First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the winner of the ‘First Mentor’ competition yesterday – Charlotte Liddell of Buckhaven in Fife. Launched on International Women’s Day in March, the initiative will see the successful applicant mentored by the First Minister for a period of one year – and it is designed to highlight the importance of women in leadership roles mentoring young women. Continue reading Charlotte is First Mentee
Could you be a lifestyle coach?
A new scheme aims to reduce women’s risk of developing breast cancer by helping them lose weight and become more active. Continue reading ActWELL: reducing the risk of breast cancer
Angela Constance: “Equality has taken ‘massive step backwards”
Women are being unfairly impacted by recent UK Government cuts to benefits and welfare eligibility, Equalities Secretary Angela Constance has said. Continue reading Women ‘hardest hit by welfare cuts’
A new bill to strengthen the laws against those who psychologically abuse their partners using coercive and controlling behaviour has been published. Continue reading New powers to tackle domestic abuse
Louise Macdonald OBE, Chief Executive of Young Scot, has been appointed as independent Chair of the Advisory Council which will raise awareness of gender issues, champion the rights of women and girls, and advocate for changes that can be made across society to deliver equality. Continue reading Young Scot chief to chair new women’s advisory council
Young Scot competition offers chance of a lifetime for young women
Aspiring young women aged between 18 and 23 will have the chance to be mentored by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The competition, run by Young Scot, will see the successful candidate receive mentoring from the First Minister over a one year period.
The First Minister yesterday called on women in leadership roles to follow her example and become mentors, helping to create a generation of future leaders and greater gender balance in their organisations.
Speaking at the diversity on private sector boards joint partnership event with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, the FM said:
“Equality for women is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s vision for an equal Scotland. My ambition for all our young people is that they will have a fair chance to succeed, and if they work hard and have the ability, there’s nothing to stop them realising their dreams. It is not acceptable in 2017 for women to be under-represented in senior positions, including in the boardroom.
“That is why our Programme for Government contains ambitious commitments in support of women’s equality, including legislating for gender balance on public sector boards, creating a new Advisory Council on Women and Girls and piloting a Returners Project.
“One of my first actions on becoming First Minister was to appoint a gender-balanced cabinet. Since then, through initiatives such as 50/50 by 2020 and the Scottish Business Pledge, more than 300 businesses in Scotland have committed to achieve gender equality on their boards – and for the first time ever more than half of public sector board appointees are women.
“As well as this, I’m determined to play my personal part by becoming a mentor and I would urge other women in leadership roles to do the same. Together, we can be female role models for the next generation and encourage and empower young women to discover their own leadership potential.”
Louise Macdonald, Chief Executive of Young Scot said: “Supporting young people in realising their career potential and meeting their ambitions is the responsibility of every leader in Scotland. Mentoring is a powerful way of helping young people achieve their goals and will help to create a new generation of positive role models to inspire other young women in the future.
“We’re delighted to support the First Minister and the Scottish Government with this new mentoring programme and we are encouraging as many young women from across Scotland as possible to apply for this amazing opportunity.”
Details of the initiative will be announced soon.
A new scheme will help retrain women who have taken career breaks and get them back into work, Minister for Employability Jamie Hepburn announced yesterday. The commitment came on the same day as the publication of statistics which show the gender pay gap in Scotland is closing. Continue reading New scheme will help women get back into work
The Women’s Fund for Scotland (WFS) has re-opened for grant applications with a deadline of 28 September. The WFS are keen to identify community groups located in North Edinburgh that empower women and girls to reach their full potential. The Women’s Fund for Scotland are on a mission to make a difference not just individuals, but their family and needs of the community. Continue reading Women’s Fund welcomes grant applications
Annie Lennox, JK Rowling and Lesley Riddoch are among 2016 ‘Outstanding Women of Scotland’ inductees
Ten Scottish women from the fields of the arts, culture, politics, activism, law and science were honoured and inducted into the esteemed Saltire Society ‘Outstanding Women of Scotland’ community at a special event in Glasgow yesterday. Continue reading Outstanding Women of Scotland: ‘If you can see it, you can be it’
A Sporting Equality Fund is to be set up with the aim of increasing women’s engagement in sport, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday.
The £300,000 fund will be used to find ways to close the gender gap that emerges in the early teenage years when 71% of boys compared to 51% of girls say they are active participants in sport. Continue reading Fair play: £300,000 fund for sporting equality
