Tag: JustRight Scotland

JustRight Scotland star in SCVO’s #EssentialSector campaign

Legal charity highlighted as part of national campaign 

Glasgow-based legal charity JustRight Scotland is the latest star in a nationwide campaign highlighting the work of Scotland’s voluntary sector.  

#EssentialSector, a campaign developed by and about the voluntary sector, has been launched to great acclaim, with voices from across Scotland praising the opportunities provided for grassroots groups that are often overlooked.  

Work towards #EssentialSector began earlier this year, with ten organisations selected as part of a new programme to highlight how voluntary organisations change people’s lives for the better, bring communities together, improve policy and contribute to the economy. 

The films feature real people, telling their stories in their own words and paint an inspiring and raw picture of the value, diversity, and impact of the voluntary sector. They show the challenges the sector faces, as well as its many achievements. 

Now, the general public have their chance to view the series of short films which capture the everyday work done by the dedicated individuals behind charities and voluntary groups in every corner of Scotland.  

The #EssentialSector campaign partners are led by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Scotland’s national membership body for the voluntary sector, and include: ACOSVO, the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, Evaluation Support Scotland, Social Enterprise Scotland, the TSI Scotland Network, and Volunteer Scotland.  

The films were premiered at SCVO’s Gathering 2023, the largest voluntary sector event in the UK, in Edinburgh last month and are now being showcased on a weekly basis.  

The project saw the ten groups given support and access to everyday equipment to make their own films, with training provided by ethical media production group media co-op. Charities were given the skills to produce their own video content, which was edited by SCVO’s video content creator, James Ewen.  

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of SCVO, said: “The #EssentialSector films tell the stories of just 10 of Scotland’s 46,500 voluntary organisations. The films are a lovely celebration of the work they do.  

“We want to highlight as many stories as we can on a national stage to bring to life the vital role of voluntary organisations in communities across Scotland.” 

JustRight Scotland is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) providing legal services to defend and extend people’s rights.

JustRight Scotland is a charity founded by human rights lawyers. They use the law to defend and extend people’s rights by providing direct legal advice to people who would otherwise struggle to access justice.

They work in collaboration with others to achieve social justice, with the aim of reducing discrimination and disadvantage. With their partners they have established four centres of legal excellence and a legal policy, research and training hub.

All of JustRight Scotland’s legal centres have been recognised as making a significant contribution to defending people’s rights across Scotland.

The charity has seen huge growth during their first five years, and has moved swiftly to meet people’s needs and to seize opportunities. Over the coming years, they plan to continue to make sure they are resilient and sufficiently agile to be able to thrive.

Alongside their core legal work with the people we serve, they will continue to develop their capability to influence policy, to communicate effectively, and to support others to learn and build on the approaches they have pioneered.

Emma Hutton, CEO at JustRight Scotland, said: “Taking part in the #EssentialSector campaign allowed us to share our stories and demonstrate the direct impact of our work nationwide, raising awareness of our work with wider networks. 

“We emphasised the crucial role played by our dedicated team in achieving our mission of defending and extending people’s rights. Only through their strong commitment and passion, can we make a significant impact in the lives of people and communities throughout Scotland.”

Watch the full film here: www.youtube.com/@SCVOtv 

Additional advice support services for Ukrainian refugees in Scotland

Organisations that will provide advice, support and information services for Ukrainian people and their families are to receive Scottish Government funding as part of Scotland’s response to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has visited the headquarters of the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) to learn about the vital work they are doing to help individuals arriving from Ukraine, and to announce more than £1 million of funding to allow them to recruit additional staff ahead of an increase in requests for support.

Ukraine Advice Scotland, run by Scottish charity JustRight Scotland, will also receive funding from the Scottish Government to provide financial stability for the project, which provides free and confidential legal advice to those displaced by the war in Ukraine.

This funding will ensure the organisation can increase their support for legal work, as well as interpretation for advice calls, and translation of online information.

Following the visit to the SRC, where the First Minister met Ukrainian nationals and saw an advice phone line in action, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Nearly three million people have now fled the war in Ukraine, the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

“Scotland is ready to play its part to offer safety and sanctuary to those forced to leave their homes because of Russia’s brutal invasion, and it is heartening to see preparations for increased support, advice and information already being put in place.

“We are determined to do everything in our power to give them the warmest welcome possible when people so start to arrive and we will need organisations like SRC and JustRight Scotland, as well as the support of the people of Scotland, to do just that.” 

Sabir Zazai, Chief Executive of Scottish Refugee Council, said: “People fleeing the war in Ukraine will need advice and support to help them find their feet and settle into life in Scotland.

“We’ll provide practical, one-to-one support to new arrivals and their families, helping with everything from registering with a GP, to sourcing school uniforms and applying for jobs.

“No matter which part of the world people are from or which conflict they are fleeing, our advisors work with people in an empowering, trauma-informed way to build the foundations of a safe life here in Scotland.”

Kirsty Thomson, Managing Director of JustRight Scotland, said: “In this extraordinary time, we welcome the commitment from the Scottish Government to fund Ukraine Advice Scotland which will support Ukrainian people who are seeking safety in Scotland.

“This vital, free and confidential service will provide high-quality initial legal assistance to address needs and protect fundamental rights as well as linking into other legal and support networks that have been established by our partners.”

Welcome to Your Vote Day!

New Scots urged to register to vote in May elections

The Electoral Commission is running a Welcome to Your Vote Day, today Thursday 10 March, to raise awareness amongst New Scots about their right to vote ahead of the upcoming council elections.

In 2020 the Scottish Parliament voted to extend the franchise for Scottish Parliament and council elections to include anyone aged 16 or over who is resident in Scotland, regardless of their nationality. This means that the upcoming elections will be the first opportunity for many New Scots to vote in Scottish council elections. 

Anyone who wants to vote in the Scottish council elections on 5 May must be registered by midnight on 18 April.

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland said: “Welcome to Your Vote Day aims to raise awareness that New Scots have the right to register to vote and have their say on 5 May.

“We have information to help new voters understand the voting process in various languages on our website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter.

“You can’t have your say in the council elections taking place this May unless you are registered to vote, which you can do online now at www.gov.uk/registertovote.”    

The Electoral Commission is also working with organisations across Scotland to ensure that recently-enfranchised voters have the tools they need to confidently cast their vote on issues that affect their day to day lives.

This includes providing resources which community groups and other organisations can use to raise awareness amongst New Scots they work with and run their own registration events.

Luis, who is a member of JustRight Scotland’s JustCitizens Panel and came to Scotland from Mexico in 2014, said: “This year I am going to vote, after living here for a couple of years. I feel like I belong and I would like to think that I have the power to shape the society I live in.” 

Mira from the Just Citizens Panel, who is originally from Poland, said: “I voted in Scotland for the first time in 2017 at the local council elections and, emotionally speaking, it was quite an emotive and powerful event.

“It felt like, even though I had already lived in Scotland for seven years at that point, it really felt like I was part of the society and like I was taking an active role in what was happening to the city that I live in.”

Organisations and individuals who want to raise awareness about the right to vote for New Scots can access the free resources from the Electoral Commission website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/democratic-engagement-resources.