Tag: Inspiring Scotland

Funding to support equality and human rights

Additional £1 million annually for third sector organisations

Organisations across Scotland will share £21 million funding over three years to advance human rights, promote equality and tackle discrimination.

A total of 48 organisations – including five specialist human rights organisations – will benefit from the new Equality and Human Rights Fund.

Overall, this new three-year programme will provide an additional £1 million per year for organisations dedicated to tackling inequality and discrimination, furthering equality and advancing the realisation of human rights in Scotland.

One of the charities set to receive funding for the first time is Civil Rights First, which provides specialist legal advice and representation to people with protected characteristics such as ethnicity, age or disability.

Five human rights organisations receiving additional funding for the first time are: Civic Rights First, Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland (ERCS), Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector, JustRight Scotland SCIO and The Poverty Alliance.

Other organisations include Intercultural Youth Scotland, Generations Working Together and Neighbourhood Networks in Scotland.

Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie said: “We want to build a fairer, more equal Scotland which is free from discrimination and where the human rights of everyone are respected, protected and fulfilled.

“Equality and human rights are at the heart of all we do. As we ease out of the pandemic, we are providing an annual increase of £1 million to support the vital efforts of these expert organisations to strengthen communities, further equality, and advance human rights of people across the country.”

Dionne McCabe, Trustee of Civil Rights First, said: “This funding award, made in recognition of our specialist service delivery, is a significant step for our small charity in delivering to the most vulnerable with access to justice and a step change in growth across Scotland.

“We look forward to making a real difference with positive outcomes for vulnerable people.”

A spokesperson for the Poverty Alliance said: “We are delighted to be one of the organisations awarded funding by the Equality and Human Rights Fund.

“Rights in Action, our funded project, will support organisations and individuals to better understand and use their economic, social and cultural rights to address poverty.

Celia Tennant, Chief Executive of Inspiring Scotland, which manages the fund on behalf of the Scottish Government, said:  “Everyone in Scotland deserves, and has a right, to live their life to their maximum ability, to contribute to society in the widest terms, and to have full self-determination.

“The large number of strong applicants to the fund demonstrates the depth of commitment from the third sector. We look forward to working with the diverse range of funded groups to share challenges, develop solutions and amplify learning.”

The Equality and Human Rights Fund is a new programme that supports organisations that deliver work focussed on tackling inequality and discrimination, furthering equality, and advancing the realisation of human rights in Scotland.

Link Up: Working Better Together in Place report released

The Place-based Programme Learning Exchange, a collaboration of national organisations that champion ‘place’ in their practices, has released a report highlighting what works and what doesn’t in place-based approaches.

This report aims to share these key learnings to enhance both the scale and quality of place-based working across Scotland, and draws on over 50 years of combined organisational experience and learning across dozens of urban and rural place settings.

Working-Better-Together-in-Place_PBPLExchange_FINAL_290321Download

£500,000 to support outdoor activities for children

Children in some of the country’s most deprived areas are to benefit from free organised outdoor play activities aimed at improving their health and wellbeing.

A total of £500,000 is being provided to expand the Outdoor Community Play Fund in 2021-22, which is administered by Inspiring Scotland.

In 2020-21 the fund distributed £380,000 to 23 play charities reaching more than 5,000 children in Scotland’s most deprived communities.

Children’s Minister Maree Todd said: “Protecting children’s right to play has been one of the key priorities in our decision making to suppress transmission of the virus. We understand the value of outdoor play for children’s wellbeing and resilience, as well as their physical and mental health.

“Children and families from more deprived areas can often find it more difficult to access organised outdoor activities, so I’m pleased that this additional funding will help even more children play outside in a safe and fun way.”

Karen Shepherd, Play Development Officer of Aberdeen Play Forum, who were recipients of funding in 2020/21, said: “A lot of parents told us that they and their children had been very isolated and had almost forgotten how to play and socialise with others. Many families do not have access to a garden or safe play space so had been deprived.

“The sessions we were able to put on were welcomed as they gave safe and structured opportunities for those involved, as well as giving parents ideas to engage positively with play at home.”

The financial support has been announced as Play Scotland has published an updated progress report on Scotland’s National Play Strategy.

The report highlights the growing body of evidence on the adverse impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the associated restrictions on children and young people’s wellbeing, resulting from changes to their daily lives including reduced opportunities for play and social interaction with their peers.

The report makes recommendations across eight broad areas:

• refresh the Play Strategy and ensure national and local leadership support a child’s right to play
• renew and develop the national and local commitment to outdoor play
• listen to children and young people and act on what they say
• ensure inclusion of all children and young people
• ensure cross sectoral and inter professional approaches to play are in place
• sustain and support play provision through adequate funding
• maintain a focus on playful learning and play in schools
• strengthen the play sector nationally and locally

Resources are also available on the Parent Club website to support outdoor play for all families.

Almost £3 million more for social care projects

31 projects secure an additional year’s funding

Funding for 31 third sector projects in social care has been extended to March 2022 with the announcement of an additional £2.9 million of Scottish Government backing.

Edinburgh projects include MECOPP, Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living and Thistle Foundation Health and Wellbeing.

Scottish Government’s ‘Support in the Right Direction’ programme was initially funded until March 2021, with funding partner Inspiring Scotland. The programme helps organisations who provide information, advice and advocacy to people accessing and managing their social care across Scotland.

The 12-month extension will enable project staff to continue their vital work helping people and carers navigate their way through the social care system, make the most of the ‘self-directed support’ options available to them, and access the support and care they need in their community.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman said: “I am very pleased to be able to extend funding for Inspiring Scotland to manage these projects for an additional 12 months.

“The programme has consistently demonstrated the benefits of ensuring supported people have practical information and advocacy to live their lives.

“Independent advice and advocacy, plus support to make connections in their community, relieves stress and anxiety and helps people and carers maximise their choices and control over their arrangements, which is key to Scotland’s social care system.

“I am grateful to Inspiring Scotland and the individual projects for continuing this vital work and providing additional support to our social care sector.”

Inspiring Scotland Chief Executive Celia Tennant added: “We’re very pleased that all 31 Support in the Right Direction projects will receive funding for a further 12 months.

“This announcement recognises the importance of independent support for people, as part of local health and social care delivery, and provides some stability for these essential charities.”

The Support in the Right Direction programme is managed on behalf of Scottish Government by Inspiring Scotland. 

Click here for Details of the funded projects 

New fund for perinatal mental health

poverty family JRF

Mums, dads and families at risk of poor mental health during pregnancy and the early years will be able to access enhanced peer support, parenting support and perinatal counselling services, with new annual funding of up to £1 million.

The Perinatal and Infant Mental Health fund will provide crucial help by supporting third sector organisations to deliver key services and address gaps in provision.

Inspiring Scotland will run the fund – which will open to charities from August – and will work with the Scottish Government to achieve the goals of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board.

Minister for Mental Health Clare Haughey said: “The third sector provides an invaluable source of support for the mental health of women, babies and their families during pregnancy and early parenthood.

“Last year, the Scottish Government provided funding to support the work of third sector organisations in this area and I am delighted that we are able to build on this with the new Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund.

“The fund will allow one-to-one support for organisations to help provide the services that women and their families need across Scotland.”

Inspiring Scotland Chief Executive Celia Tennant said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Scottish Government with this important new third sector fund for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health charities.

“We know how vital the perinatal period is for families and how crucial the early years are for infant development. Charities across Scotland are doing essential work, and with the uncertainty caused by coronavirus (COVID-19), their work is more important now than ever.

“We look forward to continuing our support of the third sector and their support for infants and families at this crucial stage of life.”

The application process for the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund will open on 5 May 2020.

The fund will run for three years, from August 2020 – March 2023.

Third sector organisations interested in applying to this fund, should register online. 

Away and Play: Edinburgh trio share in Thrive Outdoors funding

More children across the capital and the Lothians will be out playing in their communities this summer after local charities received a funding boost.   Continue reading Away and Play: Edinburgh trio share in Thrive Outdoors funding

Funding boost for outdoor learning

The number of hours nursery children spend outdoors is set to increase, Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Maree Todd, has announced. Inspiring Scotland will receive £862,550 to encourage and support greater use of outdoor learning in the early years. Continue reading Funding boost for outdoor learning

Coming to a playground near you … the Play Rangers!

Play Ranger Festival will brighten up the school holidays

play-rangers-week

Charities providing a free play ranger service to help kids in disadvantaged communities benefit from outdoor play are launching Edinburgh’s first ever play festival. 
Continue reading Coming to a playground near you … the Play Rangers!

Eyes down – bingo’s back in Muirhouse!

by Robert Pearson

Over recent years we have seen bingo halls close over Edinburgh, many reasons spring to mind including the smoking ban. North Edinburgh’s nearest bingo hall – the Gala in West Granton – closed many years ago. At its peak you would see many people queuing outside to be first in to get their preferred seats. After the closure the area was left without any bingo facilities at all.

Well, this all changed last month when Muirhouse resident Jackie Brown -‘Big Jackie’ – heard of a new and exciting opportunity: Inspiring Scotland’s Link Up programme was in town and was working with individuals and groups in Muirhouse. Jackie and a few others met up with Link Up development worker Julie Crawford and plans were put in motion to relaunch bingo in North Edinburgh.

Speaking to Jackie I asked her why she thought this was a good idea for Muirhouse and greater North Edinburgh:

“Since the closure of the bingo hall in Granton years ago, it has been sadly missed by many. We would all go to the bingo and enjoy the game along with a good chinwag with everyone. When I heard of Link Up I immediately thought we could benefit from this. Julie the Link Up worker has been fantastic and made this all possible, given lots of advice and support. I really hope that we can continue to sustain our new bingo and that it runs for many years to come”

Development worker Julie Crawford tells me:

“ This fantastic idea of Jackie has only been made possible thanks to Inspiring Scotland and their Link Up programme, working very closely with Jackie and Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre I was delighted to see the first bingo game last month. Jackie is a very passionate about Muirhouse and will do everything possible to make this sustainable”

It was a nervous wait for the first bingo session to come, as often events are arranged in Muirhouse and the take up is not particularly good. Well, there was no need to be nervous as a fantastic 29 people turned in to the Community Centre to have their first game of bingo in years.

‘Eyes down and ready for your first number’ was called, the excitement was clear in the hall, these ladies were at home enjoying bingo in the heart of Muirhouse! “Bingo” – we had our first winner! Jackie had done it – the people of Muirhouse and North Edinburgh really were playing bingo in front of her very own eyes! Soon it was the interval and there was a positive vibe about the centre and women laughed and chatted with one another.

Due to the fantastic success of the first bingo, Jackie is pleased to confirm that bingo is here to stay – well, at least for the time being. She really hopes to welcome even more people this month.

Jackie and all the ladies who attended last month’s bingo thank all the staff at Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre, as without their support this would not have been possible.

Link Up Muirhouse is delivered by Muirhouse Youth Development Group in partnership with, and through funding from, Inspiring Scotland. Inspiring Scotland’s Link Up programme is supported by the CashBack for Communities programme. CashBack for Communities is a Scottish Government programme which takes funds recovered from the proceeds of crime and invests them into free activities and programmes for people across Scotland.

The next Bingo night is Wednesday 24 October, for more information: 07928 116 375