​Funding demonstrates commitment to tackling discrimination, says minister

Projects and charities which tackle inequality and discrimination have been awarded £20.3 million from the Scottish Government.

More than 220 groups across the country will receive funding from the Equality Budget to support strategic and community work and frontline services.

The cash was announced by the social justice secretary Alex Neil during a visit to Glasgow’s Women’s Library which has been awarded funding of £72,524 this year, an increase of £20,000 from last year.

This will help it work towards national library status.

Neil said: “The Scottish Government Equality Budget demonstrates our commitment to tackle inequality and help those who are the most disadvantaged and the most discriminated against in our communities.

“We are committed to working with key agencies and organisations to ensure we protect the most vulnerable groups in our society. This funding helps do this.

“We will be supporting a range of strategic and community work and, most importantly, fund frontline services to address inequality, tackle discrimination and progress equality across Scotland.”

The largest amount of funding will go towards work to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls, a total of £11.8 million for 2015-16.

This increase will support work around female genital mutilation and helping women exit prostitution.

The reminder of the Equality Budget has been allocated to projects which will work to progress equality across Scotland to remove barriers and ensure a fairer, more equal country.