Social Inclusion
The Social Inclusion vision for 2007-2013 is for the Programmes to assist with reducing inequalities between the least advantaged communities and the rest of society.
This can be achieved by closing the opportunity gap and ensuring that support reaches those who need it most. It also means actively promoting opportunities to participate, whether in work, in learning or in society more generally.
Embedding social inclusion as a cross cutting theme will help ensure that communities are strengthened and regenerated, that young people get the best possible start in life and the opportunity to fulfil their potential, and that older members of these communities are able to contribute fully while also improving their skills, and their future financial security.
Scottish Government Social Inclusion pages
The Social Inclusion vision for the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programmes, as set out in the Operational Programme is:
- to ensure that economic growth and tackling exclusion go hand in hand
- to help people overcome multiple barriers to employment and realise their full potential
This will be delivered through two objectives:
- to focus on: the most important issues that will make the most difference to people's lives; the most disadvantaged individuals; the issues where progress has been slowest; and the issues where the Scottish Government has the power to make a difference; and
- to improve the way in which services are provided to help people overcome multiple barriers to employment, education or training, and realise their potential
Examples of projects funded by the European Social Fund:
Priority 1 - Requiring organisations to focus on those individuals most at risk of exclusion, and/or who are experiencing poverty. Projects' objectives should include elements which help integration and are designed to support participants in the longer term.
Priority 2 - Encouraging skills training for low income workers to lift them out of poverty and reduce their financial exclusion.
Priority 3 - Improving access to quality learning services for those who are excluded from lifelong learning because of their caring responsibilities, a disability, physical or mental ill health, the area in which they live, or their recent employment history.
Examples of projects funded by the European Regional Development Fund:
Priority 1 - Requiring additional help for individuals, such as young people, disabled people, ethnic minorities or migrant workers, facing particular barriers to developing research capacity in their enterprises.
Priority 2 - Ensuring that all groups can have equitable access to the financial engineering instruments supported under the Programme.
Priority 3 - Creating sustainable vibrant outward looking communities out of disadvantaged areas of urban deprivation by connecting the people living there with opportunities in neighbouring accessible areas.
Further Information
Scottish Poverty Information Unit
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