Equalities
Introduction | News | Events | Resources | Information | Meetings | Bristol Equalities Network | Training |
Introduction
Voscur is committed to encouraging and promoting good Equalities Practice, and supporting Equalities Communities in Bristol.
On the Voscur Equalities webpage you will find good practice documents and information to assist you in your work. This includes the Bristol Equalities Toolkit that Voscur has developed in partnership with Bristol City Council's Regeneration Department and a selection of Voscur Equalities Training documents.
Relevant information such as the Hate Crime Strategy Action Plan is also displayed on the web-page. Voscur has developed this strategy by working with the Safer Bristol Partnership and member organisations from Bristol's voluntary, community & social enterprise (vcse) sector. You will also find reports from the Bristol Equalities Network, facilitated by Voscur through work with the Equalities Action Group and Bristol Equalities Partners. Many other useful documents are on the web-page to help inform your work.
Through the year, you will find information on our web-pages about Black History Month; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Month; International Women's Day; Refugee Week and other relevant events.
If you would like to include any other equalities information then please contact Emma Rice at Voscur on (0117) 909 9949 or email: emma@voscur.org
News
Tensions in Easton Schools – A Lesson for All
Voscur has been working to bring the local authority together with VCSE organisations regarding the tensions in two Easton schools due to some parents’ response to the schools’ inclusion projects. The projects included resources promoting same sex families and challenging homophobic bullying. Through a series of meetings we have been trying to seek resolutions and how the VCSE can further assist in bringing good equalities practice and raising awareness in school agendas.
Organisations involved have included EACH (Educational Action Challenging Homophobia), the Bristol LGB Forum, Bristol Faith Forum, SARI, Terence Higgins Trust, Bristol Muslim Cultural Society, Somali Resource Centre, Bangladeshi Association and Bristol City Council departments include the Equalities Team, Community Development and Children and Young People’s Services.
In addition many of the VCSE groups have attended meetings or have held meetings with parents from faith groups or LGB groups in the city to discuss the issues. It has been a challenging time for all parties with no clear or satisfactory outcome to date but everyone recognises that this issue is not just about Easton but about all Bristol schools; which is why it is essential that concerns are managed with sensitivity but also with firm direction about good equalities practice and the need for more equalities awareness raising.
To read second statement by the Bristol Multi-Faith Forum please click here
Events in Easton Meeting - 19th May 2008
Notes from Easton Schools Meeting held on 21st April 2008
Notes from meeting held at Bannerman Road School on Wednesday 23rd April
VCSE Meeting to discuss Tensions in Bannerman Road and Easton Schools - 3rd April 2008
Legacy Commission Community Commissioners sought
Bristol City Council has agreed to establish a Legacy Commission to
take forward the work started during 2007 as part of Abolition 200.
The Commission will be made up of three councillors, nominated by their political parties, and nine community members.
>>Click here to read more & for details on how to apply
GERI Project seeks role models
Bristol City Council are providing support to the GERI (Gender Equality & Race Inclusion) Project who are putting together a portfolio of role models in the south west to be used in colleges, schools and other youth organisations. The campaign, is designed to tackle work-based stereotypes and prejudice by promoting equality and diversity, and producing a DVD featuring interviews with people from a range of professions, all chosen to provide positive role models to young adults.
The DVD will be shown in schools, colleges and by learning and guidance professionals across the UK in an effort to break down the gender and racial stereotypes which govern many professions. Examples include female motor mechanics, engineers, fire fighters and police inspectors to male nurses, hairdressers and carers. They are requesting help to identify any person who is working in a gender stereotyped job who might be interested in taking part in the project.
Click here for a leaflet with more information. Please contact Lorraine Gibbs with names, email addresses and numbers. Email Lorraine.Gibbs@bristol.gov.uk or phone (0117) 9222 749.
“No-one else is doing anything like it”
Several years ago, Voscur activists organised two conferences in inner city Bristol. One of the outcomes of these conferences was specifically funded Equalities and Information work in Voscur, supported by the Big Lottery’s Community Fund. But what do we mean when we talk about Equalities work? ‘Equalities work’ is often invisible and goes unrecognised. Earlier this year Voscur commissioned an evaluation of its Equalities work. Click here to read the Evaluation report (121kb pdf).
ChangeUp equalities and diversity service
The Women's Resource Centre has won the tender to provide the new ChangeUp equalities and diversity support service. They plan to set up nine regional consortia to bolster existing regional equalities and diversity infrastructure and develop new resources where necessary.
http://capacitybuilders.org.uk
Muslim women advisors
The National Muslim Women's Advisory Group (NMWAG) has been set up by the government to give Muslim women a voice and help the government understand what needs to be done to support them. It is part of the Preventing Violent Extremism - Winning hearts and minds Action Plan. www.communities.gov.uk
Guidance for Local Authorities on Translation of Publications
This guidance document forms part of our response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion's final report, Our Shared Future. It sets out the steps local authorities can take when they are considering translation of their publications into other languages than English.
www.communities.gov.uk
Citizens' Day Framework
The Citizens Foundation has launched new guidance for local authorities on how to set up citizens’ days. The guidance offers advice, examples and useful contacts to develop activities for bringing together people from different backgrounds and illustrating what they have in common.
www.communities.gov.uk
New Commission for Equality and Human Rights
The South West Regional office is based at 2 Rivergate, Templequay, Bristol BS1 6EH. Tel (0117) 900 1765
The Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006 and takes over the responsibilities of the Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission.
The Commission is the independent advocate for equality and human rights in Britain. It aims to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen good relations between people and promote and protect human rights.
The Commission will enforce equality legislation on age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status and encourage compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998. It will also give advice and guidance to businesses, the voluntary and public sectors and to individuals.
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FRIDAY 27th JUNE 2008
EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCE, VALUING DIVERSITY
A Community Cohesion Campaign Event, to be held at the Slavation Army Bristol Easton Corps and Community Centre, Hassall Drive, Bristol, BS2 0AN.
A new initiative has been launched to address community cohesion in Bristol and South Glouscestershire. the enquiry has been set up to explore the range of perceptions surrounding the concept of community cohesion and to support the launch of an exciting and relevant campaign in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
The initiative takes the form of a collaborative enquiry which seeks to:
- Provide an overview of the richness of local diversity by collecting, analysing and re-presenting information.
- identify key issues and to play a Community Cohesion Campaign, focusing on the theme of embracing our difference - valuing diversity through the lens of race.
This is a FREE EVENT in parternship with The Equality and Human Rights Service, The Black Development Agency, Bristol City Council and South Glouscestershire Council.
For further information please contact: Seniz Ismet from the Race, Equality and Human Rights Service (REHRS). Telephone: 0117 939 6645 or email: seniz@blackdeva.org.uk.
COMING TO BRISTOL THIS JUNE...
GAZEBO THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS "SWEET TOOTH"
In rememberance of the transatlantic slave trade and its legacy.
By the time of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 1807, at least 12 to 15 million African men, women and children had been loaded onto European slave ships.
This powerful and emotive play tells the story of the trade, and gives voice to the millions of women and girls who endured immeasurable cruelty in what can only be described as an African holocaust. Sharing the stories of Mary Prince, Nanny of the Maroons in Jamaica, Sojourner Truth and the nameless many, this one-women play, which has developed in consultation with young people and international academics working in the field of slavery, merges video, live action and original music to educate and provoke.
The video features a number of high profile figures. Performing live and playing a number of characters within the show is local actress, Alexia McIntosh who has been described as a ''stunning actress" who "sang beautifully".
Sweet Tooth has been described as a 'truely amazing exposition of history' and 'an eye opener to the truth'.
Tuesday 24th June (7.00 pm)
The Feilden Theatre, the City Academy, Russell Town Avenue, Bristol . Including a 20-minute pre-show talk by Elvyn Griffiths around Bristol's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
Friday 27th June (2.00 pm)
Meet at the Council House for pre-show walk.
Saturday 28th June (7.45 pm)
Book early for your place on the pre-show walk around Bristol, led by Elvyn Griffiths, starting at the Council House.
Tickets: Show only £8.00 / £6.00 (under 16's and Students)
Show and Walk: £12.00 / £10.00
To book please call the Box Office at Colston Hall on 0117 922 3686. Show recommended for over 11 year olds.
THURSDAY 17th JULY 2008 (10.30am-1.30pm)
VOSCUR EQUALITIES MEETING
At the Terrace Room, Lighthouse Building, Barton Hill Settlement, Ducie Road, Bristol, BS5 0AX.
Inclusion in Bristol Schools
- What does it mean in practice?
- What could be improved?
- Paul Taylor, Children & young Peoples' Services
- Ian Caskie, Schools' Improvement Manager
- Steve Stephenson, Race, Equality and Human Rights Service
Resources
Improving and Supporting Diversity in your Volunteer Workforce booklet
Good Equalities Practice: A 10 Point Guide for Employers
Voscur Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Link to Bristol Partnership Equalities Toolkit
Bristol City Council Accessible Meetings and information
Equalities Legislation Since 1970
Transforming the Quality of Care - Consultation on a National Dementia Strategy
The Department of Health's Strategy please click here to view The Dementia Strategy
Links to ACAS Employment Practice Guides: Please select from those listed below:
Guidance on age and the workplace: A guide for Employers
Guidance on Religion and the Workplace
Guidance on Sexual Orientation and the Workplace
Information
To access any of the information, please click on the title you are interested in.
Equalities Calender - Useful Commemorative Dates
Key Issues from Neighbourhood Renewal Equalities Groups and Residents - October 2005
What is Racism and Institutional Racism?
Who are Equalities Communities?
Meetings
Bristol Equalities Network Meetings
Please visit our 'Equalities Network' page for meeting notes and all other information about the network
African and African & Caribbean Elders' Meeting Notes
Community Cohesion Meeting Notes
Community Cohesion Event in Coventry 2007
Bristol Equalities Network
For all information on the Equalities Network, please see our 'Equalities Network' page
Training