About you
3. What is your name?
Name
Micheal Matovu
4. Are you responding as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?
Organisation
Radiant and Brighter Community Interest Company
The role of Scottish social security
1. What will the economic downturn look like for different people in Scotland and how should Scottish social security support them through it? In the context of UK social security and of other ways of providing support, what is the role of Scottish social security in an economic recession?
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The role of the Scottish social security in an economic recession is to provide support to everyone both socially and economically.
2. Can, and should, Social Security Scotland do more than meet the expected increased demand for benefits and deliver on existing policy commitments? What should its ambitions be? Within the social security and borrowing powers available to Scottish Ministers what could be achieved and delivered?
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Social security Scotland should do more than meet the expected demand for benefits because as we all now know that people from the BAME Communities have been severly affected economically. Often people from these communities struggle to get into the labour market and even when they get in they are often under employed. A lot of policies and statements of intent are available but implementation is always a challenge. This needs to change.
Scottish Ministers need to be intentional in addressing these issues by working directly with BAME Communities instead of using "main stream organisations" who often struggle to reach these communities.
Scottish Ministers need to be intentional in addressing these issues by working directly with BAME Communities instead of using "main stream organisations" who often struggle to reach these communities.
3. If we look to do more, or differently, what are the relatively easier changes that could be made to Scottish benefits that would not require significant additional capacity in Social Security Scotland?
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Allow Asylum seekers the right to work but also value the skills of the New Scots instead of taking them through trainings that don't get them anywhere. This is a process that requires commitment and collaboration and a great example is what happens in Germany.
4. What changes could be made that would not require significant input from the Department for Work and Pensions (UK)?
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Recognise the value and contribution of the BAME Communities and invest in them. The FSB report released last year highlighted that migrants contribute 13 billion every year to the Scottish economy despite the barriers. Imagine if these communities were valued?
5. What are the constraints and barriers to doing more in Scotland?
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1) There is a lack of trust. BAME Communities are often not trusted to run organisations and manage funds. Therefore BAME Communities are asked to collaborate with mainstream organisations that never pay for there services.
2) Lack of commitment from the Scottish government. Even with the Programme for Government there is no clear commitment in terms of investment for the BAME Communities yet the pandemic has clearly highlighted those inequalities.
3) Lack of representation in the decision making process. Often these communities are left out and there voices are not heard. Decisions are instead made by those that assume and continue to misrepresent the communities hence making the same mistakes.
2) Lack of commitment from the Scottish government. Even with the Programme for Government there is no clear commitment in terms of investment for the BAME Communities yet the pandemic has clearly highlighted those inequalities.
3) Lack of representation in the decision making process. Often these communities are left out and there voices are not heard. Decisions are instead made by those that assume and continue to misrepresent the communities hence making the same mistakes.
6. Should the main focus be on discretionary funds or on entitlements? In terms of recovery from Covid-19, is it more effective to provide support through discretionary funds allocated to local authorities or through demand led benefits delivered through Social Security Scotland?
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Am not sure if any of the above would favour the BAME Communities. I would therefore suggest engaging with BAME Organisations who would provide a better answer.