Scotland’s 2001 census data has shown that 1.13% of 279, 480 in Central Scotland are of black and ethnic minority communities with Pakistan being the highest (0.4%), followed by the Chinese (0.16%).  A breakdown of these across the three local authority areas is; Clackmannanshire 0.84 %( 404), Falkirk 1.03 %( 1,495), and Stirling 1.5 %( 1,293).  National percent of people from minority ethnic communities is 2.01%.

2001 census results have also shown that the ethnic minority population is younger in comparison to their white counterparts (56.05% of the minority ethnic population are aged fewer than 30 compared to 36.3% of Scotland’s white community).  Given this data, one of our target groups is young people. Education has a significant role in this regard given that young people spend a considerable amount of time in educational establishments.

Central Scotland has very few organised community groups; they include the Arab Community, Bahai Group, Chinese Association, Muslim Women’s Group and two mosques.  These groups lack organisational capacity, and resources such as access to information, culturally aware and sensitive staff and funding.  Issues of integration and community cohesion are a priority especially among young people and women who often face particular difficulties and lack of opportunity.  Women from the mosque in Falkirk have highlighted this in approaching the Community Education Services to look into the feasibility and support for the setting up of a group within the Islamic Centre.

Despite being semi-rural, Central Scotland remains one of the areas with the highest recorded racial incidents per head of population.  This has also seen an increase since September 11^th and the war in Iraq.  This is borne out by CSRECL's monitoring of racist incidents; 1999/2000, CSRECL recorded 177 racist incidents, 2000/2001, 228 racist incidents and 245 in 2001/2002, with 276 incidents recorded in 2002/2003.  These are only the reported incidents.  The high levels of racial incidents in rural Scotland could reflect the isolation of individuals and families particularly in rural areas.  This was highlighted in “Rural racism – needs not number” published by CRE Scotland.

Within Central Scotland there is hardly any involvement of minority ethnic communities in local area forums.  These forums have been designated as a crucial part of community involvement and governance. In the 2002 Stakeholders meeting there was a call for better minority ethnic people in governance and policy making.  Parents raised concerns about the lack of employment opportunities which forces young people to leave the area and seek employment elsewhere.