Equal Opportunities
The Equal Opportunities vision for 2007-2013 is to increase the opportunities within the Programmes to support the particular disadvantages to participation.
This will be delivered through two objectives:
- to adjust the scope of the Programme(s) to support the particular needs of groups facing barriers to achieving sustainable employment and access to lifelong learning; and
- to improve the approach to mainstreaming equal opportunities in Scotland
ESEP promote a pro-active approach to ensure that Equal Opportunities is mainstreamed as a horizontal theme in all projects. Mainstreaming is taken forward in a number of ways: through direct promotion to projects; by hardwiring the importance of equal opportunities into the eligibility criteria for project selection; through good practice dissemination, demonstration and advice provided by ESEP Ltd.
The Scottish Programmes have a twin-track or dual approach to mainstreaming equalities, combining scope for positive action - projects which target their work on individuals or groups who face particular disadvantage in accessing economic opportunities; and mainstreaming - a requirement that all funded projects evidence they address equalities in their activity.
Mainstreaming Equal Opportunities Report 2008
The post of Equal Opportunities Adviser to the Scottish Structural Funds Programmes was created in August 2002. A systematic approach was required to tackle some of the challenges involved in mainstreaming equal opportunities in the Programmes and it was agreed that a dedicated seconded post of national Equal Opportunities Adviser should be created to take forward the co-ordination of mainstreaming activities within and between the Programmes.
Mainstreaming Equal Opportunities in the Scottish Structural Funds Programmes report details the work carried out with the Scottish Programmes to mainstream equal opportunities, and aims to:
- situate the Scottish Programmes' approach in the equal opportunities policy background in Scotland, the UK and the European Union
- examine the Scottish Programmes' approach to mainstreaming equalities in the 2000-2006 Programmes;
- provide good practice examples of how each of the Programme Management Executives as intermediate bodies worked towards mainstreaming equal opportunities, reflecting a broad range of activities
- identify some challenges and some key messages for mainstreaming equal opportunities in Structural Funds Programmes.
Examples of Targeted Activities
ERDF Priority 1 - projects can take pro-active measures to ensure that skilled individuals, particularly those who are under-represented in the workforce, have the opportunity to work on supported research and innovation projects
ERDF Priority 2 - support for enterprise start-ups will be monitored to ensure that key target groups are being sufficiently represented. Where under-representation is notable, support will be available to projects to address any particular issues relating to publicity and take-up as well as issues relating to entrepreneurship in certain groups
ERDF Priority 3 - where support is given for limited infrastructure developments, they will be required to demonstrate that the needs of disabled people were fully taken into account in building design
ERDF Priority 4 - the rural dimension to inequality should be fully considered in project design, for example the problems of peripherality exacerbate the problems faced by some disadvantaged groups in accessing some enterprise support projects.
ESF Priority 1 - projects can explicitly target groups facing discrimination and barriers in accessing the labour market; projects can provide customised support that recognises the key developmental needs and provides the most appropriate modes of skills learning for different groups
ESF Priority 2 - explicit support for projects that aim to reduce gender imbalance in the Scottish labour market; support for projects recognising the need to overcome discrimination and inequality in workplace training.
ESF Priority 3 - support for projects developing new, innovative approaches and instruments to encouraging access to lifelong learning by underrepresented groups.
The ESEP approach to equal opportunities emphasises both the social justice and business cases for building equality into projects. We recognise the importance of identifying and sharing good practice, we recognise that resources must be committed to make the shift from equality policy to practice, and we understand the crucial role of partnership working in sharing expertise, advice and understanding.
Further Information and Advice
Equality in Practice - Making It Work This guide has been designed to provide projects with an easy-to-use manual to help ensure that mainstreaming equal opportunities takes place at each stage of project design and delivery, and to share the extensive experience of mainstreaming equal opportunities in projects funded by the European Structural Funds in Scotland.
Equality and Human Rights Commission champions equality and human rights for all, working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society
Age Positive campaign promotes the benefits of employing a mixed-age workforce that includes older and younger people.
Equality Network is a national organisation working for LGBT rights and equality in Scotland.
Scottish Government Equality Unit No one should be denied opportunities because of their race or ethnicity, their disability, their gender or sexual orientation, their age or religion. This principle underpins all the work of the Scottish Government
Social Situation Report Social cohesion through equal opportunties. This is the Commission's main tool for monitoring developments in the social field across the EU Member States.
GEO Women and Equality Unit The Government Equalities Office is a new self-standing Department, whose mission is to put equality at the heart of Government and is responsible for the Government's overall strategy on equality, as well as leading on women's issues across Government.
Scottish Government Gender Equality Scheme
Scottish Government Disability Equality Scheme
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