£1 million to tackle sectarianism

Community projects working to eradicate sectarianism will share £1 million funding, the Community Safety Minister announced today (Friday).

The funding takes the total Scottish Government investment in work tackling sectarianism across Scotland to the £12.5 million over five years.

Annabelle Ewing, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, announced the continued support for 20 community projects working online and across Scotland to tackle sectarianism.

It comes as Nil by Mouth – one of the partners delivering this important work – is hosting at the inaugural Kiss Bigotry Goodbye Cup football competition for girls in Lanarkshire today as part of its ongoing campaign.

The work will also take forward the recommendations made by the independent Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland.
In its final report the Advisory Group concluded sectarianism needs to be tackled with the same conviction and confidence as racism and homophobia.

Ms Ewing said:

“The effort to eradicate sectarianism from Scottish life has been underway for a very long time yet too many people are still facing discrimination in our communities. These projects are approaching the issue in different ways to give us a varied and wide-reaching strategy to combat sectarianism as set out in the Advisory Group report.

“Today (Friday) a group of young women in Lanarkshire will become the most recent participants in the #kissbigotrygoodbye campaign as they play in a football tournament.

“In person and online, at school, play and in work – our partners are showing that sectarian attitudes and behaviour have no place in a modern Scotland.”

Dave Scott Nil by Mouth Campaign Director said:

“We are delighted that the Scottish Government is making this investment in our workplace and schools programme. Education is key to tackling prejudice and through our 'Beyond Religion & Belief' project we can go into workplaces and schools to remind people that difference should be celebrated, not feared.

“Scotland is bigger, better and brighter than bigotry and this funding will help groups like Nil by Mouth continue to press home this message right across the country.”

Dr Duncan Morrow, Former Chair of Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland said:

“I am delighted that further funding has been found to ensure continuing development of important work to tackle sectarianism. We are particularly pleased to see that the funded projects are directly addressing some of the recommendations arising from the work of the Advisory Group.”