Workplace Equality Fund can help improve digital participation in charities

The Workplace Equality Fund is a £750,000 fund to support third sector organisations and private businesses, with a base in Scotland, in reducing employment inequalities, discrimination and barriers in the workplace. The fund is managed by the Voluntary Action Fund and grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 are available. Eligibility Applicants should be a private business, or a third sector organisation whose project has an agreement in place to work with a specific private business. The application must focus on one or more of the participants groups – minority ethnic people, disabled people, women and older workers (those aged over 50). The funding will support employers in reducing employment inequalities, discrimination and barriers particularly across the arts, culture, leisure, tourism, finance, manufacturing, construction, agriculture and fishing, transport and communication and STEM sectors. Lack of basic digitals skills can be a barrier particularly for workers on low incomes who can be at risk of exclusion as a result of not being required to use the internet for their jobs. The Digital Participation Charter supports the development of basic digital skills across Scotland. Organisations who sign up to the Charter are required to upskill their own workforce which reduces barriers to digital participation. Workplace Equality Fund outcomes The types of outcomes were are hoping to obtain from the Fund are:

• Employment opportunities and progression in the workplace are improved for participant groups and consideration is given to how this can be embedded into the workplace to ensure lasting change.
• Knowledge, skills, policies and practices are improved in order to address employment inequalities, discrimination and barriers/challenges within the workplace.
• A more inclusive working environment is created through employees and employers working in partnership.

How to apply The next round of applications opens on 2nd July and organisations can apply online on the Voluntary Action Fund website.