Involving everyone
There are many ways in which a community can be defined and community groups work with a wide range of people. This includes people ‘protected characteristics’.* Even if your group is not focused on working with one particular group, you are likely to work with a variety of different people within your community.
*The Equality Act (2010) states it is against the law to discriminate against someone because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
The following organisations and resources should help when thinking about involving everyone in the wider community.
We’ve complied a list of useful resources and guides to help you to ensure that your events and information are as accessible as possible.
A membership organisation which represents the views of disabled people and disability groups/organisations, as well as the umbrella organisation for disability Access Panels in Scotland, which are groups of disabled volunteers who work together to improve physical access and wider social inclusion in their local communities.
The Social Impact Pledge is about simple ways that public bodies can make a difference to communities. Here are some pledges made by public bodies that make commitments to involve people.
Together is an alliance of Scottish children's charities that works to improve the awareness, understanding and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Scottish Recovery Network promotes and supports mental health recovery, bringing people, services and organisations across sectors together to create a mental health system powered by lived experience which supports everyone’s recovery journey. Their website contains a collection of resources, including tools to support people and groups to work together to support recovery.
LGBT Health and Wellbeing (LGBT Healthy Living Centre) was set up in 2003 to promote the health, wellbeing and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Scotland. It provides support, services and information to improve health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation and stimulate community development and volunteering.
SDSS champions local Independent Support organisations who provide quality advice and support on Self-directed Support. Visit their website to find local support organisations, and a range of other resources related to self-directed support.
In addition to providing Young Scot cards to everyone aged 11- 26 in Scotland, Youg Scot provides a range of information and resources aimed at young people, including in relation to Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis.
If your community organisation works with children and young people, YouthLink Scotland provides useful information and resources to support this, including in relation to Covid-19.
Homeless Network Scotland aims to bring together the different sectors, organisations and individuals that want to put an end to homelessness and to retain a long-term overview.