John Swinney announces funds to tackle racism and misogyny in Scotland

Scottish First Minister John Swinney has announced several initiatives aimed at addressing social division and violence in Scotland. During a speech at the Scottish National Party conference in Aberdeen, Swinney unveiled the ‘Scotland Together’ fund, which will allocate £30 million over the next three years to community groups to combat racism and far-right influence.

Additionally, the First Minister introduced a £1 million ‘Respect Fund’ to tackle misogyny within the education system. Starting in 2027/28, this funding will support third-sector programmes for high school pupils to reject misogynistic attitudes, while primary school students will receive age-appropriate lessons on respect.

To support these efforts, the government is refreshing the ‘Don’t Be That Guy’ campaign. This initiative, originally launched by Police Scotland in 2021, will be bolstered by partnerships with major sporting organisations including Scottish Rugby, the Scottish Football Association, and Scottish Tennis, featuring prominent athletes to encourage men to challenge harmful behaviours.