Future Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland: Design Advisory Group minutes - 1 August 2024

Attendees and apologies

• Arshia Ramzan, Project Officer, Scottish Government
• Prof. Ima Jackson, Professor of Community Engagement in Research, Social Policy and Infrastructure Development
• Dr. Mark Wong (Co-Chair of Design Advisory Group), Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Research Methods and Social and Urban Policy Subject Group Lead, University of Glasgow
• Micheal Matovu (Co-Chair of Design Advisory Group), Co-Founder and Director of Radiant and Brighter Community Interest Company
• Miura Lima, Youth Advocacy Lead at Intercultural Youth Scotland (IYS)
• Olalekan Oyedepo, Researcher, Co-Founder and Project coordinator at the Hope Project Scotland
• Zaki El Salahi, Freelancer in 'Dark Matter Education' and PhD Candidate

Apologies

• Adebusola Ramsay, Visual Artist, Independent Researcher and Data Linkage Practitioner
• Dr. Ankna Arockiam, Lecturer, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Artistic Director of Westbourne Music
• Monica Lee-MacPherson, Head of SHIMCA (Scottish Highlands and Islands and Moray Chinese Association) Inverness
• Ndaye-Lisa Badji-Churchill, Advocacy Officer at Shelter Scotland and Volunteer Manager at Black Girls Hike C.I.C
• Samina Ansari, Former CEO Amina - Muslim Women's Resource Centre
• Shulamite Ezechi, CEO of ANYISO

Items and actions

Key discussion points

Member update

• Rupa Mooker has stepped down due to other work commitments. Thanks noted and it has been a pleasure to work with her and receive her insights into this work
• Miura Lima is welcomed in return from maternity leave
• the Co-chairs will follow up with members who have been absent during the majority of the Design Advisory Group (DAG) meetings and confirm their input into the DAG and if they want to remain part of it. Noted If people are to leave the DAG, then replacements will need to be found

Finance update 

• update given to DAG members on the finance process for renumeration, details of payroll and the differences in being paid via invoices. Standard time for invoices to be paid at 7-10 working days. Scottish Government (SG) staff will track DAG member attendance. It is recommended that members keep track of personal attendance at meetings 
• members encouraged to contact SG project officer if further clarity is required on the finance process and individual circumstances. Apologies  given for the ongoing delays with payment to DAG members. Noted it remains unacceptable that a significant number of members have not received payment for their work

DAG operations

• update given on ministerial meeting which took place on 30 July 2024
• Minister for Equalities requested to meet on a monthly basis to support community engaged implementation phase and the public release of a community engagement anti racism fund
• safeguarding and well-being people concerns were raised with the Minister. The Minister explained the level of safeguarding they receive and anticipated that DAG would be able to access the safeguarding resources available within SG
• discussion about the very challenging current climate for anti-racism work and the impact of nationalist extremist riots in the UK
• discussion around the community engagement and short life working group (SWLG).  DAG have signed off the relevant short term consultancy roles, released the adverts for the Information Technology and 4 outreach roles
• Impact Funding Partners (IFP) will share adverts via their usual networks. SG and DAG will circulate  adverts within their networks to generate interest for the roles to help identify those who have the skillset for these roles
• building on SG expertise within usual processes for Chief Executive Officer (CEO) recruitment, SG and DAG are working on developing the CEO role for the future AROS.
• a detailed discussion took place about the community participation budget and what these events would look like, who can apply, if the budgets allocated to each event are enough to carry out the events. Noted anti racism community engagement requires significant additional funding to ensure there is not harmful practice enacted through “usual business”
• concerns noted by all about the increasingly tight timescale to undertake the engagement safely and effectively
• the co-chairs thanked everyone for their critical input and also recommendations

Actions

• DAG members to contact SG project manager if resourcing for work undertaken continues to not be processed
• level of safeguarding for DAG members and consultant staff to be investigated further
• develop the CEO/ co-CEO role with SG
• determine and agree best practice and required resourcing for anti-racism community engagement fund
• determine if additional time for the community engagement anti racism fund roll out can be agreed in order to protect the process