Scottish Government said fund was over-subscribed
A Glasgow charity supporting Roma people has been denied vital Scottish Government funding.
Positive Action in Housing’s New Migrants Action Project in Govanhill has failed in an application for cash.
Robina Qureshi, executive director of Positive Action in Housing, which runs the service, said: "Sadly, our application for funding from the Scottish Government’s Equality and Human Rights Fund to continue this vital work was declined and the project will be curtailed at the end of September - unless we get a reprieve.”
In 2020 to 21, Positive Action in Housing’s New Migrants Action Project supported 395 Roma households in Govanhill.
It helped secure presettled status, supported families with self employment and secured financial entitlements of more than £696,000 from central government that went back into the Scottish economy.
Earlier this month Govanhill Law Centre also missed out on a £75,000 grant from the Equality and Human Rights fund.
Qureshi added: "Equality becomes a reality when people can assert their rights.
"The New Migrant Action Project does this on a case by case basis, building trust, overcoming literacy and language barriers, arming people with vital information about their rights.
"Our multilingual team take the time to listen to people who are often dismissed & excluded by mainstream institutions. experiences and understand how to execute a solution that works.
"Without this work, those words 'Equality' and 'Human Rights' are nothing more than abstracts."
The government says a total of 48 organisations - including Govanhill's Romano Lav charity, which works with the Roma communities - will benefit.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We were oversubscribed by applications for the new Equality and Human Rights Fund and so unfortunately there are organisations which have not been successful.
“This was a competitive application process, independently assessed, and more than 48 third sector organisations are being funded.
"They have received a share of more than £21 million – an increase of £1m - per year to support their vital efforts to strengthen communities, further equality, and advance human rights."
