Race equality issues
Reid
Howie Associates has extensive experience in social policy research, and has
undertaken a range of work in the broad area of race equality.
Specific
work with ethnic minority communities has formed a large part of our work. The
recognition of equalities issues and the importance of the promotion of
equality underpins the work that we do. We have an Equality Policy to which all
staff and subcontractors must adhere.
We
are committed to the involvement of people from communities of interest in
research, and recognise that they are likely to have the most appropriate
expertise and to be able to provide advice which will enhance the work.
Race
equality has formed a major part of our work from the outset and continues to
do so. The types of work which we have undertaken are described below, dating
back to the earliest work undertaken by the company in the early 1990s.
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Reviews and policy development
We
provided support to the Government's Race Equality Review in Scotland, in
partnership with other organisations. RHA carried out the analysis of responses
to the written consultation element of the review and prepared a report on
this. We also carried out an analysis of the stakeholder discussions, and
prepared a report on this. We were then involved in facilitating meetings of
the Advisory Group which was established to consider the evidence arising from
the review and preparing the final report for submission to the Minister.
We
also undertook a major review of funding to ethnic minority groups which involved
an extensive survey of ethnic minority-led voluntary organisations, and a small
number of workshops.
We
were involved in facilitating a workshop day and preparing a report in relation
to researching the needs of ethnic minority communities and in organising and
reporting on consultation meetings with groups as part of the development of
the Scottish Executive's Equality Strategy.
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We
have carried out evaluations of a number of ethnic minority organisations and
projects. For example, we carried out an evaluation of the International Centre
in Aberdeen, providing support to people from ethnic minority communities in
the city. We have also carried out evaluations of Fife Community Interpreting
Service. RHA provided support to research carried out through Glasgow
Anti-Racist Alliance, as well as evaluating a training initiative carried out
by the organisation.
Earlier
work of the company also included: the evaluation of an EU
funded project working with members of ethnic minority communities; the evaluation
of an 'Equality Pays' project; and an evaluation of progress by service
providers in Fife against a previous research report which identified a number
of barriers to access to services for ethnic minority groups.
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Work relating to the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000
We
worked with a number of organisations to help to enable the implementation of
the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. This involved conducting research and
facilitating an event to identify organisations' training needs in relation to
the implementation of the Act.
We
also worked with the CRE to facilitate a consultation
process on the preparation of codes of practice for the Race Relations
(Amendment) Act 2000.
RHA
provided research support to the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum to develop
an action plan to address issues affecting refugees in Scotland in a range of
areas including housing, legal services, employment, services to children,
health and community development.
At
a local level, we undertook research with a local authority to audit their race
equality work and make recommendations for future equalities work.
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In
the early 2000's RHA worked with the Scottish Executive Equality Unit to
prepare good practice guidance in consultation with excluded groups.
We
also carried out a project examining the use of stop and search by police
forces in Scotland. This work involved extensive street interviews, as well as
discussions with workers and community representatives.
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Overview
All
of the experience described has continued to develop our understanding of race
equality. RHA has a strong commitment to the continuing development and
promotion of this in the future.
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