Edinburgh council will fund projects to help fight Islamophobia

A view over Edinburgh. Picture: Jane Barlow.

Individuals and groups, supported by a charity or organisation, as well as charities and organisations themselves, can submit an application to receive up to £5,000 worth of funding.

The total fund available is £40,000 and has been contributed to by Police Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government and will help deliver an innovative project, which reduces prejudice and fosters positive relationships between the Capital’s diverse communities.

This could be through a series of events designed to bring communities together, working with perpetrators of hate crime to change attitudes, or producing and delivering educational inputs.

Sergeant Scott Kennedy of Edinburgh’s Preventions, Interventions & Partnerships (PIP) Team said: “Everyone should be able to live their lives free from intimidation, harassment or prejudice because of who they are.

“People with an idea that will benefit communities across the capital now have the opportunity to get the funding needed to deliver this.

“As well as the people of Edinburgh implementing these projects, residents will also be deciding which of these receive public funding.”

Councillor Maureen Child, Convener of the Communities and Neighbourhood Committee, said: “This is a great opportunity for local projects to bid for funding to deliver projects that can really make a difference.

“There are fantastic organisations and groups throughout the city who, with a grant from a fund like this make real strides towards an end to Islamophobia.

“Participatory budget exercises like this continue to be exceedingly popular, allowing local people to make real decisions about priority activities in their community.”

Applications are now open and are due to close at noon on Monday 12 December 2016.

In January 2017, applications will be put to a public vote and the people of Edinburgh will determine where the public funding goes.

Application forms and further information can be found at www.scotland.police.uk/shared-vision-your-decision or by calling Edinburgh’s PIP Team via 0131 221 2017.