Future Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland: Design Advisory Group minutes - December 2023

Attendees and apologies

• Adebusola Ramsay, Visual Artist, Independent Researcher and Data Linkage Practitioner
• Prof. Ima Jackson, Professor of Community Engagement in Research, Social Policy and Infrastructure Development
• Dr Isioma Okolo obstetrics and gynaecology doctor, researcher, women's health advocate, public speaker and writer
• 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
• 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
• Nusa C Parinussa, Founder-Director of ID.Y CIC
• Olalekan Oyedepo, Researcher, Co-Founder and Project coordinator at the Hope Project Scotland
• Pinar Aksu, Human Rights and Advocacy Coordinator at Maryhill Integration Network and UNESCO RIELA PhD candidate, University of Glasgow
• Rupa Mooker, Employment lawyer
• Samina Ansari, Former CEO Amina - Muslim Women's Resource Centre
• Shulamite Ezechi, CEO of ANYISO
• Talat Yaqoob, independent consultant (Chair)

Items and actions

Meeting pre-formation of official group.

Key discussion points

Context of the formative inception meeting: The purpose of the meeting is for people to get to know one another ahead of the anticipated formal group convening in January or February 2024. The intention is to allow some time to discuss key objectives and how the Design Advisory Group (DAG) will operate over the following nine months. Noted: some members have been involved since the formation of the Anti-Racism Interim Governance Group (AIGG) others are just joining.

Pre-reading of key AIGG reports and documents advised to support deeper understanding of how we have got here.

• AIGG Summary and signposting document - which sets the context and provides an overview to all the work of the AIGG
• AIGG Future AROS Vision and Mission May 2023 
• AIGG Inception methods and structure recommendations for future AROS - September 2023
• discussion on the key AIGG documents and an offer of small group work to support on boarding of those new          
• discussion of optimum modelling for the structure of the design phase work
• discussed that short life working groups (SLWG’s) will be the modelling used to maximise on members time and expertise. It is anticipated they will be several groups to “opt in”
• members will be encouraged to participate in as many ways as they have capacity
• discussion on how best to instigate community engagement into the design phase and how best to bring in young people. Importance of taking an intersectional approach in what DAG do

Noted: in order to design anti racism processes for a future organisation it requires this group to build from its own attempts to create anti racism processes in its outputs and mechanisms.

• building a workplan over the next nine months: sharing of what has been suggested via AIGG pre work, seeking new perspectives
• anticipated that a timeline for work plan to be formalised in February 2024
• discussion of the procurement process to establish a host organisation
• where we are at, and design advice sought and that a SLWG will be created to support this aspect of DAG work
• discussion about the Scottish Government (SG) proposal for an Anti-racism strategy and future relationship to and next steps with “Race” Equality Framework (REF).  Discussion on how best to support SG work with the national stakeholders in "race" equality and wider stakeholder organisations during this period to ensure accurate information is shared
• dates and timings of meetings from January and agreed that a subsequent pre formal DAG meeting is proposed in January

Actions

• develop from the meeting discussion  “a way of working” document to embed anti racism to be drafted and shared with members
• develop a SLWG to support the SG procurement process
• discuss with SG how best to support the work with appropriate staffing and resourcing.
• develop a six to nine month work plan