Time For Inclusive Education intends to increase its activities, and put them on a more formal setting

One of Scotland’s most successful campaign groups is to transform itself into a national charity.

Time For Inclusive Education (the TIE Campaign) intends to increase its activities, and put them on a more formal setting.

This follows its recent sensational victory, after just three years of existence, when the Scottish Government agreed to all of its demands over LGBTI inclusive education.

All state schools will now have to teach LGBTI equality and inclusion as part of the curriculum, including the teaching of LGBTI terminology and identities, tackling homophobia and prejudice, and the history of the equalities movement.

Till now, the TIE campaign has been run primarily by two activists, Liam Stevenson and Jordan Daly, who were also its co-founders.

Now it has become an official charity and has appointed a Board of Trustees as it aims to become a service provider for schools ahead of the implementation of the LGBTI inclusive curriculum by 2021.

The new board is made up of Rhiannon Spear, SNP councillor in Glasgow City Council, Tiffany Kane, operations manager for the Common Weal think-tank, human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, Professor Ian Rivers, Scottish Council of Deans of Education and Professor of Education for Social Change at Strathclyde University, and Kieran Daly from Big Issue Invest.

Stevenson said: “Over the last three years, not only have we campaigned for inclusive education, but we have been delivering services directly in schools; supporting teachers and empowering young people.

“We have seen first hand the power and impact of inclusivity in practice, as a result our work with schools, and the positive outcomes which can be achieved for all.

“To date, we have reached over 25,000 school pupils - but this is only the tip of the iceberg, and we are inundated with requests as we move forward.

“In order to take TIE into the future and to play a role in the delivery of LGBT-inclusive education in all schools, it is now vital that we build the infrastructure which can support any organisation to grow and expand.

“As such, we are delighted to announce such a strong, experienced, and knowledgable Board of Trustees, each of whom bring with them their own individual and important skills.

“Together we will continue to remain true to the principles of our campaign, and to ensure that all young people see themselves reflected within their education."

Rhiannon Spear, who becomes chair of TIE, said: “The campaign has challenged us all to think about what is possible. Although The Scottish Government's announcement to Parliament, that LGBT-inclusive education will become a reality, has been the culmination of three years work - it is truly just the beginning.”