Further funding pledged to ‘tackle division’ in Scottish communities

The equalities minister has pledged further funding to help charities “tackle division” in local communities across Scotland.

At the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, Kaukab Stewart announced £300,000 on top of the £7.9 million already allocated to third sector organisations.

The current funding supports anti-racism work, interfaith dialogue, hate crime prevention and asylum and refugee integration projects.

Ms Stewart said: “Community organisations play a vital role in supporting integration and bringing people together through their projects.

“The additional £300,000 will help to tackle division and promote the shared values that strengthen our communities, particularly at a time when hostile rhetoric is creating fear and uncertainty.

“I have witnessed first-hand many inspiring projects recently, including the multicultural Pitch-to-Plate meal event at Hibernian Football Club.

“This demonstrates how local initiatives can successfully unite people from different backgrounds, cultures and faiths through shared activities and mutual support.

“We cannot and will not allow division and hostility to define us – the Scottish Government will continue to invest in building the strong, connected communities that all of us want to see.”

The Scottish Government is providing the additional £300,000 this year to support projects that aim to “build strong and resilient communities across the country”.

The funding is set to focus on building community cohesion across a range of local initiatives.

It comes after multiple anti-immigration protests around Scotland in recent weeks outside hotels housing asylum seekers.

While she did not make a direct reference to the protests, Ms Stewart said: “At a time when hostile rhetoric is creating real fear and uncertainty, it is vital we recognise the impact this is having on communities across the country.

“When people feel excluded or marginalised, communities suffer. Tensions rise, trust erodes and we begin to see the normalisation of resentment, division and the entrenchment of othering.”

She said “if the targeting of minorities goes unchallenged”, Scotland would be at risk of losing its international reputation as a welcoming country “known for understanding the desperate situation that those fleeing conflict and persecution are in and responding with compassion and kindness”.