Equality Projects
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Special projects to promote equality
Along with vigorous community outreach work the Equal Opportunities Programme has undertaken a number of projects including:
- Equalities Website
In 2005, the Associations launched a multilingual equalities website, www.EqualityScotland.com, to provide information to BME communities and other service providers on equality-related issues.
- “Happy to Translate” Logo Initiative
An initiative to overcome language barriers in Scotland through the development and marketing of a national symbol for communication assistance and accompanying best practice guidelines. The logo is designed for use by both public and private sector organisations and is funded by a grant from the Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland.
- Pension Benefit Outreach Project
Since starting in May 2005, this project has been extremely successful in improving and increasing benefit uptake for BME older people in central Scotland. To date 200 older people aged 60+ have been assessed and nearly seventy have benefited from an increase in their benefit entitlement. So far, £170,000 in additional benefits has been secured for older people!
- Job Opportunities Support Project
The objective of the project is to help improve access to job opportunities in housing and the public sector for BME communities in Edinburgh and Lothians. A Job Opportunities Development Officer acts as a liaison between employers and BME communities to help overcome barriers to employment opportunities. The project is funded by grants from Communities Scotland and the Capital City Partnership. For information email here.
- “Housing for Older People” DVD/Video
An informational film that gives insight into the benefits of Sheltered Housing and other services for older people, especially targeted for BME communities. The film is hosted by acclaimed actor Saeed Jaffrey and copies are available to order on DVD or video format in several languages.
- “Housing for Older People” Newsletter
A multilingual newsletter published biannually highlighting details of Trust, Hanover (Scotland) and Bield’s joint equalities work. Current and past issues of the newsletter are available in PDF format on the Equalities Website.
>link to http://www.equalityscotland.com/newsletter/newsletter.php
- Annual Job Opportunities Fair for BME Communities
Held in Edinburgh in 2004 and Glasgow in 2005, the next Job Opportunities Fair will be held on Sunday 4th June 2006 at Caird Hall in Dundee. For more details go to the Employment page on our Equalities Website or email here.
- Other activities of the joint Equal Opportunities Programme include Open Surgeries, Race Awareness Training and various networking and social events.
Equality Projects