Equality projects boosted by multi-million investment

Over 200 projects working to promote equality and address discrimination will benefit from more than £20m investment over the next year.

More than £5m will be provided to organisations supporting engagement with communities experiencing prejudice on the grounds of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation while £2.7m will go to frontline projects promoting equality and tackling prejudice.

Current funding levels of £11.8m will be maintained to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic abuse, sexual assault, and honour based violence including forced marriage and female genital mutilation. 
This will include £700,000 for Scotland’s local rape crisis centres to provide specialist services, information and support to rape and sexual abuse survivors.

In addition, a move to providing three year rolling funding over 2017-2020 will give vital reassurance and continuity to these organisations.

Equalities Secretary Angela Constance said: “We are determined to remove barriers that prevent anybody from making a full contribution to the economic, social and cultural fabric of our society.

“With this funding, we are continuing to support and empower people and groups to tackle inequality and discrimination head-on, helping secure positive and sustained change.

“My visit to Fife Migrants Forum has confirmed just how crucial projects like these are. As a nation with a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths, integration is essential.

“We want everybody to know that regardless of where they were born, live or what they do, when they live in Scotland they are valued members of our communities.”