March 2010

LIST YOUR EVENT

Listing events on our website in the South West region is free - please complete the form which is available below and send to: jack.horwood@equalitysouthwest.org.uk

Event Form is available here: ESW Event Form

1st March  – Women in Public Life – Plymouth and  2nd March  – Women in Public Life – Bristol 

The Women's National Commission, funded by the Government Equalities Office, is delighted to invite you to a free morning event in your region as part of our national Women in Public Life events programme. Taking part in public life could mean anything from being appointed to the Board of a public body, being a local councillor or school governor, or being involved in your local tenants association or NHS Trust. There are plenty of opportunities for women to use their professional skills and life experiences, and these WNC events aim to encourage women to have the confidence to give it a go. Come and join us and find out more!
To register and secure your place please send a completed RSVP form to WIPLEvents@communities.gsi.gov.uk or fax to 030344 43314.  Places are very limited, so please send back a completed RSVP form by Wednesday 17th February 2010.  Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

2nd March -  Equalities in Local Area Agreements - Helping you to increase your impact!  - Keynsham

A practical workshop hosted by the Reaching Out-Linking in project in Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.  Held at: Fry Club and Conference Centre, Keynsham, BS31 2AU. 9.30am – 3.30pm For more details contact: Wendy Bryant wendy.bryant@vansmail.org.uk   Tel: 01934 410195 Address: Badger Centre, Wadham Street, Weston –Super - Mare, BS23 1JY 

3rd March - Delivering Equality in the English Regions: Opportunities and Challenges - London

The English Regions Equality and Human Rights Network invites you to attend an exciting one-day conference. Aimed at equality and human rights practitioners from the English regions, the conference will feature leading speakers from the equality and human rights field explaining what you should be doing to prepare for the Equality Bill. There will also be workshops to showcase ‘good practice’ equality and human rights work from the English regions, providing a space for sharing ideas, learning and future collaboration.

Wednesday 3 March 2010 - 11.00am - 3.30pm (registration from 10.00am)
Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, 108 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH

Event Flyer and Booking forms can be found: Delivering Equality

For further details and to return booking forms contact - E-mail: info@eren.org.uk Call: 020 7843 1597

6th March  – Dorset Women’s Day - Dorford Centre, Dorchester

For details of the events taking place visit: Dorset Women's Day

8th March Cultivating Community Enterprise Training - BDA Bristol   

This one day training will equip participants with information and understanding to develop sustainable and alternative income generating models.  In a tough economic environment it's vital for community and volunrary organisations to explore Trading, Social Enterprise, raising capital through your asset as well as collaboration and partnership. "Are you considering developing a community enterprise? Or do you want to deliver your services or make your building work in a more enterprising way? Not sure about how to develop it?    Bring your idea to this workshop to find out how to get started.
The day will help you:
*    Understand what community enterprise is
*    Examine the pros and cons of an enterprise approach for your organisation or service
*    Begin to develop your enterprise idea.

This day will be hightly interactive and you should come with an enterprise idea in mind that you are willing to share with others.   Further details at: Training

9th March  - Marmot and the Third Sector Addressing health inequalities together  - London 

England’s health inequalities pose a growing challenge for all of us. Addressing health inequalities is now one of the top priorities for the NHS. Professor Sir Michael Marmot was asked to lead a strategic review to develop a joint approach to tackling health inequalities. This conference will give you the opportunity to hear more from Sir Michael about the review’s findings and recommendations. It will provide a unique opportunity to consider the essential role of third sector organisations in addressing the problems.  Full details are here: Health   

17th March  - Revitalising Leadership Masterclass Series 2010 - Leading Large-Scale Change - At-Bristol,  Bristol

You will hear from the inspirational and dynamic Paul Plsek (Independent Management Consultant, Atlanta, USADirector, Academy for Large-Scale Change, NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, University of Warwick Campus, UK), who will speak on the art of leading pervasive change across wide geographic patches that alter fundamental ways of thinking and create breakthrough change. You will discover

·         How to pick up the pace of improvement and expand the spread of better practices

·         How to better engage service users and potential partners in other organisations and sectors in helping bring about change

·         What literature tells us about creating sustainable, large-scale change

·         Learn about models, approaches and lessons learned in an interactive masterclass.

You will be asked to come prepared with an issue on which you’d like to see fundamental change occur and at the end of the day, you will leave with some new insights, tools and strategies that will help you get there.  Full details of the event: Masterclass

18th March - Party for Deaf Heritage Month - Exeter

Taking place at Black Box, Exeter Phoenix from 6.30pm.  To attend email Katherine.weston@devon.gov.uk tel; 01392 380573 or visit: www.devon.gov.uk/record_office

20th March - North Somerset Youth Diversity Day @ The Campus - Weston-Super-Mare

20th March - "Global Citizenship and Human Righs - what is it all about?" - Wellington

Taking place from 11am-2pm as part of The Global Ambassadors Programme, which is for Adult residents of Wellington and surrounding areas in order to celebrate our cultures and learn from each other. For more information about the project please visit Kaleido Scope Project.    If you are interested in attending it is essential to book in advance.  Contact: somersetkp@live.co.uk

22nd March - Working together for Positive Change - Bristol

Bristol's Launch of EY2010 – the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Taking place from 12-2pm at Bristol Cathedral - music, stalls and a free lunch!  For full details: Pierian Centre  

22nd March - The Building the Bridge Partnership Advisory Group is hosting a Prevent Seminar - Bristol

This event is an opportunity for Government Office South West (GOSW) to support local partners to explain what “Prevent” & “CONTEST” mean and provide a platform to genuinely engage or re-engage wider support from the local Muslim communities, other faith communities and partnership agencies. This is specifically in light of recent media attention, misinformation and myths that have arisen around Prevent. The event is for local communities, councillors, teachers, health and other agency employees who would like the opportunity to ask open, honest and challenging questions around the Prevent agenda.  The event is being held at Barton Hill Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, Bristol BS5 0AX.  This free event will start at 0930 – 1300 with buffet style refreshments.
Please email communitydevelopment@bristol.gov.uk by the 18th March 2010 to secure your place

22nd March – How Can We Most Effectively Tackle Child Poverty, Health and Wellbeing? -   Royal Commonwealth Society, London 

Key seminar on securing the best future for the poorest and most vulnerable children in society. How can we most effectively tackle: Child poverty,   Health and wellbeing?  Working together to genuinely improve the lives of children and their families; Protecting and providing the very best for the generation of tomorrow today.  To see the full programme, speaker biographies, venue information and booking details   Click Here   There are discounts for voluntary and community organisations and for block bookings.   

22nd March - Family History Morning - Cornwall Record Office, Truro

Join us at Cornwall Record Office from 10am-12pm for a BSL-interpreted tour of the strong rooms, followed by a chance to explore some documents of local interest and a BSL-interpreted talk on researching your family history (using the record office, internet and further information).  Booking is essential as places are limited! (Part of Deaf Heritage Month) Contact - Chloe Phillips by e-mail chphillips@cornwall.gov.uk or phone 01872 323127   

23rd March - Information session for Disable People: Volunteer as a Bristol School Governor - Bristol

Currently only three per cent of governors (45 people) in Bristol schools are disabled people, but disabled people make up at least 18% of the population in Bristol.  School governors act as positive role models for pupils and this is a great way to give something back to your local community.  You don’t need to be a parent, just able to give up to eight hours a month to help your local school.   Schools really value having a broad mix of experiences and skills on their governing bodies and this includes disabled people.  Come and find out what is involved in volunteering as a school governor. From 12 noon till 2.20pm at The Council House, College Green, Bristol

Contact: Louise Bale Louise.bale@bristol.gov.uk or 0117 9031396 or visit: Bristol 

23rd March - Employment and Skills: The Role of Regeneration in Supporting Communities -  Exeter

SLIM’s new Learning Theme looks at how we can get the best jobs and skills benefits from regeneration. Like all of SLIM’s Learning Themes the event is free and is supported by research and case studies of good practice.   Whilst the focus of this Learning Theme is on the link between regeneration, jobs and skills, there are clear lessons for the ways in which local areas can benefit from wider economic development activities.  If you have an interest in better linking regeneration, jobs and skills, then please do take this opportunity to get involved, have your say and influence policy in the region.

To register - email Ruth (r.carey@exeter.ac.uk) at SLIM or visit:  SW SLIM  

24th March - Who’s Afraid Of The New Far Right? A Challenge For Democracy - London

The Discrimination Law Association is proud to present its 2nd annual fundraising debate.  From 6-8 pm with drinks afterwards - Admission Fee: £40. Speakers include: Arun Kundnani, Ken Livingstone, Professor Nira Yuval-Davis, Geoffrey Robertson QC and others discuss the consequences for equality and free speech of Far Right representation in the political mainstream. For further details of this event and to book please visit: Discrimination Law Association

24th March - CEMVO Social Enterprise Event - Bristol

CEMVO South West invites you to a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) social enterprise event – an opportunity to learn about successful BAME social enterprise, the support that is available if you wish to develop your social enterprise and to meet, listen, talk and network with those whose have successful social enterprises or help in developing social enterprises. Further details and booking form are available here: CEMVO

24th & 25th March - Annual Public Health Forum Conference -  Bournemouth

Confronting the Public Health Crisis.  This two day conference takes place in Bournemouth. For full details, programme and to book a place visit: Public Health Forum

25th March - Creating Excellence Spring Conference - Taunton

'Getting Places Together: Local Engagement in Changing Times' As part of a programme of events for the year, this conference will focus on how, in practical terms, we can become more responsive to communities, and what is meant by words like ‘localism' and ‘engagement'. The conference will comprise a mix of inspirational presentations, challenging debates, themed breakout sessions, a market place featuring exhibitions and lots of invaluable networking opportunities.

A programme and registration form will be available on at Creating Excellence shortly -  If you do have any questions  or wish to register your interest in attending, please e-mail conference2010@creatingexcellence.org

Have you ever felt powerless to do anything about graffiti, vandalism or noisy neighbours? "Do you want to know more about who you can contact to deal with problems like these and the powers available to deal with them?".  For details of this event held for local residents, frontline staff and practitioners visit: Anti-Social Behaviour 

25th March -  Tackling Homophobic and Transphobic Hate Crime - London

“Hate crime is a human rights issue, a threat to community cohesion and a rejection of our shared values.”      Capita’s National Tackling Homophobic and Transphobic Hate Crime Conference offers key guidance on how local agencies can fulfil the aims of the Cross Governmental Action Plan on Hate Crime in their communities.   Tackling homophobic and transphobic hate crime is now a key priority . It damages the lives of individuals, the cohesion of communities and trust in the police and partner agencies. Hate crime must be addressed as part of the single national target to improve public confidence in the police.   With the new Equality duty requiring public bodies to take action to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations, hate crime must be tackled effectively and quickly. For more details of the event: Hate Crime

25th March - Wellbeing in the workplace and access to work (or how to improve company profitability and receive funding) - Bristol

The Vassall Centre, Fishponds are hosting this event and ave been able to put together some excellent speakers from private industry, the Federation of Small Businesses, Department of Health and Department of Work and Pensions to open up the subject of how businesses can improve business performance and profitability by improving the working environment and making employment accessible to all.     Booking is essential for this free event: Jane.beauchamp@vassallcentre.org. 

25th March - NCBI diversity workshop - building bridges across Bristol - Bristol

Bristol’s NCBI community workshop - This one-day participatory workshop allows us to celebrate ourselves as people of Bristol whilst examining the issues that separate us.
We will also start the bridge building process.  For more information visit: NCBI  

25th March - Volunteer Support Project Launch - Bristol

The aim of the project is to improve the volunteering experience by working with referral organisations, volunteers and volunteer involving organisations around Bristol. We are setting up a free 1:1 support service, which will support potential volunteers to get into volunteering. It will also work with volunteer involving organisations and their volunteers through a dedicated member of staff who can provide advice on a range of issues linked to supporting volunteers generally, as well as volunteers with additional support needs.

The launch will be an opportunity to hear more about the aims of the project and how it can benefit you. Following this there will be opportunities to network and we will host a discussion on the issues around supported volunteering.

For more details contact piers@bristolvolunteers.org.uk , 0117 989 7734 or visit Bristol Volunteers  

26th March – National Hate Crime Conference – No place for Hate -  ORT House Conference Centre, London NW1

This conference aims to identify key developments in the UK and assess how the UK compares internationally; present the latest evidence; clarify what central government and key criminal justice agencies are doing; explore the role of other non-criminal justice agencies; and encourage practice sharing across sector boundaries and across England, Wales and Scotland.  No place for Hate.   email: info@pavpub.com   or phoneTel: 0844 880 5061

30th March - New Waves - Engaging with Young People and Black and Minority Ethnic Communities - Bristol

The event is open to all organisations in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. Starts at 10am-3pm and Buffet lunch provided

For more details - Contact: Tel 0117 304 2298 or visit: Faithnet SW  

31st March - South West Observatory Annual Conference - Bath

This year's conference is entitled 'Health, Wealth and Happiness: What Makes a Prosperous Region?' and is taking place in The Assembly Rooms, Bath. For more information and to book please see: SWO  

31st March - Developing a Single Equality Scheme Workshop - Exeter

This workshop takes place at St Sidwells Center, Exeter from 10am-3pm and will help you to develop a Single Equality Scheme. 
For further information and to book places please contact:  jenny.nash@swcouncils.gov.uk