The Equal Opportunities has been recognised as an example of good practice in Europe. It works with ‘hard- to- reach’ communities, alleviating social and economic exclusion for older BME people by informing them of their rights and options in social housing and other areas and helping them to overcome barriers such as language.
It participates at a strategic level, providing advocacy for older BME people and influencing key policy decision. The programme was established ten years ago and has grown in influence, improving the quality of life for vulnerable older people of many different ethnic origins.
Our Proactive outreach work and special projects include:
‘Happy to Translate’ is an initiative which has been designed for use by public and private sector organisations to overcome barriers to information and services faced by those who speak little or no English. Member organisations use the Happy to Translate symbol on their literature, letterhead and website and display it in high-visibility areas such as receptions and interview rooms. This use of the symbols tells service users that if language or communication assistance is required, it will be provided in the form of confidential, professional translation and interpretation services. Organisations that have already engaged a language service provider benefit from adopting the Happy to Translate symbol because it reinforces and publicises their commitment to providing access to information and services for all.
For further information on Happy to Translate please visit our website at: www.happytotranslate.com
Older People Services Development Project
The project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and is developed by the joint Equal Opportunities Programme of Trust, Hanover (Scotland) and Bield Housing Associations.
The purpose of the project is to encourage and maximise benefits and services uptake by older people from Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) communities by offering free, multilingual and culturally sensitive advice and information through active outreach work in Scotland. The project will provide this service to older people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities age 60 and over living in Scotland (Scotland-wide). We will provide:
Job Opportunities Support project
The Job Opportunities Support Project (JOSP) was developed by the joint equalities programme of Trust, Hanover (Scotland) and Bield Housing Associations.
The project is funded by Capital City Partnership and has been running for more than four years. One of the main purposes of the project is to increase the uptake of job opportunities, particularly in housing and the public sector, within Edinburgh through offering guidance, support and advice to Black and Ethnic Minority (“BME”) people entering or returning to employment, education and training.
We aim to provide a liaison between BME communities and employers to help overcome barriers to employment and career advancement. Though our Work- Placement scheme, we provide an excellent opportunity of employability training for those who have been out of labour market for some time.
The project has achieved significant positive outcomes since starting, with the continued support provided through the project 90 individuals have been successful in securing paid jobs. Partnerships developed with employers has resulted in 25 placements undertaken and on completion some trainees being offered employment contracts. The project has also arranged relevant volunteering opportunities whilst a number of individuals have moved onto training and higher education.
Recently the Joined Up For Jobs (JUFJ) Partnership, a strategy aimed at improving employability within Edinburgh, awarded the Customer Care standard to the Job Opportunities Support Project. This indicators within this highlight the project has achieved the quality standards set the within Customer Charter. The Project endeavors to continue drive up standards, to improve customer satisfaction and organisational effectiveness by providing effective customer care to all its clients.
For our publications please go to http://www.equalityscotland.com/ourpublications/publications.php
The associations’ Equal Opportunities Programme received Lottery Funding to develop a ‘Memories’ project recording the experiences of older black and ethnic minority people who came to Scotland in the 20th Century.
The project collated the memories of individuals who arrived from a number of overseas countries including the Indian Subcontinent, China, Africa and the Caribbean. It recorded the hardship and fears they experienced when they first arrived and also celebrated their achievements and treasured moments.
The project will become a piece of living history, documenting their survival in a foreign land and how they overcame tough challenges such as language barriers and in some cases literacy and numeracy issues.
It looked at their economic struggle and the jobs they did from door-to-door peddling to working in steel mills, shipyards and on the buses. As many of this generation are now their 70s and 80s and increasingly frail, it is important to document their stories before they are lost to us.