Lothian MSP sponsors Anti-Racism drop in session

Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury MSP has sponsored an ‘Anti-Racism in the Third and Voluntary Sector’ drop-in session at the Scottish Parliament, imploring organisations to integrate their own anti-racist strategies.

North Edinburgh Arts, with support from Passion4Fusion and Project Esperanza, presented their work to other third sector and voluntary organisations on delivering North Edinburgh Arts’ Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan. 

North Edinburgh Arts have focused their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work across 2023/2024 on race and have worked with two black led organisations, Passion4Fusion and Project Esperanza, in the development of their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan.

 As part of this work, North Edinburgh Arts have developed an anti-racist statement: “North Edinburgh Arts condemns all forms of racism and discrimination, including anti-Blackness, and will not tolerate racist language, hate speech, or abusive behaviours on our premises or online spaces.”

They have also developed an anti-racism plan which includes steps such as staff training. Learning about the work North Edinburgh Arts have done with Passion4Fusion and Project Esperanza, MSP Choudhury says, was a fantastic example of what more organisations should be doing to tackle racism. 

Mr Choudhury said: “The third sector plays an important role in shaping a more diverse, tolerant and equal society. Watching the presentation from North Edinburgh Arts, Passion4Fusion and Project Esperanza showed us what can be achieved in the third sector, to ensure that our organisations are not only non-racist, but break down racist barriers to ensure they are truly anti-racist.

We had very insightful discussions at the session about how other third sector and voluntary organisations can implement anti-racism, learning from the work which has been done by these three fantastic organisations.”

He added: “The clear call from this event was that anti-racism is something that we should all take it upon ourselves to implement-we must work together, not leave anti-racist work solely to black-led or ethnic minority organisations.

We must condemn all forms of racism and discrimination and continue working to ensure our spaces and services reflect, welcome and celebrate our diverse communities.”

Kate Wimpress, Director of North Edinburgh Arts, said following the event: “Working with Passion4Fusion and Project Esperanza on our anti-racist statement and plan has been a wholly positive and enlightening process. Many thanks to them for their generosity and support. 

NEA better understands the corrosive nature of racism and the part we must all play to shape a more diverse, tolerant, and respectful society.”

Helene Rodger, Project Director of Passion4Fusion, said following the event:  “Anti-racism practices aim to level the playing field and ensure equal access to opportunities across all sectors, regardless of race or ethnicity. This is key to achieving the vision of a Scotland where “wealth and power are more equally spread” “

Victoria Nyanga-Ndiaye, CEO of Project Esperanza, said following the event: “At Project Esperanza; we have been listening to the voices of families from Black and Multi Ethnic Communities about their experiences, concerns and frustrations with racism in schools and health and social care services; as well as about how complaints are handled. 

We are amplifying those voices through the work that we do to challenge racist systems and work practices, as well as to challenge the gatekeeping that happens within systems, which ultimately harm Black and Brown communities.”

She added: “We do this in order to shape a truly welcoming, fairer and safer Scotland that is culturally literate and migrant friendly and it is important that third sector organisations unite in anti-racism efforts in Scotland, because we work frontline and centre- daily with the communities affected by all forms of racism”.