iiScotland has developed a number of specialised courses for those involved in the relevant fields and wish to understand the needs of their Muslim clients. The courses are half day sessions and will be delivered in-house at your venue, unless requested.

Women in Islam

Issues around women in Islam have become the focus of much debate. This course explores gender roles in social and domestic life, together with religious sensitivities around dress, education and work. Numerous taboo issues including domestic violence and FGM are also tackled in this course, and provides ample room for discussion.

Highly recommended for all involved in working with Muslim women, and seeking the facts around this sometimes complex subject.

Health Care

This course is specifically designed for those caring for Muslim patients and seeks to address their cultural and religious needs which can impact on the care they receive.

The course covers the basics of belief and practices of Islam, and also implications around worship including praying and fasting, personal hygiene, modesty and dietary issues experienced by Muslim patients. Other areas covered include disability, mental health, definition of death in Islam and caring for the deceased and bereaved.

Teaching Muslim Pupils

With much discussion via the media on this subject, this course directly addresses the concerns of those involved in education. The course provides an overview of the ethnic diversity of Muslims in Scotland which can impact on their cultural practices. Areas covered within the educational environment, include dress code, dietary laws and religious studies and practices.

The course also touches on sensitive issues around morality and modesty often associated with sex education and P.E. Also discussed are issues around social alienation, increasingly identified in young Muslims which can lead to delinquency and poor achievement, and its elimination through understanding the role of faith and identity.

Muslims and Housing

This course explores the cultural diversity of Muslims in Scotland and their socio-economic characteristics, with statistics and analysis. An overview is provided of religious and social needs of Muslims, which can impact on housing and residence, including family and social norms.

Numerous cultural and religious sensitivities are explored and explained which housing officers can experience during interviews and visiting Muslim homes.

Islamophobia

Perhaps one of the most misunderstood types of discrimination at present. The Independent newspaper, recently described Muslims in Britain as a "vulnerable" community suffering "systematic demonisation".

This indispensable course explores examples of both subtle and blatant types of Islamophobia and the effects it causes on individuals and communities. It provides overview of legislation around Religion and Belief (2003) with examples of good practices. The course also identifies how to avoid Islamophobia at work to create a more inclusive workplace.

Learning Outcomes

• Provide an overview and increased understanding of the diverse Muslim community in Scotland and its cultural practices.
• Prevent racial and cultural stereotyping.
• Promote confidence and competency of staff when interacting with Muslims.
• Identify goals to develop culturally and religiously sensitive service provision within your area of work.

Race, Religions & Culture

This seminar looks at the impact of race, faith and culture in your organisation and focuses on the needs and issues facing various diverse groups across Scotland.

Informative and thought provoking presentations delivered by religious and cultural institutions help to highlight both the similarities and also differences across multicultural Scotland.

Our speakers come from backgrounds as diverse as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, and Buddhism.

Already delivered successfully to frontline health practitioners within the NHS, this course is vital for anyone working with customer orientated roles.

Objectives

• Provide an overview and increase understanding of the legislation on religion and belief
• Raise awareness and understanding of the practices, customs and beliefs of different religions
• Prevent racial and cultural stereotyping of minority ethnic groups through understanding of cultural and religious issues
• Promote confidence and competency of staff when working with black and minority ethnic patients in any organisation
• Identify mechanisms to develop culturally sensitive service provision within your area of work
• Outline

Introduction to the day

• Presentations on Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism
• Exploring stereotypes and myths around minority ethnic/ religious groups
• Patterns of behaviour and information in relation to minority ethnic/ religious groups
• Designing culturally competent services and feedback
• Question and Answer sessions
• Registration packs