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

Attendees and apologies

• 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
• Monica Lee-MacPherson, Head of SHIMCA (Scottish Highlands and Islands and Moray Chinese Association) Inverness
• 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 Glasgo
• Rupa Mooker, Employment lawyer
• Samina Ansari, Former CEO Amina - Muslim Women's Resource Centre

 

Apologies

• Adebusola Ramsay, Visual Artist, Independent Researcher and Data Linkage Practitione
• Ndaye-Lisa Badji-Churchill, Advocacy Officer at Shelter Scotland and Volunteer Manager at Black Girls Hike C.I.C
• Shulamite Ezechi, CEO of ANYISO
• Talat Yaqoob, Independent consultant

Items and actions

Key discussion points

Design Advisory Group (DAG) operations

• DAG critical thinking is required to design and put into action the thinking of the Anti-Racism Interim Governance Group (AIGG)
• short life working groups (SLWGs) are mostly not expected to undertake delivery itself 
• discussed how best to build in feedback & reflection, respectful challenge from wider group when SLWG’s feedback
• discussed how best to determine community engagement processes which reach out as effectively and safely as possible to communities. Noted the work now is on setting up the mechanisms; engagement will be wider than AIGG but still unlikely to be fully comprehensive and will be undertaken with considerable time pressures

It was noted that April’s sessions will overlap with Ramadan and Easter holidays.

• DAG will discuss over the months of its operation and propose an alternative plan if no host organisation is found

• an overview of the key areas of the budget and programme of work revised to reflect the SLWGs and different stages for community engagement work was discussed. Scottish Government (SG) have seen a draft programme and budget, and anticipation of resource required for the interim phase appears accurate

• an ongoing issue was raised with payment delays for DAG members and safety and due to duplication of sensitive information in SG financial administration

• project hours administration processes discussed and agreed and will be supported by secretariat

• additional expertise discussion - DAG to think about specialists who can be invited for specific areas such as legal for future AROS

• note of thanks to Nusa C Parinussa for the taking up of the proposed project management role, acknowledgement that workflow has already improved.
• co-chairs acknowledged formal thanks for previous Chair
• Dr Isioma  Okolo   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

Further discussion points

• discussion on definitions - building on AIGG work it was agreed that group members would share further definitions and suggestions on key concepts and terminology
• members discussed group values and principles. Agreed a working framework to be built on
• members were interested to understand the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) process
• the DAG was updated regarding the procurement SLWG process, a new timetable and the proposed role of DAG members in assessment and evaluation discussed
• an overview of the different internal and external facing SLWG’s steering groups and other invites was provided and discussed
• aims and approaches anticipated demands were discussed for each SLWG including Community Engagement, Tech and Information Technology, Systems and Processes
• members noted interest to develop cross-party work on SG anti-racism commitments
• discussion on how and what SG’s anti-racism commitments are and encouraging SG’s need to determine and express what are they doing differently

• noted that the repository (digital library) must be comprehensive, recognised and made available as a first port of call for all research and data especially community work to avoid future duplications of existing work
• noted that the DAG programme is a body of preparatory work which collates the thinking of the AIGG and the DAG into policies and processes ready for AROS inception
• noted that the DAG programme carries an important and heavy workload in a short period of time

Actions

• invites to online working platform, SLWG folders and live working documents will be issued and set up onboarding sessions
• all interest/availability for SLWGs, learning sessions, compile proposed meetings schedule to be collated

• members asked to share further definitions on concepts and terminology
• seek update on the progress of appointing a new Minister for Equalities due to a change in cabinet as a result of Nicola Sturgeon stepping down from her role as First Minister
• a draft group agreement of ways of working developed from everyone’s suggestions, to be agreed at the next group meeting
• collate group access needs, requests, preferences for meetings

• members requested to (re) read the AIGG Community research documents before next meeting

• the co-chairs to email request all members to consider suggestions for additional members of DAG