Five organisations named for extra human rights funding

Five specialist human rights organisations will be among those to benefit from £21m funding over three years, announced by the Scottish Government to advance human rights, promote equality and tackle discrimination.

A total of 48 organisations will benefit from the new Equality and Human Rights Fund. Its three-year programme will provide an additional £1m per year for organisations dedicated to tackling inequality and discrimination, furthering equality and advancing the realisation of human rights in Scotland.

One of the charities set to receive funding for the first time is Civil Rights First, which provides specialist legal advice and representation to people with protected characteristics such as ethnicity, age or disability. 

Four other human rights organisations to benefit are Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector, JustRight Scotland SCIO, and The Poverty Alliance.

Organisations named also include Intercultural Youth Scotland, Generations Working Together and Neighbourhood Networks in Scotland.

Celia Tennant, chief executive of Inspiring Scotland, which manages the fund on behalf of the Scottish Government, commented: “Everyone in Scotland deserves, and has a right, to live their life to their maximum ability, to contribute to society in the widest terms, and to have full self-determination.

“The large number of strong applicants to the fund demonstrates the depth of commitment from the third sector. We look forward to working with the diverse range of funded groups to share challenges, develop solutions and amplify learning.”