Ukraine - Super Sponsor Scheme review: equality impact assessment
The review has identified 16 interventions aimed at improving the current Super Sponsor Scheme and our response in supporting displaced people from Ukraine to settle well in Scotland.
Review of the Super Sponsor Scheme – Strategic Assessment of Impacts
Stage 3: Assessing the impacts and identifying opportunities to promote equality
Having considered the data and evidence you have gathered, this section considers the potential impacts – negative and positive – that this policy might have on each of the protected characteristics. It is important to remember the duty is also a positive one – that we must explore whether the policy offers the opportunity to promote equality and/or foster good relations.
Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their age? Yes
Age
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
Positive
Negative
None X
Reasons for your decision
The policy aims of the interventions are far reaching but are generally intended to help improve the efficiency of the super sponsor scheme and our response in helping displaced people from Ukraine settle well in Scotland. So far evidence does not suggest that the review of the Super Sponsor Scheme will have an effect on eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation in relation to the protected characteristic of age.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
Overall improvements to the Super Sponsor Scheme will have a positive effect on advancing equality of opportunity across all ages.
Improved matching and accommodation offers will help displaced people of all ages to settle into communities in the longer term. This will advance equality of opportunity for children and young people who can settle into stable educational settings. People of all ages should have the choice to move into an area that meets their specific needs.
Improved options for employment will advance equality of opportunity for those displaced people of working age.
Action: policy makers will be mindful of being inclusive of people of all ages through their communications.
Promoting good relations among and between different age groups
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The outcome of the review has the potential to promote good relations between different age groups through community engagement. The interventions include a call for volunteers who will support displaced people across all ages. Proper community integration should promote good relations between displaced people and local communities across all ages.
Do you think that the policy impacts disabled people? Yes
Disability
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
Positive
Negative
None X
Reasons for your decision
Our data on this subject is very limited, but there is no evidence to suggest that any of the interventions will have an effect on eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
Although much of the detail of policy is still in development, officials should ensure communications are inclusive of disabled people who may communicate in differing ways. Such considerations are already being given (eg using Plain English, running accessibility checks on materials, website team and user centred design team have content designers who adhere to accessibility requirements) and the team responsible will have a mandatory D&I objective in 2023/24 to upskills in developing and delivering Inclusive and Accessible Communications
For interventions to have further positive effect on advancing equality of opportunity for disabled people, specialised accommodation options should be available for disabled people with differing needs.
All people residing in welcome accommodation are supported to access relevant benefits and support, including any disability allowance.
Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The outcome of the review has the potential to promote good relations between disabled and non-disabled people through community integration and engagement.
Do you think that the policy impacts on men and women in different ways? Yes
Sex
Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Positive
Negative
None X
Reasons for your decision
So far evidence does not suggest that the review of the Super Sponsor Scheme will have an effect on eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation in relation to the protected characteristic of sex. However, ensuring necessary safeguarding measures and checks are in place has been a central part of our response and subsequent policy development.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
Evidence shows that there have been more female arrivals through the Super Sponsor Scheme than males. Although the interventions are designed to affect men and women equally, more women will experience the benefits of improvements to the scheme.
Nevertheless, we know that some of the interventions might have more negative impacts on women, particularly those with young children. Our action to refine our welcome accommodation offer has resulted in the ending of concessionary lunch provision in welcome accommodation and we continue to drive savings across the programme by assessing removal of dinners and options like charging.
Officials will endeavour to take mitigating action to offset any adverse impacts, including ensuring local authorities are providing interim payments on arrival, supporting guests access their full social security entitlement including Universal Credit, Scottish Child Payment and free school meals, and sign posting to discretionary support including the Scottish Welfare Fund. Targeted closure of hotels in more rural areas in favour of welcome accommodation closer to amenities is also something officials are pursuing.
Promoting good relations between men and women
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The outcome of the review has the potential to promote good relations between men and women through community integration and engagement.
Do you think that the policy impacts on women because of pregnancy and maternity? Yes
Pregnancy and Maternity
Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Positive
Negative
None X
Reasons for your decision
Our data on this subject is very limited, but there is no evidence to suggest that any of the interventions will have an effect on eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The benefits of improvements to the scheme will be available to those going through pregnancy and maternity – such as improved housing offers, better access to employment and financial assistance.
Promoting good relations
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The outcome of the review has the potential to promote good relations between those going through pregnancy and maternity, and those who are not, through community integration and engagement.
The interventions include a call for volunteers who will support displaced people going through pregnancy and maternity.
Do you think your policy impacts on people proposing to undergo, undergoing, or who have undergone a process for the purpose of reassigning their sex? Yes
Gender reassignment
Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Positive
Negative
None X
Reasons for your decision
Our data on this subject is very limited, but there is no evidence to suggest that any of the interventions will have an effect on eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation for trans people.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The benefits of improvements to the scheme will be available to people who are undergoing, or have undergone, gender reassignment – such as improved housing offers, better access to employment and financial assistance.
Accommodation with access to appropriate healthcare will be important for trans people, the strengthening of matching and accommodation offers should support this.
It is important that conversations continue to take place during the matching process to ensure any hosted accommodation is safe and suitable for trans people.
Promoting good relations
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The outcome of the review has the potential to promote good relations between trans and non-trans people, through community integration and engagement.
The interventions include a call for volunteers who will support all displaced people including those who are trans.
Possible action: equalities training for volunteers
Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their sexual orientation? Yes
Sexual orientation
Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Positive
Negative
None X
Reasons for your decision
Our data on this subject is very limited, but there is no evidence to suggest that any of the interventions will have an effect on eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation based on sexual orientation.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The benefits of improvements to the scheme will be available to people of any sexual orientation – such as improved housing offers, better access to employment and financial assistance.
Promoting good relations
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The outcome of the review has the potential to promote good relations between people with the same or different sexual orientations through community integration and engagement.
The interventions include a call for volunteers and hosts who will support displaced people of any sexual orientation.
Do you think the policy impacts on people on the grounds of their race? Yes
Race
Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Positive
Negative
None X
Reasons for your decision
Our data on this subject is very limited, but there is no evidence to suggest that any of the interventions will have an effect on eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation based on race.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The benefits of improvements to the scheme will be available to people of any sexual orientation – such as improved housing offers, better access to employment and financial assistance.
Action: Any comms activity should be inclusive of languages spoken both by displaced people from Ukraine and those living in local communities.
Promoting good race relations
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The outcome of the review has the potential to promote good relations between people with the same or different race through community integration and engagement.
The interventions include a call for volunteers who will be of any race and support displaced people of any race.
Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their religion or belief? Yes
Religion or belief
Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Positive
Negative
None X
Reasons for your decision
There is no evidence to suggest that any of the interventions will have an effect on eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation based on race.
Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The benefits of improvements to the scheme will be available to people of any sexual orientation – such as improved housing offers, better access to employment and financial assistance.
Improving our accommodation offer will allow displaced people more freedom to choose where they live – including finding accommodation suitable for their religious needs. Such as having space to pray or being near places of worship.
Promoting good relations
Positive X
Negative
None
Reasons for your decision
The outcome of the review has the potential to promote good relations between people with the same or different religion or belief through community integration and engagement.
The interventions include a call for volunteers who will be of any religion/belief and support displaced people of any religion/belief.
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