What is the programme?

As a strategically funded partner of the Scottish Government Equalities Unit, CEMVO Scotland can provide support to public, statutory and third sector organisations in the implementation of race equality in all areas of their organisational development and processes.

What is its overall aim?

Our overall aim is to help increase and improve dialogue between mainstream organisations and ethnic minority groups throughout Scotland in all areas of decision making and service provision.

What support can we provide?

Race Equality Mainstreaming Events

We are organising mainstreaming of race equality events throughout Scotland to discuss, debate and progress the mainstreaming of race equality agenda. These events will provide an opportunity for mainstream and ethnic minority organisations to network and engage in dialogue with a view to agreeing a collective agenda.

Ethnic Minority Community Engagement

We can help and work with mainstream organisations to organise and facilitate ethnic minority community engagement events at local, regional or national levels. These events can, for example, be for consulting with communities on policy or service development issues, or for setting race equality outcomes.

Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs)

We can provide support to mainstream organisations in EQIA processes which will help meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 general duty. Support could take the form of organising community participation consultative groups or arranging individual ethnic minority input into the quality assurance of Equality Impact Assessments as well as supporting any action plans which arise as a result.

Equalities Consultancy Support

We can provide 3 days free consultancy support to mainstream organisations by a small team of equality specialists. The team will provide guidance and support in reviewing equality processes such as organisational leadership, HR and training, community engagement, service provision, equality schemes, and procurement etc, and suggest actions for improving policy, practice and processes in these areas. Race equality will underpin this area of consultancy work but it may be possible to cover the “protected characteristics” of other equality strands depending on the needs of individual organisations.

Board and Management Committee Members

We can provide support to mainstream organisations in the recruitment of ethnic minority people onto their boards and management committees. We have a quarterly newsletter highlighting vacancies on boards and management committees of statutory, public and third sector organisations which is circulated to ethnic minority groups throughout Scotland. Our role is to increase awareness of such vacancies and provide support to ethnic minority people in applying for such posts. If you have vacancies on your boards, management committees, local community councils or Parent Councils etc, and wish to increase ethnic minority representation, please get in touch with us.

Who is the mainstreaming support programme for?

Principally for public and statutory sector organisations but also for those from both private and third sectors who are interested.

How does it work?

As part of the formal process, we would negotiate a written agreement for participating organisations to commit to community engagement standards throughout as well as implementing at least one action area arising from the support.

How much does it cost?

All events are free of charge. Mainstreaming support is also free although there is an expectation that participating organisations will cover costs for venue and catering as well as nominal payments to participants if possible for all community engagement events.

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