NEWS RELEASE
Monday 30th August 2004
STUC Success at Inaugural Empowerment Awards
A groundbreaking Scottish TUC project, which is receiving funding from the Scottish Executive, has won an award at the first ever Scottish Empowerment Awards.
The Empowerment awards are designed to celebrate the significant contribution that minority ethnic individuals, organisations, businesses and young people make to Scotland.
The STUC's One Workplace Campaign's success came in the employment category for its work with Scottish trade unions that focuses on tackling racism in the workplace.
Development Manager for the STUC Project Zaffir Hakim said:
"I am delighted we won!"
"The award represents a positive step in building capacity for trade unions in Scotland to tackle racism and discrimination in the workplace."
"I would also like to extend my thanks to all the partners involved in the project, including the Scottish Executive's One Scotland Many Cultures Campaign and EU Equal SWELL."
STUC General Secretary Bill Speirs said:
"This is a significant achievement and one that we are very proud off."
"For a very worthwhile and far reaching project to get this level of recognition so soon is very pleasing for all concerned."
ENDS
For further details contact: Zaffir Hakim John Park
Tel: 0141 337 8100 / Fax: 0141 337 8101 www.stuc.org.uk
Notes for Editors
Partners in the STUC project include Commission for Racial Equality; Equal Opportunities Commission; Disability Right Commission; Stonewall; Age Concern; Scottish Interfaith Council. Scottish Employment Rights Network; Unison TUC Education.
SWELL Scottish Workforce Empowerment for Lifelong Learning, one of the Equal partnerships that gives the project 25% match funding.
The driving force behind the inaugural event is Empower Scotland, (Ethnic Minorities Participating On Wider Economic Responsibilities) an Equal development partnership working to promote inclusiveness, equality and diversity within the workforce and the wider community.
The Empowerment Awards have three strands subdivided into different categories. The three strands are community projects, enterprise in the community and young people's contributions to New Scotland. Community strand include Training and Education Award, Arts and Culture Award Environment and Heritage Award and Employment Award.