Our Networks

Cross Strand Information

Moving Towards the Equality Bill

If you would like to learn more about how progress is being made with moving towards the Equality Bill, please read the documents below:

Government Response to the Consultation 

The Equality Bill - Briefing for ESW Board 

SW Regional Report on Responses to Discrimination Law Review

Single Equalities Act - Comments from ESW's REN's

Here is a list of priorities from ESW's Regional Equality Networks which supplements comments we have already made on the Green Paper.  To view please see: Single Equalities Act

Somerset Community Cohesion Strategy 2004 - 2014

This is a document outlining plans and strategy for community cohesion in Somerset.  To read further please see the link: Somerset Community Cohesion Strategy 2004-2014

ACAS

Acas aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations, including issues such as tackling bullying.  To read further about this organisation please visit: www.acas.org.uk

  • ACAS have produced a booklet entitled 'Delivering Equality and Diversity' to read the booklet please see: ACAS Booklet

Alliance Against Pregnancy Discrimination

Alliance Against Pregnancy Discrimination in the workplace have issued a publication entitled ‘Pregnant women and new mums at risk of redundancy’ to read the publication please see: Pregnancy Discrimination

Alliance for Sector Skills Council

This website has been produced to help employers and Sector Skills Councils address the practical issues in implementing good equality and diversity practice in the workplace.  It contains useful information on basic facts, good practice, various other resources.  To read further please see  http://www.sfbn-equality-diversity.org.uk/

Avon and Bristol Advice Line

The Avon and Bristol Law Centre is starting a discrimination advice line for people who want advice about problems of discrimination in accessing goods, services, facilities and housing. Advice can be given on discrimination problems relating to disability, gender, sexual orientation, faith/belief and race. This line will be open between 10.00 and 12.00 every Tuesday, starting on 22nd July. The number for this discrimination advice line is 0117 9167704.  To find out more please see: Avon and Bristol Advice Line

Bath and North East Somerset LINk

The LINk gives the people of Bath and North East Somerset a stronger voice in how their health and social care services are delivered. The LINk is run by local individuals and groups and directly supported by an independent voluntary sector organisation. For more information you can go to their website which is available by clicking here: www.baneslink.co.uk or e-mail: contact@baneslink.co.uk

Blueprint for a Fairer Future: The Equality Bill explained

Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality has announced new measures which will be in the Equality Bill. These will streamline and strengthen discrimination legislation, including banning age discrimination, to make Britain a fairer place. To read a document produced by ESW and drawn from the Cabinet Office release please see: Framework for Fairness - Equality Bill Explained

Capacity Builders - Funding Programme

Capacity Builders have issued a leaflet on their new ‘Modernisation Fund Grants Programme’ – for further information please see: Capacity Builders

Children in Need - Volunteer Committee Vacancies

The Children in Need Volunteer Committee are looking for a Chair and Vice Chair for the South West Region - for further details please see: Children in Need

Creating Excellence April 2009 Newsletter

Creating Excellence have released their April 2009 Newsletter - to read their newsletter please see: Creating Excellence

Devon Law Centre

Devon Law Centre provides free expert advice and representation.  It is against the law for people who provide goods, services, housing or education to discriminate against you.  To find out your rights and get free, expert advice and representation you can contact them by phone or e-mail on 01752 519794 or information@devonlawcentre.org.uk or in person at 3 Elizabeth Court Whimple Street, Plymouth PL1 2DH.

Devon PCT Consultation

Devon PCT want to find out the views of patients, carers, staff, partner agencies and the wider community on how the Trust should be shaping their work on Equality over the next three years to give your views and take part in their consultation please see: Devon PCT

The Diversity Group

The Diversity Group's purpose is to eliminate barriers to employment by reassuring people from all backgrounds that there are organisations offering an equal and fair chance to all, thus encouraging people to pursue careers, education and training regardless of age, disability, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief and ultimately for the workforce of organisations to reflect the society in which they operate. To find out more please visit their website: http://www.thediversitygroup.co.uk/

Diversity in Diction - Appropriate use of Language

This useful guide to the appropriate use of language is produced by the TUC and UNISON.   To read the guide please see: Diversity in Diction

EDF Press Release on the Equality Bill

On 24 April 2009, the Equality Bill was laid before Parliament by the Equality Minister Harriet Harman QC MP. The Bill will be published in full on Monday 27 April. The Equality and Diversity Forum issued a press release welcoming the Bill - to view please see: EDF on Equality Bill

Edge Hill University

The Edge Hill University are able to offer consultancy services on Equality and Diversity.  Established in 1993 the professional team with a strong track record of providing support and innovative solutions for the public and voluntary sectors in areas of management, strategy and policy development, community engagement, regeneration and equality. 

For more information contact The Centre for Local Policy Studies, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP or 01695 584765 or email brockenc@edgehill.ac.uk.

End Violence Against Women

End Violence Against Women have released their May 2009 Newsletter - to read, please see: End Violence Against Women

Equal Works

Equal Works function over 8 themes which are Facilitating Access, Ethnic Minorities, Business Creation, Social Economy, Lifelong learning and inclusive working practices, Adaptibility to work, Gender Equality, Asylum Seekers.  To read further about the varied work they do please see: http://www.equal-works.com/

EU Proposal for a Council Directive

This is a proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.  To read please see: Council Directive 

FEDS Focus June 2009

The Forum for Equality and Diversity in Somerset (FEDS) is established as a network to promote equality and diversity throughout Somerset, through consultation, monitoring and support to all sectors. The Forum is managed by a steering group which is made up of representatives from: organisations working within each of the equality strands; public bodies’ equality officer groups; and the business sector. For more information please see: FEDS Focus June 09

Gloucestershire Infrastructure Group (GIG)

The Gloucestershire Infrastructure Group (GIG), is a partnership of 11 key development agencies which support more than 1,500 voluntary and community groups in the county.  They have the shared aim of ensuring that all VCOs across the county have equality of access to effective infrastructure support.  To find out more please follow the link: http://www.gloshub.org.uk/gig.html

Gloucestershire Self-Harm Helpline Service

Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life. In Gloucestershire they are about to launch a new telephone helpline service for people who self-harm, their friends, families and carers. More information is available here: Rethink

Identifying Discrimination Cases in Employment

The Central London Law Centre have published the above diagnostic and referral guide which is aimed at front line advisors.  To read please see: Identfying Discrimination in Employment

Jobcentre Plus - May 2009

Jobcentre Plus have released their Key Facts Sheet for May 2009. For further details please see: Jobcentre Plus

Public sector equality duties - UNISON guidance - 2008

To read this document please see: Public Sector Equality Duties - UNISON - 2008

RISE

RISE is working in partnership with Co-active and Business Link to provide help for those with an enterprising idea to benefit their community or the environment, and anyone want helping in social enterprise. At present the service is available in Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay and Bristol; for other areas, please see: Service_Areas. Any individuals, projects, or organisations wanting to know about starting a social enterprise, moving away from grants, finding a legal structure or other queries, should visit www.rise-sw.co.uk/events or telephone 0845 900 9966 and ask to speak to a social enterprise advisor.

Safer and Stronger Communities Directorate (SSCD) Newsletter

This e-bulletin is issued by the Government Office for the South West (GOSW) Safer and Stronger Communities Directorate (SSCD). It aims to keep you up to date with the latest national and regional developments in the Safer and Stronger agendas. To view the newsletter please see: SSCD March

Samtosha Spring Newsletter 2009

Samtosha have just realeased their Spring 2009 Newsletter - to read the newsletter please see: Samtosha Spring

SKILD Summer Learning Programme

SKILD, Skills and Knowledge for Local Development has released a Summer Learning Programme with a variety of training opportunities across the UK. The programme is available in a PDF format here: SKILD

Somerset Sexual Health Integration Project

Sexual Health Services in Somerset are currently undertaking an enagement process which will last for a minimum of six weeks. To find out more about this project or to complete the questionnaire please see: Somerset Sexual Health Integration Project

South Somerset Mind Resource Centre

South Somerset Mind have released a leaflet detailing their Spring/Summer 2009 training programme with workshops designed to give unique and invaluable opportunities to learn about mental health issues. To view the leaflet and the range of opportunities available please see: Spring/Summer 2009

South West Union News

This is the April edition of the South West TUC Newsletter: SW TUC Newsletter April

Sport England South West

Sport England South West aim to provide for all members of the local community to access high quality volunteering opportunities no matter where they live or their personal circumstances and in so doing contribute to sustaining participation in sport.  To read further please visit www.sportengland.org/southwest

Supporting Equality Groups

The National Equality Partnership have published an overview of support to the diverse third sector in England.  To read: Supporting Equality Groups

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust - May Newsletter

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust have issued their May newsletter – to read the newsletter please see: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust May

The Poverty Site

This site contains useful information on various strands of equality including the gender pay gap and poverty, disability and ethnicity and has some analysis of patterns in rural areas. To read further please see: http://www.poverty.org.uk/

The Prevent Strategy: A Guide for Local Partners in England

This guide - "Stopping people becoming or supporting terrorists and violent extremists" can be read here: Stopping people becoming or supporting violent extremists  

Voluntary Youth Organisations Network Newsletter

The latest newsletter from the Voluntary Youth Organisations Network is available here: VYON Newsletter

West Dorset Mobile Skate Park

The mobile skate park package consists of a trailer containing ramps, skateboards, helmets of various sizes, elbow, wrist and knee pads. All free to hire. The mobile skate park is run by West Dorset District Council's Sports Development Unit, which also manages the Action Van. The Action Van has been providing sports coaching, activity sessions and sports equipment hire to organisations throughout West Dorset for over 20 years. For more information on the Mobile Skate Park please see: Mobile Skate Park     

LINKS TO FOLLOW FROM OUR WEEKLY E-BULLETIN

To sign up for our weekly e-bulletin please contact jinny.uppington@equalitysouthwest.org.uk for a contact form or download it here: Contact Form

Government Office for the South West

Government Office for the South West (GOSW) have released their latest newsletter - to read the newsletter please see: GOSW Newsletter

No Recourse to Public Funds Network

The No Recourse to Public Funds Network (NRPF) have released their June newsletter - to catch up on the latest news please see: NRPF Newsletter