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Further funding to tackle sectarianism in communities.

Groups and organisations committed to tackling sectarianism at its grassroots are to receive more than £2 million.

The latest funding announcement is part of the Government’s pledge to invest £9 million over three years in a range of projects aimed at challenging and changing attitudes to sectarianism at a local level.

The funding has been awarded following a robust assessment process supported by the independent Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland, set up to explore the issue of sectarianism and advise Scottish Ministers.

The 18 projects across Scotland include Nil By Mouth’s work to tackle sectarianism in the workplace, Royston Youth Action’s ‘Respect for Everyone’, Supporters Direct’s ‘The Colour of Our Scarves’ and Faith in Community Scotland’s ‘Tackling Sectarianism Together.’

The funding was unveiled today (Monday 16 September) by Community Safety Minister, Roseanna Cunningham at the launch of Youth Scotland’s ‘Stand up to Sectarianism Phase 2’ at the Albany Centre, Glasgow. The Group recently received £136,768 to enable it to tackle sectarianism through peer education.

Ms Cunningham said: “We believe the solution to ending the scourge of sectarianism in society lies in and with our communities.

“This has been borne out by the Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland and through the excellent work of groups like Youth Scotland, whose work is already making our communities safer.

“We are confident the projects we are supporting today will also tackle sectarianism at its roots helping to finally consign such outdated prejudices to history.”

All of the projects will be subject to robust monitoring procedures and evaluation to measure the difference it is making to communities.

Engender, whose project ARTiculate will work with women in eight Scottish communities, welcomed the funding.

Convener Dr Marsha Scott said: “This will make it possible for us to identify the links between gender and the experience of sectarianism in communities.

“We hope to bring women’s perspectives to this challenging area of work.”

Ng homes Chief Executive Robert Docherty added: “We are delighted to receive funding from the Scottish Government to support the Community Football Partnership in the North of Glasgow.

“The programme will use football as a way to positively change attitudes and behaviour towards sectarianism, breaking down barriers and encouraging greater understanding within and across our diverse communities.”

Notes to editors

List of projects receiving funding

Royston Youth Action - Respect for Everyone: £151,735 (Glasgow)

Delivering educational activities to children and young people in schools and community settings in Royston.

Supporters Direct – The Colour of Our Scarves - £148,563 (Edinburgh, Falkirk, Dundee, Hamilton)

Increasing awareness among football supporters about how their actions affect people living close to stadiums.

SCDC and Community Links South Lanarkshire - Community Action Research in Tackling Sectarianism - £127,271 (Areas still to be defined)

Research project identifying four projects receiving anti sectarianism funding to trace how the issue is manifested in communities.

Stewartry – South West Scotland Sectarian Project - £140,033 (Dumfries and Galloway)

Tackling the effects of sectarianism through workshops, drama, community dialogue and an animated song.

Aberlour – Aberlour Youthpoint Glasgow - £64,730 (Greater Pollock)

Bringing the young people of Greater Pollock together to gain a better understanding of people’s religions and culture.

Renton CDT – Renton CDT - £154,854 (West Dunbartonshire)

Developing skills to enable communities to combat sectarian attitudes.

Bridging the Gap – Bridging the Gap - £140,397 (South Glasgow)

Tackling sectarianism through issue based workshops involving young people from different geographical and religious backgrounds.

Faith in Community Scotland – Tackling Sectarianism Together - £300,476 (communities include Gorbals, Milton, Castlemilk, Cranhill, Ruchazie, Motherwell and Wishaw)

Bringing people from different religious communities together in 12 communities.

Nil By Mouth – Beyond Religion and Belief – Tackling Sectarianism in the Workplace – £111,200 (across Scotland)

Tackling sectarianism in the workplace through support services for employers.

Engender – Articulate - £191,736 (Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Argyll and Bute, South Ayrshire, Renfrew, West Dumbarton)

Promoting understanding of women and intra-Christian sectarianism in Scotland, beyond a focus on women as victims of football and alcohol-related violence.

In Cahootz & Parents Network Scotland – Anti-Sectarian Workshops for Parents - £69,530 (Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire)

Enabling Highland communities to engage on the issue of sectarianism and parental responsibilty through workshops, arts and dialogue.

Xchange Scotland – Make Sectarianism a History Lesson – £111,896 (Glasgow including Govan, Castlemilk, Yoker, Ruchill, Possil and Pollock)

Improving understanding of sectarian language and promoting understanding in the community.

Place for Hope – Community Dialogue as a Response to Marches and Parades - £51,029 (areas still to be defined)

Tackling the issues associated with marches through community dialogue.

Iona Community – Beyond Sectarianism - £96,843 (areas to be defined)

Helping young people tackle sectarianism by building understanding of the issue.

Ng Homes– Community Football Partnership - £40,061 (Springburn, Possilpark and Keppochill)

Changing attitudes by bringing community football teams and clubs together.

Just Festival – Sectarianism Plays - £52,037 (range of communities across Edinburgh)

Staging nine plays, most written by participants, exploring intra-Christian sectarianism.

Pilmeny Development Trust – Leith Anti-Sectarian Project - £43,388 (Leith, Edinburgh)

Bringing the whole community together in an understanding of sectarian issues while making a documentary about it.

Fauldhouse Development Trust – Fauldhouse CDT - £97,000 (West Lothian: Fauldhouse, Breich, Stoneyburn, Bents, Longridge)

Researching sectarianism in the community, using results to address the issue