Bullying is any form of discrimination or behaviour intended to hurt or harm the reputation of another. It can happen face to face or online. Any type of bullying is unacceptable.
The reasons for bullying behaviour can be complex. It can harm people physically or emotionally. Victims feel hurt, threatened, frightened and left out.
Even though the actual behaviour might not be repeated, the threat that it might can be sustained over time, typically by actions: looks, messages, confrontations, physical interventions, or the fear of these.
Event Timetable:
Introductions
What is bullying
Prejudice
Children’s rights
Staying safe online
How to deal with bullying
Where to ask for help
Coping with feelings
Hosted by: ELREC’s True Colours and No Hate Network projects.
ELREC is a charity committed to promoting equality and opportunity for all. We aim to support and empower people with protected characteristics and tackle discrimination and prejudice.
True Colours project is led by young people and works against discrimination and pre-judice based bullying. We deliver workshops for young people on topics related to discrimination and hate crime.
No Hate Network group work on social media and aim to tackle arguments fuelling hate speech.
Additional support will be made available to Scots recovering from cancer and those who have survived sexual abuse thanks to £3.3 million of National Lottery funding announced today.
The Beatson Cancer Charityand Edinburgh Rape Crisis are amongst 141 Scottish groups receiving awards from The National Lottery Community Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, the funding will help to create a network of support around those who need it most during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centrewill be able to extend the specialist support it offers thanks to an award of £350,000.
Its three-year project, ‘Trauma and Counselling Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence,’ will support adult survivors of sexual violence across Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian. In particular, the funding will enable the Centre to further develop its ‘Still I Am’ (SIA) project for survivors from Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities aged 16 and over, who have had any form of unwanted sexual experience.
Over the next three years, The Centre will be able to reach out to many more people like Queen*. Welcoming the funding, she said: “I am very happy and excited that the SIA project got further funding because it has changed my life.
“I do not know what I would have done without this service and without counselling. I feel that SIA has changed not only mine but also my children’s lives because I can be there for them too. I am very grateful, and I would like to thank The National Lottery Community Fund for their decision because that means the SIA service will help more women like me in the future. Thank you so much.”
Caroline Burrell, Centre Director, Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this award from the National Lottery Community Fund. It recognises not only the vital work we have done over many years supporting survivors of sexual violence, but also the very pressing need to continue to provide our life-changing services.
“Sexual violence, which includes rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, devastates lives, and without effective support its impacts can be lifelong.
“Over the next three years our trauma-informed work will support hundreds of survivors to build a life beyond sexual violence and abuse. In particular this funding will enable us to further develop our SIA project for survivors of sexual violence from Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities aged 16 and over, who have had any form of unwanted sexual experience.”
This group will deliver specialist trauma-informed support to survivors of sexual violence in Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian. Survivors of rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse will receive emotional support, group support and advocacy support helping them to move on from trauma, and to build their confidence and resilience.
Two more local ‘winners’ in this round of grants are LifeCare and carers organisation VOCAL, who receive £80,000 and £41,000 respectively.
LifeCare, the older people’s support organisation based in Stockbridge, will use their funding to continue its project matching people over 60 (known as the VIPs) with volunteers, aged from 17-92, to facilitate one to one friendships between the VIPs, volunteers and the larger community they create when coming together as part of the wider Vintage Vibes VIP/Volunteer community.
VOCAL, based on Leith Walk, will use the funding to continue development of their short breaks service for carers which provides respite to people with caring responsibilities. VOCAL will also review their short breaks offer in light of the COVID-19 impact, extend the range of short breaks opportunities for carers and develop a social enterprise business proposal for carer holiday accommodation.
Edinburgh-based organisations Corstorphine Dynamo FC, ELREC, Friends of Saughton Park, Governors of Dean Orphanage and Cauvin’s Trust, Grassmarket Community Project, Leith Civic Trust, Pregnancy & Parents Centre, Prestonfield & District Neighbourhood Workers Project, Thistle Health and Wellbeing and YWCA Scotland received support ranging from £5000 right up to Thistle’s £120,000.
Elsewhere in Scotland,breast cancer survivor Susan McGoldrick, 56, welcomed an award of £269,800 to Beatson Cancer Charity for a three-year programme of therapeutic support.
This programme will help hundreds of people across the West of Scotland who are recovering from cancer to better deal with anxiety and any fears of recurrence they may have following completion of or changes to their treatment.
Susan, from Lenzie, completed the pilot programme last month following a cancer diagnosis in 2019. She said: “This National Lottery funding will make a huge difference to many people like me. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I joined and with the programme only being six weeks long and virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions, I wasn’t sure what I would achieve.
“But I have to say it has been a revelation and I feel like a brand, new woman. I have learned so much and feel transformed and it has even inspired me to make recent radical changes in my life. I would like to encourage many more patients to attend if they can.”
The six-week programme of therapeutic groupwork will help people to develop their own coping strategies and will work with them as they develop their own personal plans to engage more with day to day life, their families and the wider community.
Martin Cawley, CEO of Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “We are delighted at the award of this very important grant. The medical treatment process for cancer is difficult enough for people to cope with, but when you add the psychological impact on top, it is especially challenging.
“Even when people have successfully been through their treatment programmes there is always an underlying worry about cancer recurrence. This project supports people to develop their own coping skills, this in turn strengthens their resilience and recovery even further.
“This grant will help greatly as part of the cancer journey and allow many more patients to become involved over next three years. Everyone at Beatson Cancer Charity is absolutely thrilled. Thank you to The National Lottery players without whom this grant would not be possible.”
Announcing today’s funding totalling £3,332,722, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “Projects across the country continue to make an amazing contribution the nation-wide response combatting the impact of COVID-19 on communities across Scotland.
“Today’s funding will help thousands more people like Susan and Queen, whose inspiring testimonies highlight how important it is to have a tailored package of support when you are going through the most challenging of circumstances.
“The comfort of knowing someone who understands your journey is at the end of the phone or forms part of a group network of support cannot be under-estimated. This is vital work which we are delighted to support, and all made possible thanks to National Lottery players.”
The National Lottery Community Fund is currently focusing its National Lottery funding in Scotland on those projects which are supporting organisations and communities to respond to the challenge of COVID-19.
The #BigClimateDebate has now arrived. Join the most important discussion of our time. The Big Climate Debate is YOUR opportunity to influence climate change policies.
Each evening, an elected representative will give a short presentation on their parties’ policies and actions. You will hear their achievements and proposals to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. We will then open the session to audience’s questions.
Following these sessions, we will be honoured to gather all speakers and Government Minister together for a panel discussion on November 18th, 5PM where they will debate questions asked by YOU. More details to come.
Foysol Choudhury MBE has been involved with the Edinburgh and Lothian’s Regional Equality Council (ELREC) since he was a teenager and has been an active campaigner for equality and good race and interfaith relations in Scotland.
He has served the ELREC as a Trustee, company secretary, Vice Chair and he is currently its Chairman.
Sir Geoff Palmer was the first black professor in Scotland, he is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sir Palmer is also a prominent human rights activist and is involved in a considerable amount of charity work in the community.
He wrote a series of articles for the Times Educational Supplement from 1969 to 1971 on way to improve the education of children from ethnic minorities. Currently, he is the Honorary President of ELREC.
Irene Mosota is a social entrepreneur and the founding director of the Giving Voice Initiative (GVI), which is supported by Knowledge-Bridge.
Knowledge-Bridge is an Organisation development consultancy that provides training on Translating Race Equality and Diversity Strategies into Action.
Foysol Choudhury MBE has been involved with the Edinburgh and Lothian’s Regional Equality Council (ELREC) since he was a teenager and has been an active campaigner for equality and good race and interfaith relations in Scotland. He has served the ELREC as a Trustee, company secretary, Vice Chair and he is currently its Chairman.
Sir Geoff Palmer was the first black professor in Scotland, he is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sir Palmer is also a prominent human rights activist and is involved in a considerable amount of charity work in the community. He wrote a series of articles for the Times Educational Supplement from 1969 to 1971 on way to improve the education of children from ethnic minorities. Currently, he is the Honorary President of ELREC.
Irene Mosota is a social entrepreneur and the founding director of the Giving Voice Initiative (GVI), which is supported by Knowledge-Bridge. Knowledge-Bridge is an Organisation development consultancy that provides training on Translating Race Equality and Diversity Strategies into Action.
Timetable:
5:30 Welcome and Introductions
5:40 Geoff’s Talk
5:50 Irene’s Talk
6:00 Q&A
6:10 Breakout rooms
6:30 Discussion in the big group
7:00 End of the event
The event is hosted by:
ELREC is a charity committed to promoting equality and opportunity for all. We aim to support and empower people with protected characteristics and tackle discrimination and prejudice. Furthermore, we seek to engage with diverse minority communities to understand, empower, and address energy efficiency, reduction of carbon emissions, and climate change.
Knowledge-Bridge is an Organisation development consultancy that provides training on Translating Race Equality and Diversity Strategies into Action.
Edinburgh College Students’ Association is an autonomous, student-run campaigning and membership organisation that promotes, defends and extends student rights and provides services and representation at Edinburgh College, Scotland.
The lockdown and Covid 19 have been particularly difficult on many BAME, low income and isolated families here in Edinburgh.
In June 2020 ELREC started a food project to help bridge the gap between BAME people and food poverty and access to free food services such as food banks. This came about after ELREC was contacted by many community members asking for food support due to job losses, furlough, redundancies, and benefits income not being sufficient to live on for many families.
The work is all volunteer led and these include ELREC staff, board members and our other volunteers who give up their time to help us deliver this project. ELREC provides on average 25-30 food parcels per week.
The volunteers not only put the parcels together but also deliver them to anyone who is not able to collect for health or Covid reasons. We are working in partnership with Edinburgh Community Food and Fareshare to deliver this service for the community.
We are seeking donations to top up the food parcels with specific items such as meat.
PLEASE DONATE what you can and help us keep doing this important work for our community: https://gf.me/u/yw6r7s
The lockdown and Covid 19 have been particularly difficult on many BAME, low income and isolated families here in Edinburgh.
In June 2020 ELREC started a food project to help bridge the gap between BAME people and food poverty and access to free food services such as food banks.
This came about after ELREC was contacted by many community members asking for food support due to job losses, furlough, redundancies, and benefits income not being sufficient to live on for many families and also children being at home fulltime.
ELREC provided this work thanks to local funding but this has now ended, yet the demand for food parcels and halal meat for BAME families remains. The work is all volunteer led and these include ELREC staff, board members and our other volunteers who give up their time to help us deliver this project.
ELREC provides on average 30 food parcels per week but not only put the parcels together but also deliver them to any family who are unable to collect them. There are 15 volunteers involved and on average we spend 20 hours per week on this work.
Currently ELREC is working in partnership with Edinburgh Community Food and Fareshare who provide us with free food parcels, but we do not have sufficient funding to top up the parcels with meat, which is the main item we are asked for.
There are many families within our communities who need and rely on this food support for many reasons but the standard food banks don’t meet their needs. Therefore, ELREC is asking for funds to top up their food support with specific items they need such as halal meat, nappies, baby milk or any other essential items.
ELREC hopes to continue this work until end of October 2020 in line with the furlough scheme and then make alternative arrangements for these families to continue to access this food support with which they need to live.
FOOD for those who need it:
PLEASE DONATE what you can and help us keep doing this important work for our community.
‘Everything has a silver lining’ – this goes for most things and our AGM was no exception (writes ELREC Chair FOYSUL CHOUDHURY MBE). Even during difficult times like such, we as a humanity find ways to not only survive but thrive.
As many of you know, we had the AGM scheduled for March 2020 but due to Covid -19 it was cancelled, and we then went into lockdown. During this time everything went digital and Zoom is now a very common source of conducting meetings, workshops, and classes.
So, we also decided to host our AGM online via Zoom on Wednesday 5th August 2020 and it was just as wonderful as the ‘real’ deal!
The AGM was hosted by ELREC Chair, Foysol Choudhury MBE who welcomed everyone and introduced ELREC’s Honorary Patron, and Lord Provost to the City of Edinburgh, Frank Ross:
Rt Hon Frank Ross – Lord Provost for the City of Edinburgh
Lord Provost welcomed everyone to our AGM and congratulated community groups for coming together during this very difficult time. “Edinburgh is the most successful economy in Scotland with 94 per of its population in employment. We are world centre for celebrating culture and festivals attracting 4 million visitors each year. Since March 2020, our city has been closed to protect ourselves and others from the virus and lives have been disrupted such as schooling, businesses as well as our traditions”. I thank local groups for observing lockdown during the Muslim Eid celebrations and other celebrations which fell during this time.
Since March 2020:
Edinburgh has provided and delivered 200 food parcels to the vulnerable and poor families every day. 1600 to those in shielding, 100 million pounds of support has been provided to businesses and enterprises over last 4 months. 3000 community care grants paid every month,2000 people supported through crisis centres, 200 additional bed spaces created to eliminate homelessness in our city.
These last 4 months have seen communities being resilient and coming together like nothing I have ever seen. During this time volunteering has trebled.
Moving ahead I urge ELREC to continue its work in substantial public society by maximising inclusion and access to employment and access to equality, justice, and access to services. On behalf of Civic Edinburgh, I pass gratitude to ELREC board, staff, volunteers, and partners in their contributions in minimising impact of coronavirus and the lockdown within their communities.
Sarah Boyack – MSP – Member of local government and communities committee.
I want to thank the communities and local groups for all their efforts during this unprecedented time. There are many lessons to be learned from this situation and one is that we cannot go back to the old way of living. We need to create a better society to what we had before lockdown, our focus has been on how to protect people from Covid particularly the vulnerable, and access to practical support for people who have lost jobs, loved ones and are really in need of help.
Some of the issues I have been working on these past few months are that people are worried about the long term effects of Covid and the lockdown on their mental health, more testing in care homes and for care workers and support for teachers and their staff in schools and ensure that our local authorities have the resources they need to make this happen.
I have also had lots of letters asking me what the scientific guidance is on opening religious places and supporting people in workplaces once we return to work. I can tell you that this is the busiest the parliament has ever been.
Or governments need to work together to reduce the effect of the virus on people, find a vaccine and ensure funding for businesses is available to get our economy up and running again.
We also had a debate in parliament on Black Lives Matter movement and three big things we agreed that need to happen were:
A Museum of slavery to look at the history of black lives
School curriculum needs to include this
Establishment of an expert advisory group on to look at the effects of Covid on bme people
I have also been contacted by the son of the Late Saroj Lal who was the first bme teacher and community worker and worked for ELREC and many community organisations in Edinburgh and did some amazing work. We will be planning a session in parliament to remember and celebrate Saroj soon. The Chair thanked Sarah for organising this and ELREC would be happy to be involved in this.
The pandemic is only reiterated the value of our front-line staff and service workers and we want to ensure everyone has equal opportunities and that our services are fairer and allow people to serve their country.
Professor Sir Geoff Palmer OBE
I want to start by conveying my dearest sympathies to the people who have died or are sick and pray that we can manage this disease and minimise the damage further. These are unprecedented times.
Different parts of the country are talking of the links to chattel slavery and we must change attitudes and start with schools and tell children why black people are in this situation. The curriculum must teach the truth.
“Itseasiertomendbrokenchildrenthanmendbrokenmen”
Do not let things be nice to do, make it part of the curriculum and it becomes the attitude of the people we produce in the future.
I have given interviews for Canada, Japan and South Africa, Jamaica and other Caribbean connections and the world is interested not in me but in Edinburgh and what it is doing. What we are doing in our city is going worldwide and has attracted the attention on the world.
PromotingEqualityandFightingDiscrimination
ELREC is registered in Scotland as a company limited by guarantee no. 183419 and is a recognised Scottish Charity no. SC007896
The Henry Dundas statue in St Andrew square has been there for 199 years and its taken us this long to change the placard to include the word “slavery” on it. It may have taken a long time but its been worth it and truth be told.
Edinburgh is a city that is seen by the world as doing something about Black Lives issue and I am grateful for ELREC for making lives better for its bme communities in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.
Councillor Donald Wilson – Convener Culture and Communities Committee
I am proud to be part of discussions on our history and making changes. Some of the silver lining has been reaction of communities and organisations who have stepped up and been involved in their local areas.
The Impact this has had on elderly and how we treat our elderly and our role and priority we have in society and role of culture on our mental wellbeing. In terms of mental health and realising role of culture has on mental health and wellbeing is essential part of our lives.
Edinburgh is a world class city of culture, and Covid has had a massive impact on it, we must do what we can, culturally and civically and its vital for our wellbeing. Our committee had been suspended and rightly so and is restarting soon and rightly so as its time to get back and argue the case for culture and strong communities.
Police – Chief Superintendent Sean Scott
Policing over the last four months has been something I have ever seen before. We were given new powers and had to learn quickly. I must say though that communities came together fantastically in the last 4 months, and we have not had major issues to report.
During these rather difficult times we wanted to be as tolerant as possible and the last resort was to enforce however Edinburgh and the bme communities have been fantastic with adhering to the rules. We may not have got it right every time, but we took the right approach and have a new survey online for feedback, so please do have a look at this on our website and send us feedback.
Going forward we closely monitor social tensions and are working very closely with our partners so that we can provide the right protection service to our local communities.
Crime is dramatically down last number of months, but anti-social behaviour has increased but not any great levels to cause any worry.
I thank ELREC and other partners for their continuous efforts and support making our work easier.
I would also like to mention that we have a new ACC, Tim Maier’s who will be joining us soon. The Chair thanked Sean and the rest of the Police for their swift action on the issue of hate incidents against the Asian community in Edinburgh due to Covid.
MSP Ben McPherson – Minister for Public Finance and Migration
Ben is the MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith.
In support of the health service and third sector that has come together in a tremendous way has been one of the positive things to come out of this terrible situation, my condolences for those who have lost their loved ones to the virus. We need to learn the lessons from this such as
PromotingEqualityandFightingDiscrimination
ELREC is registered in Scotland as a company limited by guarantee no. 183419 and is a recognised Scottish Charity no. SC007896
how we can adapt to the changes and inequalities Covid has raised and the humanity that has strengthened the process. How do I support local organisations, and local businesses? Money has been made available and given quickly during this time to help with this. Recognising our own society and understanding our history to build a better society. I thank Sir Geoff for always inspiring us to be proactive and better.
ELREC Projects
Our current projects: Communities for Conservation, Equalities Engagement, Open Arms, True Colours, are all doing well despite the current situation.
Many of our services have gone online and some just cant. We want to thank the funders for their patience and understanding during this time. During lockdown we started 2 new projects, equally informed which disseminates information in different languages related to Covid and the lockdown restrictions to various ethnic minority groups in Edinburgh.
The purpose of this work is to ensure our local diverse communities have access to the official guidance and its understandable. We have also been working in partnership with Edinburgh Community Food, Lieth Decides and Port of Leith Housing to provide food parcels to local bme communities in North of Edinburgh.
Many of the communities need halal meat and products so our food parcels are specific to the needs of the local groups we represent here in Edinburgh. The Lockdown and Covid has pushed many of our local bme groups into poverty so this little help offers some support.
Appointment of Board Members
This year we had four board members retiring so we had four vacancies.
Mrs Shana Rams and Mr Irshad Ahmed were elected as new board members, and Mrs Magdalena Sajnaga and Cllr Carl John were re-elected.
Vice Chair, Shami Khan and the Chair thanked the speakers and everyone for attending and participating in ELREC’s AGM. We thank all front-line staff for all their hard work and public services for keeping the city moving during these unprecedented times.
ELREC promotes a culture of zero tolerance of inequality, hate and all kinds of discrimination, both in society and in schools.
As an equality organization we do a lot of work in schools through our True Colours Project, challenging stereotypes and prejudices young people may have.
However, it is not just young people but staff and teachers in schools needing training and awareness too. Ignorance is not bliss when it affects people in a negative way, especially when young people go through their school lives suffering poor mental health and later carrying the scars into adulthood.
Many children are aware of the racist behaviour of adults and some practice this racism in school. Unfortunately, when teachers and other staff are also the perpetrators, it either goes unreported or if it is reported, then most likely the school ignores it and so the cycle continues.
The history and the harm that are associated with racism must be taught properly, like any other mainstream subject, in our schools. The curriculum must reflect this change in our educational objectives. If there are no consequences to racist behaviour, then it will continue in our schools. Consequences should be outlined clearly for children, teachers, governing bodies and local authorities.
Promoting mutual respect and understanding of diversity is key to countering all forms of intolerances and discrimination. Community organisations can only do so much, the education department must take serious action as they have duty of care to protect these young people during school hours.
As an equality organisation we are happy to help schools achieve this and some of our recommendations are:
• policymakers, teachers and families must all work together to promote equality and non-discrimination both in schools and at home
• policymakers must create, enforce and fund policies to eliminate discrimination.
• teachers must be trained to work with children from all backgrounds; and pupils’ parents should be included in their school’s decisions to promote equality and non-discrimination in education
• Governments must provide the appropriate financial resources for schools to be able to promote equality and non-discrimination and regularly monitor the situation
By working together, we can create an equal, safer and more tolerant society for the future generations.
Foysol Choudhury MBE
Chairman, Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Equality Council
As an equality organisation we have been working with schools through our projects, Young People Against Hate and now True Colours. However racism continues to be an issue in many schools in Edinburgh and more definitely needs to be done on it.
