Safe Strong & Free aims to expand Stronger Together, a preventative education and community inclusion programme designed to tackle racism, racial bullying, discrimination and prejudice among children and young people.

Developed collaboratively with the African Caribbean Asian and Mixed Heritage Association (ACAMHA), Police Scotland Youth Engagement, the Inverness Mosque and the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, Stronger Together brings education, community experience and prevention expertise together to create lasting change.

We aim to work with up to six schools and early learning settings across Highland, reaching approximately 2,000 children and young people, alongside parents, carers and school staff.

Funding would support:

• Children and young people's workshops: Age-appropriate sessions exploring identity, skin colour, stereotypes, unconscious bias, racist bullying, microaggressions, empathy and allyship.

• Children's voices: Creative and inclusive opportunities for young people to share their experiences, identify barriers to belonging and influence the changes they want to see.

• Staff professional learning: Training to build confidence in recognising and addressing racism, challenging harmful language and creating inclusive learning environments.

• Parent and community engagement: Workshops and cultural learning opportunities that encourage understanding, challenge misconceptions and strengthen relationships between different communities.

• Practical resources: Developing lesson plans, toolkits, activities and guidance that schools and community organisations can continue using.

• Evaluation: Gathering feedback and measuring changes in knowledge, confidence, attitudes and experiences of belonging.

The project goes beyond raising awareness. Our aim is to embed anti-racist practice within everyday school life and strengthen the relationships and environments that protect children from harm.

Racism and discrimination can have a profound impact on children's emotional wellbeing, confidence, relationships and sense of belonging.

Racist bullying is not always recognised or challenged effectively. It can take the form of racial slurs, stereotypes, exclusion, jokes, comments about someone's appearance or culture, and assumptions based on identity.

Children need more than information about racism. They need opportunities to explore attitudes, challenge stereotypes, develop empathy and understand how their behaviour affects others. Equally, adults need the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively.

Safe Strong & Free has extensive experience in preventative education, working with children from early years through secondary school. Stronger Together builds upon this approach by addressing racism and discrimination before harmful attitudes and behaviours become normalised.

The Area Place Plan, identifies the importance of sustainable, welcoming communities and enabling local organisations to contribute to health and wellbeing.

Stronger Together supports these wider ambitions by:

• Promoting inclusion, respect and a sense of belonging among young people.

• Strengthening connections between schools, parents and local communities.

• Supporting children's emotional and social wellbeing.

• Encouraging participation and ensuring that young people's voices influence local improvements.

• Building community understanding and reducing prejudice and discrimination.

  Our long-term ambition is to help create a generation of young people who recognise discrimination, challenge harmful behaviour and contribute to communities where everyone feels valued, respected and safe.

  We expect to achieve:

  For children and young people:

• Greater understanding of racism, stereotypes and discrimination.

• Increased confidence to challenge racist bullying safely and seek help.

• Stronger empathy, respect and appreciation of cultural differences.

• Improved feelings of belonging, safety and inclusion.

• For schools and staff:

• Improved confidence and consistency in responding to racism.

• More inclusive approaches to learning and relationships.

• Practical resources and strategies that remain available after the project ends.

• For parents and communities:

• Greater understanding of racism and its impact on children.

• More opportunities for meaningful cultural learning and dialogue.

• Stronger partnerships between organisations supporting children.

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• Greater involvement in decisions affecting their school environments.

  The Stronger Together programme has been developed around preventative education, partnership working and meaningful participation by children and young people.

  Initial educational resources, workshop content and practical activities have been developed, with further work planned to strengthen the implementation and evaluation framework.

  Necessary consents and permissions

  Participating settings have supported activities delivered to date. Further agreements and relevant permissions will be secured with each setting before additional delivery takes place.

  Quotes and funding applications

  A detailed delivery budget, supporting quotations where required and potential funding opportunities will be finalised once the next phase and participating settings are confirmed.

  Next steps

  Our priorities are to:

• Confirm participating schools and community partners.

• Gather further children's perspectives to shape the programme.

• Finalise delivery plans, resources and evaluation measures.

• Secure funding for the next phase.

• Deliver workshops, professional learning and community activities.

• 5. What is your anticipated start date/end date?

  Proposed funded phase: 1 April 2027 – 31 March 2028.

  Stronger Together has already commenced initial development, partnership engagement and pilot activity during 2026.

  The proposed 12-month funded phase would support further delivery, development, community engagement and evaluation, subject to funding and partner agreements.

• Evaluate outcomes and share learning to support wider adoption across Highland.