2,500 people vote on projects to end Islamophobia in Edinburgh

It is a sad but undeniable fact that post Brexit levels of hate crime have risen across some parts of the UK, most notably England and Wales.  Intolerance, ignorance, prejudice and inequality have emerged as communities try to make sense of the Brexit impact on society.

This information, and intelligence held by communities in Edinburgh, resulted in Police Scotland using Participatory Budgeting to address issues of criminality that were linked to an increase in the frequency and severity of hate crimes, and also issues of under-reporting.

Shared Future, through our PB Partners project, were asked to deliver a short training programme that would enable the Edinburgh police, partners and active citizens to develop a grant funded PB process that would focus on support for the Muslim community.

The training, delivered by Susan Ritchie and Dr Andrew Fisher, was well received. The Police Scotland lead, Sergeant Scott Kennedy, facilitated the forming of a community steering group to define the PB programme. Over a period of time the process was designed and bids invited to secure a part of the £40,000 pot.  The rules allowed for three bids per organisation, up to a maximum of £5,000, for three separate projects.

In total, 34 projects were shortlisted and invited to a PB market place to support their bid.   Over a two week period over 2,500 people voted on the projects that they wished to support.  Voting could be done on line or in person at 28 public libraries.

The event attracted local and national media and Sergeant Kennedy was able to promote the theme of the event; to support diversity and community cohesion through preventing Islamaphobia and associated prejudice ‘behaviour’.

In total, 13 projects are being funded through the PB process and plans got underway to extend PB, with a focus on community safety, in the Edinburgh area.