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… prosperous, inclusive and self-sustaining communities,
where the unique cultures,
traditions and environments are enhanced …
Equal Opportunities
ESF Trainee
 

Equal Opportunities

A Structural Funds commitment to equal opportunities is clearly set out in the General Regulation at Article 16: The Member States and the Commission shall ensure that equality between men and women and the integration of the gender perspective is promoted during the various stages of implementation of the Funds.  The Member States and the Commission shall take appropriate steps to prevent any discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation during the various stages of implementation of the Funds and, in particular, in the access to them.  In particular, accessibility for disabled persons shall be one of the criteria to be observed in defining operations co-financed by the Funds and to be taken into account during the various stages of implementation. This translates into a vision for the Programme which is, “to increase the opportunities within the Programme for all groups and to prioritise and adapt support for groups facing particular disadvantages to participation”. 

This will be delivered through 2 objectives:
  • To adjust the scope of the Programme to support the particular needs of groups facing barriers to achieving sustainable employment and access to lifelong learning; and
  • To improve the approach to mainstreaming equal opportunities in Scotland. 

These objectives are part of a two-fold approach to equal opportunities.   The first will be addressed through direct support for projects that explicitly aim to achieve equal opportunities goals; the second through a wider mainstreaming of the horizontal theme into the Programme’s processes.  The approach is integrated across each of the priorities.  Following are examples of the types of activities in support of this horizontal theme eligible under the various priorities:

Priority 1

ERDF

  • Support for enterprise start-up and development will be monitored to ensure that equality groups are being sufficiently represented. 

ESF

  • Customised support that recognises the key developmental needs and most appropriate modes of skills learning for different groups.
Priority 2

ERDF

  • Special activities will ensure that those groups particularly disadvantaged by the problems of peripherality and distance from learning institutions will be able to access the educational opportunities provided.

ESF

  • Support for projects that aim to reduce gender imbalance in the Scottish labour market.
Priority 3

ERDF

  • Support for infrastructure developments will be required to demonstrate that the needs of disabled people have been fully taken into account in building design.

ESF

  • Encouragement of new, innovative approaches and instruments to encourage access to lifelong learning by under-represented groups.