With thanks to Alasdair Scott, Parliamentary Assistant to Stewart Stevenson MSP
SNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, Stewart Stevenson, has warmly welcomed the opening of a £200,000 fund aimed at encouraging more disabled people to participate in politics and stand as councillors in next year’s local council elections.
The fund – which will help cover additional costs for accessible transport and communications support – underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for more people from under-represented groups.
Disabled people are significantly under-represented as local councillors – and the fund will back up wide-ranging support to help correct this imbalance.
Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said,
“Everyone should have equal access to politics, no matter their own personal background or whether they are disabled or not – and this funding will help ensure this is the case by alleviating some of the additional costs that disabled candidates can encounter.
“It is vital that barriers are broken down to encourage people from all areas of society to get involved in politics – which will help make policies more representative of society as a whole. The fund isn’t about giving anyone an advantage, but rather levelling the playing field and making it fairer for everyone.
“I hope people from across Aberdeenshire access this funding. It will help create equal access to politics for disabled people who wish to stand for selection or election in next year’s local government polls.”
The £200,000 is be used to help to cover additional costs for accessible transport or communications support for disabled people who wish to stand for selection or election in the 2017 local government elections. This also includes £40,000 delivery costs.
For further information and details on how to apply – http://inclusionscotland.org/information/employability-and-civic-participation/access-to-politics/aeofs/
- Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.
[Aberdeen Voice accepts and welcomes contributions from all sides/angles pertaining to any issue. Views and opinions expressed in any article are entirely those of the writer/contributor, and inclusion in our publication does not constitute support or endorsement of these by Aberdeen Voice as an organisation or any of its team members.]