In the period 2015/2016 Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC) set the goal of making their antisectarianism project sustainable. After many days of deliberation it was decided that the best way to achieve this goal was to create a resource pack that can be used in both primary and secondary schools but is easily adaptable and can be used with youth and community groups too. Many weeks were spent on researching available material online and in hard copy. The best of this material was then pulled together, updated and combined with original material created by CSREC in order to create the Tackling Sectarianism Project’s Toolkit.

It has already been widely agreed that sectarianism in Scotland is a unique and complex social issue and not simply as easy as one side hates the other or related solely to football. As a result the toolkit has been designed to incorporate a variety of topics and not just sectarianism in an effort to give a better understanding of sectarianism in Central Scotland. The topics covered by the toolkit are:-

• Identity;
• Diversity;
• Prejudice and Stereotypes;
• Equality;
• Influencing Attitudes;
• Human Rights; and
• Discrimination including Sectarianism.

The toolkit is divided into two, the first section is intended for children in the higher end of primary school and the second section aimed at children in S1 to S3. Sessions meet several outcomes of the Curriculum for Excellence; these outcomes are outlined at the beginning of each section. Each comes with teacher notes that outline each session including activities and some PowerPoint slides come with slide notes for extra assistance. The toolkit is easily adaptable which means that lessons can be tailored to meet the needs of each school or group and updated to follow current events.

There are also appendices at the back of the booklet that can be printed off for ease but all activities can be done on paper or in jotters. Please note that this material is a starting point for discussions and teachers/facilitators should feel free to create their own extension activities to enhance pupils’ learning.

We, at CSREC, hope that this toolkit will be used across the Forth Valley area and these sessions will assist us in our commitment to eliminate discrimination and harassment in Central Scotland, so that everyone has an equal chance to learn, work and live free from prejudice and fear of harassment and violence.