Equalities Monthly - February 2026!
- 5 days ago
- 11 min read
Hello world!
Welcome to the February 2026 release of our Equalities Monthly newsletter!
We've got lots of exciting updates to share with you all, from our new project announcements to all the latest partners news and consultations, have a read and find out more.
We are always on the lookout for new activities and updates to add to our monthly, if you or your organisation has something coming up that you would like us to share, contact us and let us know.
You can also submit events to our Equality Calendar!
What have we been up to at FCE?
On Wed 28 Jan, the Fife Inclusion Networks got together to meet with people from across Fife to talk about their experiences and challenges. They also had the chance to do art and crafts as well at the Everyone, Everyday community space.
Our Fife Equalities Forum was online on Wed 14 Jan, sharing updates, opportunities to work together and more.
As always, we have published a range of exciting new events and consultations on our Equality Calendar! Keep posted for more.
What's happening at FCE?
Save the Date! International Women's Day 2026:
This year, Fife Centre for Equalities will be celebrating International Women's Day 2026 with a jam-packed day of activities, speakers and more to come.
We will be at the Parkgate Community Centre in Rosyth on 06 Mar 2026. Timings to be confirmed!
It's going to be a great opportunity to connect with new people, take part in activities and learn more about the services that are active in Fife.
For more information, please contact us at info@centreforequalities.org.uk, phone us on 01592 645310 or text us on 07800 005834.
Let's Chat - Equality in Fife:
What are your experiences of living in Fife? Do you feel that you are able to get the support or advice you need?
Our Let's Chat service hopes to learn more about your views on services across Fife, what is working well about them and what may need extra improvements.
A key part of our work at Fife Centre for Equalities is seeking to understand people’s experiences in accessing services in Fife. If you would like to share with us about local initiatives that have had a positive impact on your life we’d love to hear from you. If you’ve got concerns or experience barriers when accessing local services - we are here to provide a listening ear and understand what you feel would be helpful.
You can contact us in a way that suits you best:
Book an in-person meeting with us.
Our office is based in Kirkcaldy (New Volunteer House, 16 East Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1XT) but our team works flexibly. Please ensure you have booked an appointment before visiting us to avoid disappointment.
Phone us on 01592 645 310
Text us at 07800 005 834
e-mail us on info@centreforequalities.org.uk
use our online chat centreforequalities.org.uk
or submit an online form through our website https://www.centreforequalities.org.uk/lets-chat-equality-fife
BSL users can contact us using Contact Scotland BSL and share our phone number 01592 645 310.
Out and About:
In late January, FCE attended the Business and Community Reception at the Dunfermline Library & Galleries which was hosted by Kirsty McNeill MP, Minister for Scotland. It was a good opportunity to network and link with more local charities, public and private sector organisations to work together to help people in Fife. Gordon Agnew and Elric Honore (CEO), were there to represent FCE and bumped into our neighbours from New Volunteer House - with Alice and Chris from FCCAN too!
Fife Inclusion Network:
Fife Inclusion Network hosted their first Get-together of the year 2026 at Everyone Everyday community space in Mercat Shopping Centre, Kirkcaldy on the 28th of January. Our guests participated in a crafts activity i.e. making a traditional Ukrainian doll, demonstrated kindly by one of our Fife Inclusion Network members, with help from Companion Support volunteers. The get-together was well attended with over 30 participants enjoying the activity, over lunch and teas and coffees. New Scots coordinator, On Fife and Age Scotland representatives also joined the get-together on the day to extend the support they offer to our clients and share information about their projects.
Fife Inclusion Network (FIN) brings people from different communities together to discuss what matters to them in their local area and learn about activities in their community hubs. We also provide casework and one-to-one support. If you would like to learn more about the project or participate in one of our get-togethers, please get in touch with us.
For our next get-together, we’ll be celebrating Chinese New Year, with a Chinese cooking demo in Abbeyview, Dunfermline on the 25th of February. Keep an eye on our events, where further details and registration will be available soon.
We would like to thank the staff at Everyone Everyday hub for facilitating us on the day. Every One Every Day in Kirkcaldy area is co-funded by Corra Foundation, Fife Council, & The National Lottery Community Fund.
Interested in getting involved? Contact us using info@centreforequalities.org.uk, call 01592 645310 or text 07800 005834.
Fife Equalities Forum:
The next Fife Equalities Forum will be taking place on Wed 11 Feb from 14:00! This Forum will be an online session.
The forum members are interested in improving the diversity and inclusivity for their staff, volunteers and service users. They share achievements, promote current and future projects, share information on barriers faced by their communities and seek advice and help from each other.
FCE Community Roundtables:
Fife Centre for Equalities’ mission is to work in partnership and raise awareness of equality and diversity across communities in Fife.
Following feedback at our Fife Equalities Forum, we recently started a series of community roundtables focusing discussions on more specific topics - we held our Race and Ethnicity Roundtable in October, and our Disability Roundtable in November.
We’re currently planning for our LGBT+ Roundtable in February 2026.
If you represent a local group or initiative and are interested in getting involved with our roundtables, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we can arrange for a catch-up to understand your areas of work and your interest in collaborative approach to addressing inequalities for marginalised communities in Fife.
Interested in attending? Get in touch. Contact us at info@centreforequalities.org.uk, calling 01592 645310, text on 07800 005834
FCE Companion Support:
The Companion Support Project was created to build a network of volunteers who are passionate about reducing social isolation, connecting people and groups and making Fife a fairer place for all.
Recipe Booklet
We’re updating our Recipes under £10 booklet and we’d love your help! If you have any go to recipes that are tasty, affordable and practical, we would like to invite you to share it with us. Your recipe(s) could help others enjoy nourishing meals while keeping to a budget. We’d also welcome any money saving tips you might have that you’d like to share. Send in your recipes via email with the following information: Name, Recipe Name, Ingredients, Instructions and anything else you’d like to share about the recipe, maybe it’s best enjoyed with ice cream, or you have a fond memory with it.
Please email to maria@centreforequalities.org.uk or submit online here: Budget Recipes – Fill in form and send in photo of the finished product by 20th February.
Volunteer Call Out
Are you interested in meeting new people from diverse backgrounds? Or maybe you want to learn more about different communities in Fife. As a volunteer of our Companion Support Volunteer Project, we welcome people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and create meaningful connections with others across Fife. To find out more please contact maria@centreforequalities.org.uk or call us on 01592 645310 or text 07800 005834.
Funded by the Fife Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, our Companion Support (CS), volunteers work in a group setting to empower others, and encourage them to make new connections and friendships. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and learn valuable new skills.
Joining our Board:
We are recruiting suitably skilled people to join the Board to help deliver our vision and mission.
If you are passionate about equality, diversity, inclusion, and social justice, then this could be the volunteering role you’ve been looking for.
Applicants should have a passion and commitment to build a collective voice to champion equality, diversity, inclusion and social justice, along with the ability to provide strong governance and direction to ensure the delivery of our objectives.
These Trustee positions are voluntary, however, out-of-pocket expenses will be met.
For more information, please contact Elric Honoré, Chief Executive, elric@centreforequalities.org.uk or 01592 645 310.
Equality Calendar Dates to look out for:
Our Equality Calendar showcases all of the upcoming equalities awareness days, partners events and local consultations! Check out some of the upcoming international days below:
International Day of Fraternity - 4 Feb: Recognising the valuable contribution of people of all religions, or beliefs, to humanity and the contribution that dialogue among all religious groups can make towards an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind.
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation - 6 Feb: The UN's objective is to end Female Genital Mutilation by 2030, this year's theme is "Partnership with Men and Boys to transform Social and gender Norms to End FGM".
World Day of Social Justice - 20 Feb: This day reflects on the wide consensus on the need for a strong social dimension to globalization in achieving improved and fair outcomes for all.
The Fife Centre for Equalities, ‘Equality Calendar’, is aimed at representing the different types of awareness days and religious events that may be of interest to the people of Fife. It also aims to support individuals and organisations that wish to promote inclusiveness within the area.
To promote on the ‘Equality Calendar’, this can be either done on our event page by using the + button on the calendar or contact by email at info@centreforequalities.org.uk, call on 01592 645310 or text 07800 005 834.
Our Partners' News and Events
Migration Policy Scotland is Hiring!:
From Migration Policy Scotland:
"MPS is recruiting a team of 12 peer researchers based in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Fife to help us carry out research into experiences of racial diversity and how these could be improved for everyone. We are looking for a mix of both migrant and Scottish-born researchers, so please spread as widely as you can through your networks.
This is for our project Better Mixing: Supporting Scotland’s diverse future. Peer researchers will receive full training and will conduct interviews and focus groups between April and December 2026.
We are looking for applicants who:
· Have strong connections to at least one of the following groups
o more recently arrived migrant communities
o longer-established migrant communities
o Scottish-born ethnic minorities and/or white Scots
· Are able to navigate conversations with tact and comfortable facilitating respectful discussions where people may disagree
· Are able to demonstrate high levels of motivation and the ability to work independently
· Previous research experience is helpful but not essential.
We welcome applications from anyone over 18 of any nationality and migration background, including Scottish-born, who fulfils the above criteria and has permission to work in the UK.
Full details and an application form are available from our website here and attached in case that is helpful.
The deadline for applications is Midnight on Monday 23rd February 2026."
Kirkcaldy Reuse Project Conversation:
Are you interested in helping to reduce waste in Kirkcaldy, whilst providing people with access to goods when they need them? There are lots of ways that we could help to reduce waste in Kirkcaldy - it could be a tool library, a toy library, a carpet reuse scheme, a paint reuse scheme, or anything else that helps to reduce waste.
If you would like to help set up a reuse project locally, then come along to our meeting. You will hear about projects running in other areas, including a presentation by the Edinburgh Library of Things, and discuss the potential to set up a project in Kirkcaldy.
The conversation will be taking place at St. Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy from 19:00. Tea and biscuits will be provided.
For more information please contact pixiehorsman@yahoo.co.uk.
Interfaith Scotland - Information Event, Understanding the Windrush Scheme:
From Interfaith Scotland:
We’re excited to be working with the Windrush Engagement Team to share this important conversation.
Many people have heard of the Windrush Generation – those who came from Commonwealth countries to help rebuild Britain after the war, but not everyone knows about the difficulties some faced later in life, or the government schemes now in place to help support people.
This free online session will cover:
What happened during the Windrush scandal
Who may be eligible for help through the Windrush Schemes
How individuals and families can access support
Why does this matter for faith and community groups
Faith communities and local networks often play a vital role in supporting those who feel isolated or unsure where to turn. By learning about these schemes, you can help spread awareness and ensure that anyone affected knows there is help available.
If you would like to attend, please book you place via the Eventbrite link below. On booking, you will receive the link to join the session which can be accessed directly via the Eventbrite page.
Consultations to look out for
Transforming Kirkcaldy:
From Fife Council: "Fife Council is working towards a 20-year vision to transform Kirkcaldy for generations to come. This long-term process, which will take a phased, partnership approach, and has big aspirations – to boost the local economy, tackle poverty, improve public spaces, and strengthen community facilities.
The council is working to shape the overall ambition and programme of work for the town. As this progresses there will be lots of opportunities for communities to get involved in conversations about Kirkcaldy’s future and plans for different places and spaces. It will also build on the good things Kirkcaldy already has including great transport links, important heritage sites, growing tourism, and an active, passionate community."
Fife Council is looking for individuals and groups interested in sharing their views. For more information, click here.
Let's Talk Lochgelly - Youth Provision:
From Fife Council:
Following the Let’s Talk Lochgelly consultation, we’re building on your feedback to create an action plan that truly reflects the community’s vision—and how we can make it happen.
We want to hear from young people across the Lochgelly area. Tell us:
What you're currently involved in
Your thoughts, ideas, and opinions on how youth groups, clubs, and projects could be shaped
Suggestions for new activities or services you'd like to see for yourself and other young people
Community Learning in Dunfermline - Consultation 2025:
Community learning is all about helping people grow, connect, and thrive through learning opportunities that are local, inclusive, and tailored to your needs. Whether you're looking to build new skills, support your family, or meet others, there’s something here for everyone.
This consultation looks at:
Adult Learning
Family Learning
ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
Needing assistance when running a consultation, or finding it difficult to take part? Contact us and help make Fife more accessible at info@centreforequalities.org.uk, calling 01592 645310, text on 07800 005834.
Funding
If you are interested in finding out more about the funding available to your organisation, please make use of the local and national resources below:
Fife Council: Fife Council Funding Portal
Fife Voluntary Action: Funding and Finance
SCVO: Funding Scotland
If you are looking to share funding opportunities that may benefit local community groups and organisations that cover the different protected characteristics, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at info@centreforequalities.org.uk, calling 01592 645310, text on 07800 005834.
Get in touch
Do you have any concerns that you would like to share? Or just looking for a chat? Get in touch!
Let's Chat Equality - Fife: Let's Chat: Equality in Fife | FCE
Email us at: info@centreforequalities.org.uk
Call us on: 01592 645310
Text us using: 07800 005834
Or even write to us: New Volunteer House, 16 East Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy KY1 1XT
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