About Us

Equality South West (ESW) is a registered charity and England's first regional equality and diversity body.  We are pleased to be supported by a range of key strategic organisations including: the South West Regional Development Agency, the Government Office for the South West, the South West Regional Assembly, South West Forum and the South West Trade Union Congress.

ESW is grateful for the financial support we receive from the South West Regional Development Agency, Capacity Builders and the Big Lottery Fund.

We started work in March 2005 supported by the South West Regional Development Agency and Government Office for the South West. Working with partners across the region we aim to tackle discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and transgender. We are supporting dedicated regional networks for each of these seven strands. ESW is also working with other groups for asylum seekers, migrant workers and gypsies and travellers.

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Our Board is composed of representatives from each of the regional equality networks, together with members from the South West Regional Development Agency, the Government Office for the South West, the South West Regional Assembly, South West Forum, the South West Trade Union Congress and the South West Local Government Association.

Our work covers policy development, capacity building, best practice, awareness raising,  training and research. We aim to work with our regional networks and partners in all of these areas.

Our website aims to provide the region with quality information on legislation, rights and links to other equality organisations.

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ESW Board members:

Name Representing E-mail
Audrey Cloet Age - South West Seniors Network
Fiona Phur Age - Regional Youth Work Unit
Richard Pitman Disability - Compass Disability
Sue McClung Disability -  Gloucestershire Lifestyles
 Diana Crump  Disability - Living Options Devon  
Ivy Cameron Gender - Fairplay South West ivy@cameron-woods.co.uk 
Jackie Longworth (Chair) Gender - Fair Play South West jackielongworth@blueyonder.co.uk
Rupert Daniel Race - Black South West Network rdaniel@bswn.org.uk
David Onamade Race - Somerset Racial Equality Council  
Heather Pencavel Religion & Belief - Faithnetsouthwest heather@faithnetsouthwest.org.uk
 Liz Payne-Ahmadi Religion & Belief   
Jeff Grist Sexual Orientation - SW LGB Network jeff.grist@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
Robin Corser-Langford Sexual Orientation - SW LGB Network robin.corser-langford@virgin.net
Krys Bujnowski Transgender - Western Boys info@westernboys.co.uk
Helen Thompson Transgender - Voluntary Action in Swindon
Nigel Costley South West Trade Union Congress ncostley@tuc.org.uk
Lorraine Chicken South West Regional Assembly lorraine.chicken@southwest-ra.gov.uk
Saxon Spence South West Local Government Association
Christine Reid South West Regional Development Agency creid@northwilts.gov.uk
Dave Duggan Government Office for the South West dave.duggan@gosw.gsi.gov.uk
Steve Woollett South West Forum stevew@southwestforum.org.uk

  

 ESW Newsletter

For the most recent version of our ESW Newsletter please see: ESW Newsletter Summer 2008

Equality South West's Supporting Partners

The South West RDA have invested nearly £1.2bn into the region's economy since they started out in 1999.  They are now thinking about their core strategy and key priorities for the next 3-5 years.  They are seeking stakeholders views and input into this important planning process.  The Regional Economic Strategy for the South West of England sets out a shared long-term economic blueprint for the region.  The RDA see their corporate plan as their contract with key partners and stakeholders across the region for those parts of the RES that they commit to put in place.  To view the discussion document visit www.southwestrda.org.uk or contact Emma Fraser on 01392 229 562 or email corporateplan@southwestrda.org.uk