CSREC Staff and

Volunteers ..................... 2

CSREC Funders ............. 2

About CSREC ................ 2

Equality in the

Community Project……3-4

Forth Valley Communities

for Conservation……….. 5

Meet Brody and Rory .... 6

Outside the Box ............. 7

Police Scotland………….8-9

Donate ........................... 9

Advertising .................... 9

CSREC Membership ..... 10

NHS Forth Valley -

Detecting Cancer ........... 10

Criminal Justice Social

Work Services ................ 11

Terrence Higgins Trust . 12

ESOL Classes ................. 13

Future Pathways ........... 14

Volunteer with CSREC .. 15

The food train ................ 16

CSREC Support and

Advice Service ............... 17

Scottish Disability

Equality Forum ............. 18

FVC4C Save Energy ...... 19

NHS Forth Valley -

Wheely Wesnesdays……20

PLUS Forth Valley ........ 21

Scottish Council of Jewish

Communities ................. 22

LGBTI Intersectionality

Training ......................... 23

Photo Gallery…….…..24-25

Report Hate Crime……..26

Inside this issue:

An update from the Chairperson...

As I approach the end of my second two year spell as

Chairperson of CSREC, I am in a much more confident

and optimistic mood about the future of the

organisation than I was when I agreed almost two

years ago to accept another term. The past, almost

four, years have been far from easy with many periods

within that time when I had questioned my sanity in

agreeing to take on such a role. However, despite the

continuing austerity which makes it difficult for our

three Local Authorities, Falkirk, Stirling and

Clackmannanshire, to continue with their previous

generous financial support, they have continued to

help where they can. The support we receive from the

Scottish Government, Keep Scotland Beautiful, FVLS, Voluntary Action Fund,

SAREC and the Big Lottery is very valuable to promote our work. On behalf of

those people whom we help, I thank them. I must also highlight the extremely

good work carried out and the commitment shown by our dedicated staff and

volunteers under the leadership of our manager, Arun Gopinath, whose

dedication and hard work has played a huge part in transforming CSREC.

I would also like to thank my fellow Directors for their support, encouragement

and advice. I am grateful too for the support and encouragement we have

received from Local Government staff and from the staff within the various

Scottish Government Departments with whom we work.

Despite this feeling of optimism, I am very much aware of the difficulties that lie

ahead, especially if the current austerity continues for much longer. However, I

am happy to say that along with the Vice Chair, Bobby Malik, and other Directors

we have been working towards a number of priorities—a New Business Plan,

securing Core funding and ensuring that we have a stable operation Centre as

well as part time outlets, to assist our growing number of clients throughout the

three Council areas.

So as I approach the end of my second term as Chairperson of CSREC I am

happy to repeat that the future of the organisation looks much more secure and

promising than it did almost four years ago. My thanks to all those who have

played such a major part in reviving and continue to help develop a much

needed and, from the feedback I constantly receive, appreciated service.

July 2017 Edition

Equality for all

Clackmannanshire | Falkirk | Stirling

Summer Equality Newsletter

Michael Giannandrea

Chairperson, CSREC

July 2017 issue, page 2 CSREC Newsletter

BOARD MEMBERS

Michael Giannandrea - Chair

Sikander Malik - Vice Chair

Brian Guthrie - Finance Director

Azmat Syed - Director

Claire Fotheringham - Director

Jane Berry - Director

Pat Reid - Director

Syed Irfan - Director

CSREC STAFF

Arun Gopinath - Manager

Gillian Currie - Admin Officer

Daniel Jones - Equality

Engagement Officer

Aneel Bhopal - Project

Coordinator - Forth Valley

Communities for Conservation

Kasia Borowska - Polish and

Eastern European Community

Link Officer

Sherry Bien Macintosh -

Chinese and East Asian

Community Link Officer

Taya Mozagba - African and

Caribbean Community Link

Officer

Sana Zia - South Asian

Community Link Officer

VOLUNTEERS

Edit Csada

Eman Hani

Jakub Kukielka

Kenny Muir

Laura Mallis

Linda McIntosh

Myriam Galloway

Sajida Gul

Sajila Kosar

Shakila Shajahan

Shaun McManus

Wei Long

Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC) was established in 1984. We are a voluntary sector organisation, registered as a charity and a company limited by guarantee consisting of individual members and representatives from a wide range of organisations. CSREC has a remit to work across the areas of Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Councils. It was set up to eradicate all forms of discrimination under the Race Relations Act 1976. Following the introduction of the Equality Act 2010 and in recognition of intersectionality, we widened our remit to work with all nine protected characteristics. The main aims of CSREC are:

to work towards the elimination of discrimination in all its forms

to reduce inequality and promote a culture of human rights

to promote good relations between persons of protected characteristics without distinction on grounds of age, disability, marital status, pregnancy/maternity status, race, religion/belief, sex, sexual orientation and gender reassignment

to promote, build and work in partnership

CSREC is a Scottish Charity registered with The Office of the Scottish

Charity Regulator (OSCR) with registration number SC010373. We are

also a Scottish Company Limited by Guarantee registered

with Companies House with registration number SC208570.

OUR FUNDERS

sarec.png

July 2017 issue, page 3 CSREC Newsletter

EQUALITY IN THE COMMUNITY PROJECT

UPDATE

It’s been an exciting and engaging few months for the Equality in the Community

project at Central Scotland Regional Equality Council!

One of the main standout events for us over the last couple of months has been

the series of equality hustings which we organised across the Forth Valley area

in May and June of this year.

Leading up to the UK General Election at the start of June, our hustings gave

people in Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire the opportunity to put questions

to candidates standing to be elected as the Member of Parliament for each of

these areas.

Clackmannanshire UK

General Election Equality Hustings – 29 May 2017

On Monday 29 May, we invited people living in

Clackmannanshire to come to Alloa Town Hall to put their

questions on equality to the candidates vying to be elected

as the Member of Parliament for the Ochil and South

Perthshire seat. These candidates represented the SNP,

Labour Party, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The

questions put to the candidates in Clackmannanshire

covered a broad range of equality issues, including the so-

called ‘Dementia Tax’, the ‘Rape Clause’, the use of

mobility vehicles for people with disabilities and LGBTI

equality.

Falkirk UK General Election Equality Hustings – 30 May

2017

The next evening, Tuesday 30 May, saw our hustings

brought to Falkirk Trinity Church with the candidates for

Falkirk, representing the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats,

the Labour Party and SNP. A lively discussion was had on

equality matters including transgender equality, access to

public toilets for those with a disability, welfare

assessments for people with a disability, immigration and

winter fuel payments.

Daniel Jones - Equality

Engagement Officer, CSREC

EQUALITY IN THE COMMUNITY CONTINUED

July 2017 issue, page 4 CSREC Newsletter

Stirling UK General Election Equality Hustings – 1 June 2017

The last in our series of equality hustings invited people living in

the Stirling area to come to the Stirling Smith Art Gallery &

Museum on 1 June 2017 to hear from their candidates,

representing the Liberal Democrats, Women’s Equality Party,

Labour Party, Conservatives and SNP. Attendees put questions to

the candidates on equality matters including the ‘Rape Clause’,

shared parental leave, State Pension equality and the use of

mobility vehicles for those with a disability. We also maximised the

number of people who were able to view this particular hustings

event by broadcasting it live through CSREC’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CSREC01), where the

proceedings were viewed by 120 people. This was the first time we used this innovative technology to

ensure as many people as possible were able to be part of our event, and we plan to use it again for similar

events in the future.

Our hustings aimed to provide the opportunity for people in Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling to

connect with the candidates who sought to represent them as their Member of Parliament, to find out their

positions on matters of equality, and for candidates to debate the best way forward on these matters for the

people they would represent.

On 28 June 2017, my colleagues from Central Scotland

Regional Council and I were at Stirling train station to provide

information to commuters on hate crime and hate incidents,

and how they could report these if they are ever a victim of or

witness to one. My colleagues from our new Forth Valley

Communities for Conservation project also joined us to

provide information on saving energy, and offered home

visits to commuters to provide advice on saving energy in the

home. We managed to give out information to approximately

2,200 people on this day, and we are planning further similar

events in Falkirk and Clackmannanshire in the near future.

Thanks to a continuation in Scottish Government funding, over the next couple of months, the Equality in

the Community Project will see the next meeting of the Falkirk People’s Rights and Equality Group, and

further engagement across Forth Valley.

Through the Equality in the Community project, we also offer a free and confidential Support and Advice to

anyone who has experienced discrimination, inequality, who has been the victim or witness to a hate crime

or incident, or who requires support in accessing public services such as education, housing or welfare. We

can meet with you at our office, or at your preferred location to discuss your case in confidence.

If you have questions on any aspect of the Equality in the Community project, or would like to use our

Support and Advice service, please contact me on 01324 610 950 or at daniel@csrec.org.uk. You can also

contact CSREC through WhatsApp on 07522 032794 or through Skype on admin@csrec.org.uk

July 2017 issue, page 5 CSREC Newsletter

FORTH VALLEY COMMUNITIES FOR CONSERVATION

It is four months since the introduction of our Forth Valley Communities for Conservation (FVC4C) project and a lot has been happening.

In this segment we will aim to bring you some of the highlights of recent events!

As part of our Launch Event, quizzes, face painting, mehndi, bike repairs and energy efficiency bingo were on offer at Falkirk Trinity Church managing to attract over 80 people on a rainy Saturday afternoon in May. People from all walks of life came together to learn more about climate change issues and ways in which we can combat these problems in a fun and informative way. We invited related projects including CCF projects in the area to have information stalls. These included Forth Valley Environment Link, Recyke-a-Bike, British Gas, Cycling UK and Heebees (bee project based in Helix, Falkirk).

After completing training our Community Link Officers are now busy visiting communities across Central Scotland delivering free home energy visits, helping to educate people on climate change issues as well as encouraging the reduction of carbon emissions in households. Remember, all our services are free of

charge so if you are interested in receiving free energy advice to your doorstep then please do not hesitate to contact us. Furthermore, we have multilingual speakers available so don’t worry about miscommunication: we speak your language.

We have also been busy speaking with the general public, about climate change and more, at various events, across Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire over the past few months. Our staff and volunteers have held information sessions at Stirling Train Station, Eid in The Park, Forth Valley College, CSREC’S Equality Hustings and Howgate Shopping Centre, resulting in over 3000 people receiving advice and tips on how to reduce energy usage and learn more about climate change.

As well as this we have been able to deliver four energy awareness sessions to various community groups in the Central Scotland area including local ESOL classes, the

Syrian VPR Programme and Al-Masaar. These sessions allowed attendees to receive expert advice, from the FVC4C team, on ways in which they can help to stop the problem of climate change by using eco-friendly transport and being more energy efficient in the household.

Over the next few months the FVC4C team will aim to conduct further awareness sessions and home visits in the Central Scotland area. On 28 July 2017 we held our first Fuel Good eco-driving session, at partner CCF funded project, Re-Union Canal Boats, where licensed drivers were given the opportunity to learn how to drive in a more fuel efficient manner by a trained instructor.

If you are interested in taking part in any of the aforementioned initiatives or volunteering with the FVC4C project then please contact us by telephone on 01324 610950 or email us on admin@csrec.org.uk.

Alternatively, you can check us out on facebook.com/fvc4c or twitter.com/fvc4c

The Climate Challenge Fund is a Scottish Government grant programme, managed and administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful, which provides funding and support for community groups that are tackling climate change through local community-led projects. Since the Fund was launched in 2008, 622 communities across Scotland have benefitted from CCF grants totalling £85.8 million.

FVC4C Launch Event on Saturday 20th May

at Falkirk Trinity Church,

WHY OUR FAMILIES NEED CHANGING PLACES TOILETS

Meet Brody and Rory; two 5 year old local boys.

Like typical 5 year olds, both boys like to have fun

and go out for the day with their families.

Unfortunately though, going out is not as easy as

it should be.

You see, our beautiful boys both have disabilities,

which have resulted in them being doubly

incontinent and still wearing nappies. They no

longer fit on baby changing tables and long gone

are the days where we could quickly attempt to

change them on our knees.

So what are our options when we need to change

them?

Unbelievably, unless we choose not to go out or

leave them in dirty nappies, we are left with no

option but to change them in our car boots or

worse still - the toilet floor.

We are determined to change this for our children,

and so we campaign for Changing Places toilets.

Changing Places toilets provide a larger space for

a disabled person and their carer(s), an adult-

sized changing bench, a peninsular toilet and a

hoist. The hoist can be used to safely transfer a

disabled person on to the changing bench and/or

toilet.

Our situation means that our sons are constantly

faced with exclusion, which not only impacts on

them but our entire families. They are treated

unequally, without dignity and respect. They are

being denied a basic human right and

unfortunately the Equality Act (2010) is very

limited such that it puts the onus on individuals to

take action against individual service providers.

Without clear guidance in building legislation on

what is deemed 'reasonable adjustment' and

without prior case law, this is a huge emotional

and financial undertaking. Our current Building

Standards (regulations) and the British Standards

Institute guidance merely recommend Changing

Places in a vague, unquantified, selection of

building types, they are not mandatory, which

means that often they simply aren't included even

in new public buildings.

Sadly, our other children see that this is the way

society treats their siblings. We can only imagine

the impact that this is having on them. They also

miss out on opportunities to go to places or have

their days cut short because of a lack of Changing

Places for their brothers.

There is a quote “the disabled population is the

world’s largest minority of which anyone can

become part of at any time”. Please remember it.

This problem might not affect you or anyone you

love today. But tomorrow it could. It could affect

you, your child, your parents or your friends. And

trust us - it’s not a nice situation to be in. It feels

as though the world just doesn’t care.

Next time you see an ‘accessible toilet’. Think of

our children and ask yourself whether it really is

accessible for everyone.

Next time you use a public toilet, look at the floor

and imagine having to lay your child on it.

Next time you open your car boot, imagine trying

to find the space to comfortably and discreetly

change your child there – without the world

watching.

Next time you’re on a family day out, imagine

there were no toilets for you or your children to

use.

This problem will only get harder for us as Brody

and Rory become older and heavier. Because, of

course, disabled children become disabled adults.

Ignorance is bliss. But it’s really not for us. Our

boys deserve respect, dignity and inclusion. They

deserve the same rights as every other child.

July 2017 issue, page 6 CSREC Newsletter

CSREC Newsletter

Outside the Box’s three new resources for older people and the people who work with them

At the end of last year Outside the Box held three events looking at creating

more opportunities for older people to do the things they love. We held events

in Inverness, East Renfrewshire and in Falkirk at the Sensory Centre in

Camelon. Thank you to everyone who came along to the Camelon event and

gave your perspectives to contribute to some really interesting discussions.

We have now launched the report from our We’re Here Too events last year. The report provides details on

what we heard from the people who came along and how this is being taken forward. It was great hearing

how open people were to share things like what they needed to experience good mental and physical

wellbeing alongside giving lots of examples of amazing work being done across Scotland to make life

better for older people. You can read the report by clicking here.

From events like We’re Here Too, as well as many of our other projects where we work

with older people, we know that encouraging good mental health and wellbeing among

older people is very important. That’s why we have published two new sets of hints and

tips. The first is a collection of suggestions we have heard from our Happiness Habits

cafés we have been running as a part of our Flourishing Borders project. In this booklet

older people share information on what keeps them well. You can read the booklet here.

We also have a second booklet which was designed for people who work with older people in community

settings. You can use the booklet to have your own Happiness Habits Café, or you can use the ideas here

as part of what happens in groups and activities that you support. You can read the resource here.

Be sure to follow Outside the Box on Facebook and Twitter (both are @OTBcommunities) to stay up to

date with our work.

OUTSIDE THE BOX July 2017 issue, page 7

POLICE SCOTLAND

It’s not ok.

In fact, it totally frustrates me and makes me angry that in 2017 anyone

suffers bullying, harassment or is a victim of any other crime because of

faith, gender, race, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

You may hear these things referred to by the general term, ‘hate crime’.

Whatever we call it there is one thing that I am certain about. It is not

acceptable.

That’s why your police service in the Forth Valley area works hard to

prevent such things happening. And when a hate crime or incident does

occur we want to work with you to identify offenders, bring them to

justice and to find ways to stop things happening again.

But to be effective we need you to talk to us. I urge you to get in touch, call 101 if it isn’t an emergency

but always dial 999 if it is, if someone is being abused or attacked and the incident is ongoing.

The person who answers your call has been trained to help you, whatever your language – we can link

in with translators to help understand what is needed.

There may be reasons why you do not want to call the Police yourself. To help, there are organisations

who will support you and who can make a report for you. Details can be found on line at; http://

www.scotland.police.uk/contact-us/hate-crime-and-third-party-reporting/third-party-reporting-centres

CSREC also offer a full range of support if you need to speak to the Police; http://www.csrec.org.uk/our

-services/third-party-reporting-centre/

These services are free to use and I encourage you to speak to them if you think you need the Police

but are worried about speaking to us directly.

It has been a challenging time across the UK this year with several terrorist incidents taking place.

Although there is no specific information to suggest anything will happen in Scotland the risk of further

attacks in the UK is high.

We should all work together to be prepared and to make sure we are ready to protect our families and

friends should something happen.

There is a lot of helpful information such as Run, Hide, Tell which gives you the opportunity to plan how

you would respond to a firearm threat and stay safe. You can watch the video at; www.youtube.com/

watch?v=QUCW_mk35Xc&spfreload=10

Back here in Forth Valley we are working hard to improve the ways we engage with you by making

much better use of social media. Look us up and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or YouTube

where we provide updates about things going on in your area as well as helpful advice to prevent

crime.

Our latest star is ‘PC Gav’ – you can watch him here – if you enjoy his videos please tick subscribe on

the YouTube page to receive updates of his next release;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InDIyp4TCbY

July 2017 issue, page 8 CSREC Newsletter

We welcome organisations to advertise in the CSREC Community Newsletter. This service is available

for a contribution of £100 or £250 depending on the size and placement of the advertisement. To find

out more, please contact Gillian Currie on 01324 610950 or email admin@csrec.org.uk.

Our newsletter is published every quarter in January, April, July and October of each year.

ADVERTISING

CSREC Newsletter

POLICE SCOTLAND CONTINUED July 2017 issue, page 9

I believe it is always important to keep a balance and perspective on things. We live and work in a beautiful

part of the world and every day I am reminded of the joy, the hope and the aspirations of so many positive

people.

At the start of July, myself and a few colleagues were delighted to be

at Eid in the Park in Falkirk.

The organisers laid on a great day and a fabulous range of events.

Officers from Forth Valley spent the afternoon demonstrating police

equipment and discussing policing in the area.

It was privilege for Sergeant Liam Harman and I to receive a gift from

the organisers on behalf of Forth Valley Police which we greatly

appreciated.

We met so many friendly people and look forward to next year’s event.

I have only been able to touch on a few brief points here. We are your

Police service so, if you have any concerns, need to talk to an officer,

have an idea for improving the safety of your community or want to

know more about our work please do get in touch – or just come up

and say hello when you see an officer on patrol.

http://www.scotland.police.uk/your-community/forth-valley/

Written by Martin Fotheringham, Superintendent, Police Scotland and a member of the leadership team for

Forth Valley Division. He has responsibility for developing partnerships and community relationships.

You can support our work by making a donation. The money you donate to CSREC will make a huge

difference in allowing us to carry out our work to promote equality, fight discrimination and improve

community cohesion. You can make the donation online by following the link below:

https://mydonate.bt.com/donation/start.html?charity=159027

To find out more about other ways of donating or about our please contact our Administration Officer

Gillian Currie on 01324 610950 or email admin@csrec.org.uk.

DONATE TO CSREC

JOIN CSREC AS A

MEMBER

Membership of CSREC is open to any

individual or organisation who is

interested in supporting our work, and

who believes in our aims and

objectives, which are:

To promote equality & equal opportunities

To fight discrimination

To foster good relations in our communities

To build partnerships with likeminded organisations & public bodies

You may join CSREC regardless of where you live, or are based, although to be eligible to vote you must reside in the Central Scotland area, our "area of benefit". We welcome membership from diverse groups so we are better represented, especially by those pro-tected characteristics and organisations that represent them. We would be much obliged if you would consider joining us and also help us by encouraging individuals and organisations known to you to join CSREC. In return for your support, you will be invited to attend any CSREC meetings or events, will be eligible to vote, providing you have been a member for six months, and providing you reside in CSREC's"area of benefit", you are eligible to nominate and be nominated to membership of the Board of Directors, and will receive copies of CSREC News, Annual Report and other publications.

To become a member, simply complete: 1. Membership Application Form 2. Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form These can be collected from our office or on our website www.csrec.org.uk/about-us/join-us-as-a-member Completed applications should be returned to us by either: Email: admin@csrec.org.uk Or post to: CSREC, Community Education Centre, Park Street, Falkirk FK1 1RE

July 2017 issue, page 10 CSREC Newsletter

NHS FORTH VALLEY

NHS Forth Valley has recently appointed a new member of staff to

the Detecting Cancer Early Programme. Margaret-Anne MacMillan

will be working with the Health Promotion team across Stirling and

Clackmannanshire and will be delivering training to organisations,

their members and service users to encourage people to go along

for breast screening, do the bowel (poo) test and to attend for

regular smear tests. The training helps us to learn about our bodies,

tells us what to look and feel for and are fun and interactive,

delivered by an experienced team.

The Government tell us that 1 in 2 people will be affected by cancer

as they grow older. Therefore it is important that we all go for

screening regularly to detect any changes early. If you decided not

to do the bowel test and have changed your mind, you can re-order

a kit on 0800 0121 833 and it’s FREE, so go on, give yourself the

best chance of a healthy old age.

Margaret-Anne and the health promotion team will be setting up pop

-up clinics for smear tests in Stirling and Clacks. If you or your

service users are interested in coming along to a relaxed and

friendly clinic let us know. Call on 01324 673522 or email

Margaret.mcmillan4@nhs.net for further information.

July 2017 issue, page 11 CSREC Newsletter CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES

Criminal Justice Social Work (CJSW) Services in Edinburgh decided to use Scottish Government funding

to explore how we can strengthen our response to hate crime in order to reduce the harm caused to victims

and communities, and promote the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. As such I was tasked with

undertaking research into hate crime and exploring effective interventions with offenders (please see http://

www.cycj.org.uk/resource/hate-crime-causes-motivations-and-effective-interventions-for-criminal-justice-

social-work/).

When exploring the different causes of hate crime, it is evident that the formation of prejudice and prejudice

-related offending can occur at individual and structural levels, linking to the role of shame (felt by

perpetrators due to their own difficulties and status in life), social hierarchies, ‘ingroups’ and ‘outgroups’,

socio-economic disadvantage, perceptions of threat and loss, and peer group influences, as well as wider

political rhetoric and the media.

The literature agrees that those who commit hate crimes tend to be young, white males who may be

unemployed or in low-income employment, with their offending potentially exacerbated by substance use

and with previous convictions for general offending. However, reducing offenders to a certain type or

category is cautioned against due to the range of offenders, offences, and causal factors we may deal with.

Nevertheless, a ‘typology’ of hate crime offenders was proposed by McDevitt et al in 2002: Thrill-Seeker;

Defensive; Retaliatory; and Mission offenders, with thrill-seekers being the most common. This typology,

however, does not fully account for offences against disabled people, where exploitation may be a key

motivation.

It is apparent from the literature reviewed that there has been a distinct lack of research pertaining to

CJSW and how it fits in to the landscape of tackling hate crime. There is also very little research on

assessing risk with hate crime perpetrators - my review mainly draws on the work undertaken by the

London Probation Trust in this area. In looking at dynamic risk factors (i.e., those factors that are amenable

to change), the research in London demonstrated that offenders tend to minimise and deny the aggravated

offending and engage in victim-blaming; have an absence of victim empathy and distorted sense of

provocation, leading to a tendency towards violence as a form of conflict resolution; and have a sense of

entitlement and alienation and a poor sense of their own identity, as well as a distorted idea about the

victim and perceived difference. These risk factors would therefore shape any intervention undertaken with

the offender.

Addressing the wider causal factors related to offending (as well as attitudes) will be of key importance.

Crucially, the addition of restorative practices could lead to better outcomes for victims and a potential

reduction in analogous offending.

As such, a Restorative Justice and Hate Crime service is being developed by CJSW in Edinburgh to bring

together victims and offenders in an attempt to address the harm caused; this has never been attempted in

a statutory adult criminal justice setting within Scotland (http://scottishjusticematters.com/the-journal/

restorative-justice-april-2017/)

Developing this service with hate crime offenders seems essential, given the Report of the Independent

Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion’s recommendation that “the Scottish

Government and partners should explore the use of restorative justice methods with victims and

perpetrators of hate crime”. In this way, CJSW can further strive to ameliorate the significant harms caused

by prejudice-motivated offending.

Written by Rania Hamad, July 2017

July 2017 issue, page 12 CSREC Newsletter

Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland is celebrating the first birthday of the

Learning Centre, a new, state-of-the-art training centre in Glasgow.

The Learning Centre offers high quality, accredited training that al-

lows professionals to gain new skills and qualifications in HIV, Sexual

Health and related topics.

A great deal has changed in HIV over the past 35 years. For

example, we have new prevention technologies such as PrEP, medications have

dramatically improved, and people diagnosed with HIV today can expect a normal lifespan. We also now

know that people who are compliant with HIV medication can’t pass on the virus to others.

Unfortunately, general awareness and understanding of HIV hasn’t kept up with medical advances, and

that’s why training is so important. It is hoped that the centre will tackle the high levels of stigma,

misunderstanding and myths that still surround HIV in Scotland, even in professional settings like

workplaces and healthcare.

The HIV and sexual health training we’re offering will allow people to update their knowledge, manage risks

appropriately and support people at risk. Sexual health can also be a difficult subject to approach, and we

aim to give people more confidence to speak about the issues.

Since our launch a year ago, we have developed 12 unique courses and delivered more than 30 training

courses to approximately 400 people in Scotland.

Specifically, we are pleased to be the first centre to offer Professional Development Awards in

Understanding HIV & AIDS and Sexual Health Training. These two new courses are accredited by the

Scottish Qualifications Authority at SCQF Level 7.

Other popular courses on offer include our CPD certified HIV Awareness course and Women & HIV, which

is accredited by the Royal College of Midwives.

We also partner with other organisations to deliver training that meets emerging and complex needs. For

example, we partnered with Alzheimer Scotland to deliver a training course on Sexual Health & Dementia.

And on 29 September, 2017 we will partner with Scottish Drugs Forum to deliver a course on Chemsex in

Scotland.

The feedback from the training has been phenomenal. Nearly 100% of candidates have reported

themselves satisfied with each training course, with around 95% reporting that they were “Very Satisfied.”

Some examples of feedback:

“Lots of great up-to-date information, very informative and lots of scenarios and opportunity for questions.

The slides were excellent and informative. The trainer was so knowledgeable. I learned a lot more than I

imagined.”

“I found the training day such a benefit. The information the trainer

provided, in the manner she did, helped settle my mind and has

allowed me address my own issues/prejudices with a clearer,

more balanced mindset.”

“One of the best training courses I have been on in a long time.”

For a full list of our courses, price information and location, please

visit our website http://www.tht.org.uk/learningscotland or contact

us by emailing learningscotland@tht.org.uk or calling

0141 332 3838.

TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST

July 2017 issue, page 13 CSREC Newsletter

Are you... Looking for an interesting and enjoyable volunteering opportunity? Able to speak, read and write English to a reasonable standard? Sociable and friendly? Interested in people, other countries and cultures?

If you answered “YES” to the above questions then we have the opportunity for you.

What – Introduction to ESOL tutoring

English for Speakers of Other Languages

When – 6th September to 18

th October 2017

What time – 1:30 – 4:00 on a Wednesday afternoon.

Where – Park Street Community Education Centre, Falkirk.

For more information or to book a place:-

Call Mary Scrimgeour on 01324 503674

Email mary.scrimgeour@falkirk.gov.uk

ESOL Volunteer Tutor Training

July 2017 issue, page 14 CSREC Newsletter

Support for adults who experienced abuse or

neglect as a child in care

Future Pathways is a new service, set up to support adults who experienced abuse or neglect while they were living in care as a child in Scotland.

Established in September 2016, we help individuals access person-centred support that will help them work towards a positive future, whatever that looks like for them.

Eligibility

To be eligible for support from Future Pathways, an individual must have experienced abuse or neglect in a care setting. ‘In care’ means:

Residential care

Boarding school (state, private, independent)

Foster care

Young Offender’s Institution

Having a long-term stay in hospital

To register, an individual must be aged over 18 now, and any abuse or neglect they experienced must have taken place before they were aged 18.

Support available

We work with each individual to help them to identify what is important to them in their life, then arrange and pay for support to enable them to achieve their outcomes. We work flexibly, and tailor support to suit each person’s needs and circumstances.

The most common types of support accessed so far include:

trauma support and counselling

access to care records and family histories

community activities

support to get into work or education.

How to register

Registration is simple and confidential. Our Freephone registration line is open 10am – 6pm Monday to Friday, on 0808 164 2005. You can also email registration@future-pathways.co.uk We treat individuals’ information in the strictest confidence, and only require a name and contact information so we may get in touch. When you register, you don’t need to tell us about your experience, or provide records of your time in care.

We’ll make arrangements for you to meet with a Support Co-ordinator at a time and place that suits you. You can choose whether you’d prefer to work with a male or female Support Co-ordinator. They’ll work with you to think about what support you might want to access, then make arrangements to put this in place.

For further information, please visit the Future Pathways website: www.future-pathways.co.uk

Working with service providers

If you are an organisation working with people who may have experienced in care abuse and would like more information, or copies of our leaflets, please contact us. We would also be happy to come and visit you, your team and any individuals you work with to explain more about what we do.

We are also keen to link in with organisations or individual practitioners who are interested in working in partnership with us to provide support. If you would like to explore how we can work together, please contact the Communications and Engagement team on 0141 465 9229 or email engagement@future-pathways.co.uk

FUTURE PATHWAYS

July 2017 issue, page 15 CSREC Newsletter

Help Promote Equality and

Fight Discrimination

Volunteering is a great way to get involved, give something back to your local

community, and make a difference.

We need volunteers to assist us with:

Administration

Research and Fundraising

Community Engagement

Events

Graphics

Media and communications

Experienced Law Volunteers who can assist our Support and Advice

Service

For more information go to: www.csrec.org.uk/volunteer

Phone: 01324 610950

Email: admin@csrec.org.uk

Web: www.csrec.org.uk

Central Scotland Regional Equality Council

Community Education Centre

Park Street, Falkirk

FK1 1RE

Get in

touch

July 2017 issue, page 16 CSREC Newsletter

Older persons from economically deprived

backgrounds are more likely to spend more years in

later life ‘unhealthy’ compared to those who come

from economically advantaged backgrounds. Food

Train services allow older persons to stay in their

home longer and helps bridge the gap between

health inequalities in older persons. Food Train

Stirling provides a low cost grocery-delivery service

to people over 65years of age who are unable to do

their shopping which may be due to disability, frailty or mobility issues. Our service is it is not means

tested or health tested so anyone over 65 who is struggling can access the service. It differs from online

shopping services as volunteers might for example; use key safes to enter customers home if they are

bedbound or immobile, prompt customers if they forget essential items and there have been times where

volunteers have contacted emergency services when a customer has been found in distress.

Volunteers do the shopping for customers on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday which is then

delivered to customers on each day. Shopping can be put away by volunteers and jars opened if needed.

Volunteers who visit customers in their home to pick up lists and deliver shopping always work in pairs

and are police checked to ensure our customers safety as well as volunteer’s safety. We have a diverse

set of volunteers and we are really proud of this, in 2013 we were the first organisation in Stirling to be

awarded the ‘Volunteer Friendly’ award by the Provost and in 2016 we received another award for

sustained excellence. To receive this award we had to demonstrate how we involved our volunteers in

decision making on how our service is run.

We have bi-monthly meetings with volunteers and weekly roundup letters to ensure we have open lines

of communication. In 2015 we also won the ‘Inclusive Volunteering Award’ from Stirling Voluntary

Enterprise because we have such a diverse range of people who volunteer for us; we have volunteers

who are unable to work independently but they are able to volunteer for us with their support worker, we

also have a partnership with Youth Services who bring young people from traumatic or challenging

backgrounds so they can learn new skills and develop independent living skills through volunteering. We

also work with groups such as Richmond fellowship, Enable and Scope who introduce us to volunteers

with learning difficulties or mental health issues.

Overall Food Train supports a very diverse range of volunteers and customers with the aim of reducing

health inequality between older persons. Our service also addresses social isolation and loneliness that

can affect people in later life. Many of our volunteers are older themselves and wish to remain healthy,

active and social whilst also helping look after those in their local community.

If you are an older person living in Stirling or the surrounding area and need help with your shopping, call the Food Train on (01786) 450536. If you would like to find out more about volunteering with Food Train, check www.thefoodtrain.co.uk, email: stirling@thefoodtrain.co.uk find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/foodtrainstirling

THE FOOD TRAIN

July 2017 issue, page 17 CSREC Newsletter

Support and Advice Service

For help with:

Discrimination

Hate Crime

Accessing public services

Employment

Education

Housing

Welfare

CSREC01 @CSREC01

Contact us

Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC)

Community Education Centre, Park Street, Falkirk, FK1 1RE

By telephone: 01324 610 950

By email: admin@csrec.org.uk

Our Service is available in your language

www.csrec.org.uk

July 2017 issue, page 18 CSREC Newsletter

Scottish Disability Equality Forum (SDEF) is a national charity working to achieve full access and inclusion for disabled people. SDEF promotes access in its widest sense, including access to the built and natural environment and access to the same opportunities as are enjoyed by others in our communities thus promoting a life of dignity, respect and independence. This extends beyond physical access to include access to information, access to inclusive communication and inclusion in decision-making, whether with planners over inclusive design or transport providers about accessible travel. SDEF’s aim is for every disabled person to have the opportunity to participate in a fulfilling life. SDEF represent the views of individuals with any type of impairment, as well as disability organisations and groups who share SDEF’s values. SDEF is a membership organisation and as such listen to the views of disabled people and champion on their behalf. They work to influence the policies of the Scottish Government which affect how disabled people live, and work to encourage others to be inclusive and informed in their attitudes towards disabled people. SDEF is also the umbrella organisation for all disability Access Panels in Scotland and is the principal provider of support and guidance to the Access Panels presently representing disabled persons at a local level throughout Scotland. Access Panels are committed to improving access and equality in its widest form which means access to the physical environment, Education, Housing, Health, Transport, Leisure & Recreation and Social Justice amongst other areas. In September 2016, when Scotland’s first Accessible Travel Framework was unveiled, SDEF

launched the Accessible Travel Hub http://accessibletravel.scot/. The Accessible Travel Hub works

in partnership with the Accessible Travel Framework and joins the other Hubs developed by SDEF:

Inclusive Communication and Inclusive Design.

The aim is for their members and the wider public to be as informed as much as possible about the

issues that affect disabled people in Scotland and SDEF believe that the network of Hubs does just

that.

James Davidson their Online Access Worker is responsible for all the online content and he had this

to say about what the Hubs mean for you:

“Our network of Hubs means that you can instantly look up a piece of information about inclusive

communication, inclusive design or a topic relating to the Scottish Government’s Accessible Travel

Framework and know it to be accurate. Better yet, they provide Access Panels a place to gather

and share their knowledge about these topics, enabling so many to grow and learn from their lived

experience.”

If you want to find out more about Inclusive Communication, Inclusive Design or the Accessible

Travel Framework or to simply have your say on issues that matter to you, then the next time you’re

surfing the web why don’t you visit the Hubs. The addresses are below and don’t forget to leave

some feedback. It’s the only way SDEF can make them even better.

Inclusive Design Hub: www.inclusivedesign.scot

Accessible Travel Hub: www.accessibletravel.scot

Inclusive Communication Hub: www.includeusall.org.uk

Have Your Say… www,your-say-on-disability.org.uk

Access Panel Network Scotland: www.accesspanelnetwork.org.uk

If you are an individual or an organisation, you can join SDEF membership for FREE and help to

further their aims.

Contact: Scottish Disability Equality Forum T: 01259 272064 E: admin@sdef.org.uk W:

www.sdef.org.uk

SCOTTISH DISABILITY EQUALITY FORUM

July 2017 issue, page 19 CSREC Newsletter

SAVE ENERGY

you can take to

Turning your thermostat down by

one degree can reduce your

annual heating bill by 10%

One minute less in the

shower each day can save up to £10

a year per person

Switch lights off

when not in use

Turn switches off at the

wall when not using

appliances

Dry your

clothes

naturally

Insulate

your

home

Use lids on

pots and pans

when cooking

When making

a cuppa,

only boil the water you need.

Draught-proof windows and doors

to save up to £25 from your annual

heating bill

Replace standard light

bulbs with CFL or LED bulbs and

save up to £35 per year

www.csrec.org.uk/fvc4c

For more information on any of these energy saving tips, or if you would

like to find out more about Forth Valley Communities For Conservation,

please contact us:

Phone: 01324 610950 Email: info@csrec.org.uk

Ten easy steps

(and save money!)

@FVC4C @FVC4C

July 2017 issue, page 20 CSREC Newsletter

The benefits to your health & wellbeing by cycling more often include:

preventing many health conditions which can impact on your quality of life,

evidence is available to show that years can be added to life if the person does at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week,

positively boosting mental health and wellbeing - people feel great after being out on their bikes,

being more environmentally conscious and reducing CO2 emissions.

Why not sign up to a FREE Cycle Meander Ride in and around Stirling? The Meanders are delivered by Stirling Cycle Hub and are open to all adults. You can choose a 5 mile route or a 10 mile route, details of how to book your place are in the posters. Don’t worry if you don’t have a bike as you can borrow one from Stirling Cycle Hub so long as you mention this when you book your slot at the Meander ride. In addition, NHS Forth Valley is working in partnership with The Cycle Hub in Stirling and on various Wednesday's between now and early November there will be ‘Wheely Wednesday’

events at Forth Valley Royal Hospital. We are really keen to encourage staff, patients and carers to think about cycling again whether for pleasure and / or to travel from A to B by bike rather than the car. To help encourage this, on the dates provided in our Wheely Wednesday poster, Recyke a Bike will be available at the rear staff entrance of the hospital to provide basic bike checks on people's bikes, so an ideal opportunity for you to ensure your bike is safe and ready to use. Once a month (dates in the poster), Stirling Cycle Hub will also be available at Forth Valley Royal Hospital to let you try out an e-bike, chat to you about anything bike related, plan a safe cycle route for you and at 12.15pm there will be a 15 minute led bike ride around the hospital grounds and we would welcome and encourage people to repeat the route as often as they like. We look forward to meeting you at any one of the above events this summer.

NHS FORTH VALLEY

July 2017 issue, page 21 CSREC Newsletter

PLUS, a Stirling based charity supporting children and young people with disabilities, is delighted to announce that it has secured funding to expand its current services in the Falkirk area. PLUS aims to provide a better quality of life for children and young people with disabilities and their families across the Forth Valley. PLUS’ main approach is to support individuals in a group based social setting, encouraging friendships, whilst reducing the social isolation felt by many children with disabilities and their families.

Since 2012, PLUS has been delivering a limited level of support in the area, with a focus on a model of 1:1 community based support. However in January 2016, with the support of local parent Karen Procek, her family and the Forth Valley Sensory Centre, PLUS has been working alongside

parents and carers on a fortnightly basis facilitating ‘Play and Chat’, which has developed from a Parent and Toddler group into a Peer Support and Friendship Group.

Over the last 15 months PLUS has met over 40 families in the area, with children from birth through to 16 years of age. It has been clear that there are demands for additional services in the area, to compliment the provision currently provided by the local authority. Parents have told us they attend Play and Chat because ‘it is the only group my son fits into. I also fit in, people understand’, ‘I come for peer support. I have friends who are parents and whilst they offer empathy, they don’t truly know how difficult my life is. Play and Chat families just get it.’

Through questionnaires, focus groups, and lots of conversations, the families who attend the PLUS Sessions have been able to provide valuable insight and direction into what gaps exist for them and their families. It was clear that there are many families in the area who are currently isolated, with no access to short breaks at present. As a result, we will be developing the following; weekly networking for parents and carers through ‘Play and Chat’, regular group based events for children of primary age, regular group activities for teenagers and practical information sessions for parents.

Susan Fullerton, Chief Executive Officer at PLUS commented, ‘It has been an exciting journey over the last 15 months, seeing the relationship between families blossom. Our partnership with the Sensory Centre has been fundamental in ‘Play and Chat’ experiencing the success it has had to date. We look forward to offering increased support to a wider number of families in the coming year, and are thankful to our funders Shared Care Scotland and Children in Need for allowing this opportunity to develop.’

In order to begin recruitment to the projects, PLUS hosted a Family Fun Day at the Forth Valley Sensory Centre on Sunday 21

st May. There was a great turn out of families, however there are still spaces available

on the project for school aged children. PLUS looks forward to welcoming families from across the Falkirk area, and would welcome families getting in touch directly to find out more.

Please contact rhianna@plusforthvalley.org.uk or by phone 01786 450086 to find out more about our services.

PLUS (Forth Valley) Ltd , Broadleys Road, Springkerse Industrial Estate, Stirling, FK7 7ST Tel: 01786 450086; Email: susan@plusforthvalley.org.uk

Registered in Scotland No. 226225; Scottish Charity No. SC003945; Care Commission No. CS2003035186

PLUS FORTH VALLEY

July 2017 issue, page 22 CSREC Newsletter

Over the last year, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) have been working to put central Scotland on the Jewish map with the help of the Central Scotland Regional Equality Council. This area isn't generally known as a hub of

Jewish activity, but, working with Arun Gopinath and his team at CSREC, we have been privileged to celebrate several Jewish festivals, and share the milestone of two hundred years of Jewish Communities in Scotland, with communities in this great region.

Our work spans the whole of Scotland, bringing Jewish people together and putting on cultural events of interest to Jewish and non-Jewish people alike. Though we host events from the very north of Scotland right through to the south, one of our biggest supporters is the CSREC. More than just helping us find venues for our events, they are instrumental in helping us promote our work. In turn, their continued support has increased the success of our activities in the region.

Our most exciting event so far in 2017, took place in Callendar Park, Falkirk, on 14 May, 2017. Our Fire and Light in the Forest event, supported by Forestry Commission Scotland, was a day of outdoor activities where Jewish Communities across Scotland came together to celebrate Lag B’Omer, a minor Jewish festival. The central positioning of Callendar Park helped us to attract more than 200 people from Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and the Central Belt, for a day of storytelling, craft and games, woodlands walks, wild foraging as well as archery, which is traditional for the festival.

Bonfires and barbecues are also traditional at Lag B’Omer festivities, so the fire juggler and delicious kosher barbecue were also in keeping with the holiday. The event was a huge success, bringing together communities that don’t normally get the chance to interact. It was also a fun way to encourage everyone to enjoy the great outdoors, especially on such a beautiful day.

One young girl aged 7 ¾ said:“Archery was the best bit – I had lots of satisfaction using an arrow. I was the second best archer, and the most improved archer!”

And her father told us “A very nice day out for the

kids, with a bit of tradition behind it – and introduced us to a new park that we’d never been to. It was nice to see other families, some of which we know. And nice to be around Israelis and hear Hebrew spoken by children and adults.”

To celebrate the bicentenary of Scotland’s Jewish Communities, and as part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2017, SCoJeC hosted a series of history talks, discussing the story of Scotland’s Jewish communities – the story of how Scotland has welcomed refugees for the last 200 years. Two of our series were held in the CSREC’s catchment area, in Dunfermline and in Falkirk. Again, CSREC’s support was key in the success of the event, helping us to locate venues and attracting attendees.

Mr. Michael Tobias, a well-known genealogist and researcher, spoke to packed houses, sharing his findings about the history of Scotland’s Jewish Communities, giving the “how”, why” and “where” of Jewish immigration to Scotland. Each talk was free and included a kosher buffet as well as a “sharing our stories” session. One audience member in Falkirk told us “The talk was excellent and well illustrated, showing movement of Jews through the decades. I hadn’t realised so many used Scotland as a stepping stone to the US”.

Central Scotland will continue to feature in our calendar of events over the last half of 2017, with an Interfaith Scotland week paper cutting event being organised for Sunday 12

th November. Abi Pirani and

Maryam Golubeva, a Jewish and a Muslim paper cutter, will share a platform and share their ancient skill of paper cutting with local people – the event will also include SCoJeC’s trademark kosher buffet, of course!

For details about our upcoming events programme, call Joanne on 077245 49817, email events@scojec.org or visit www.scojec.org/events.html. Our events are free, though donations are welcome.

These events were generously supported by the Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust.

SCOTTISH COUNCIL OF JEWISH COMMUNITIES

SCOTTISH COUNCIL OF JEWISH COMMUNITIES July 2017 issue, page 23 CSREC Newsletter

July 2017issue, page 24 CSREC Newsletter

CSREC made a presentation on hate crime at The

Alliance’s #Change17 conference on 30 May 2017

PHOTO GALLERY

Some participants at our Fuel Good driving session held at Re-Union Canal Boats, 28 July 2017

Energy Awareness Session with Al Masaar’s

Wee Steps Group in Falkirk on 17 May 2017

Kasia and Taya at Forth Valley College

promoting our work on 15 May 2017

Energy awareness session at Cowane Centre, Stirling 14 June 2017

Forth Valley Communities for Conservation team at the launch event, in Falkirk on 20th May 2017

July 2017 issue, page 25 CSREC Newsletter PHOTO GALLERY

Energy Awareness Session at Community

Education Centre in Park Street 6 July 2017

CSREC’s staff and volunteers creating awareness on climate change and hate crime reporting at Eid in

the Park event in Falkirk on 1 July 2017

CSREC’s Board, Staff and Volunteers at Stirling Train Station raising awareness of hate crime reporting on

28 June 2017

Our FVC4C team and volunteers providing energy saving tips and raising awareness on climate change

at Stirling Train Station on 28 June 2017

CSREC staff team at information stall on hate

crime and climate change at Howgate Centre,

Falkirk on 7 July 2017

CSREC staff and volunteers creating awareness on climate change Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group

on 26 July 2017

REPORT

DISABLITY

HATE

CRIME

Report Disability and other

Hate Crimes and Incidents

in confidence by using Third

Party Reporting

Contact Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC) if you require assistance with reporting hate crime.

07522 032794

admin@csrec.org.uk

fb.com/CSREC01

@CSREC01

01324 610950

info@csrec.org.uk

www.csrec.org.uk