This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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A cracker funding boost to tackle poverty
28/12/2000
Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIP) across Scotland are to receive a £105.5 million boost to tackle poverty and social exclusion, Deputy Minister for Social Justice Margaret Curran announced today.
An additional £1.9 million has also been made available among a number of SIPs for the next financial year.
The SIP programme brings together public, private and voluntary sectors to co-ordinate work in local areas to address the causes and symptoms of poverty. SIPs across Scotland are delivering innovation and resources at a local level. They make a vital contribution to community regeneration, and enable local people to have a say in their locality.
Ms Curran said:
"Everyone deserves decent housing, a right to education, and access to quality health services, and employment. This is what social justice is about. This is what our SIPs are beginning to achieve."
Work across Scotland has involved tackling social exclusion in a number of ways.
For example, literacy projects for children, training courses with integrated childcare facilities, health projects, and IT projects located within the communities
Commenting on work already underway, Ms Curran said:
"These programmes are helping us to move forward our Social Justice commitments effectively. Through partnerships, and by involving local people, we are clearly starting to make headway in making real and lasting changes to people's lives."
The Social Inclusion Programme focuses on people as well as places. Some SIPs are area based, and others focus on specific groups including: young people, young carers, and ethnic minorities.
BACKGROUND
Each year SIPs are given one firm allocation and two year provisional allocations on a three year rolling basis. This year they were provided firm allocations for 2001-2002, and provisional allocations for 2002-2003 to 2003-2004. The firm allocations for 2001-2002 include a total increase of £1.9 million from the provisional allocations originally given two years earlier (November 1999).
News Release: SE3304/2000
28 Dec 2000