An Edinburgh grassroots organisation, SCOREscotland – Strengthening Communities for Race Equality Scotland – will have representation at the London Marathon 2013. The charity is delighted that Peter Brading, a trainee lawyer at Tods Murray LLP, has chosen to support this charity and has successfully completed his winter training in preparation for the London Marathon 2013. He is dedicated to fundraising for SCOREscotland in order to boost their income and support this vital resource.

This Wester Hailes based voluntary organization, works in partnership to address the causes and effects of racism and to promote race equality.  Their approaches are designed to break down barriers to the full participation of minority ethnic communities in all aspects of civic life.

Although originally there were two SCOREscotland entrants for this year’s London Marathon, Tariq Ashkanani, a trainee lawyer at Simpson & Marwick will now run in the London Marathon 2014 as he is suffering from a foot injury.  Nonetheless, he too is totally committed to raising funds for SCOREscotland and the two runners have already raised over £2,000 through a range of activities including; supermarket bag packing, sweepstake, good old fashioned bake sales as well as fundraising from a thrill seeking sky jumping mum.

A spokesman for the charity said:-“As we await outcomes of the 2011 census figures, we know from the 2001 census information that the general Scottish population was experiencing negligible growth, (1.3%), also that 2% of the Scottish population was minority ethnic, with a growth of 62.3%.  The census also revealed that an estimated 20% of Scotland’s minority ethnic communities live in the East of Scotland.  Wester Hailes and surrounding areas of Edinburgh are home to many families from these communities who continue to be housed in the most deprived areas where the need for more effective support and services is already most strained.

“Additionally, according to 2001 census information, adults from minority ethnic groups have a markedly lower employment rate (58%) than those of white ethnic groups (75%), are more likely to have an income classed as relative low income (29%) than their white counterparts (18%), yet less likely to be benefit claimants (9.8%) than those from white ethnic groups (13.9%).

“With a growing minority ethnic community in Scotland, both the need for organisations like SCOREscotland and greater support and understanding from mainstream agencies is increasing. Hence the minority ethnic voluntary sector urgently requires investment and mainstream agencies and communities need to take an innovative approach to community engagement if we are to break down barriers, advance social justice and race equality for the benefit of all in our society.

“Like many other organisations within this sector, SCOREscotland are operating on very tight budgets in the current tough economic environment.  Undoubtedly, SCOREscotland Board, staff, volunteers, service users and Members are thrilled about the efforts of Peter and Tariq who are using imaginative fundraising approaches to assist in the organisation’s income challenge.  Their timely support is absolutely fantastic as it will boost the sustainability of this vital work without which, the ideals of equal opportunity and race equality in regeneration areas such as Wester Hailes will never be realised.”

If you would like to support Peter and Tariq in their fundraising effort to support SCOREscotland, please go to our website at www.scorescotland.org.uk or our JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/scorescotland2013 and donate as much as you can.

 

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
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