Scotland Volunteering Project 20,000
Castlemilk Community Forum 15,000
Community Responses Co-ordinating Group 15,000
CSV 21,194
Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau 2,250
Easterhouse Citizens Advice Bureau 32,640
Ethnic Minorities Law Centre 30,000
The Gorbals Initiative Adelphi Centre 50,293
The Gorbals Initiative Adelphi Centre 10,000
Integrating Toryglen Community Toryglen Community Base 20,000
Karibu 10,000
Legal Services Agency 23,658
Linkes Junior Youth Integration Project 14,725
Linkes Integration Project 22,103
Maryhill Citizens Advice Bureau 34,000
Maryhill Integration Network 25,000
North Glasgow College 27,463
Refugee Survival Trust 6,000
Rosemount Lifelong Learning 20,000
Save the Children 10,000
Scottish Sports Futures The Pearce Institute 25,960
Strathclyde Police: Operation Reclaim Asylum Liason/Race Crime Unit 50,000
St Rollox Church of Scotland 9,000
Umoja Inc / One Plus 9,000

Total £600,418