We are dedicated to promoting equality and diversity throughout the region. We are working with partners to tackle discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, faith, gender, race and sexual orientation.

IVCA Clarion Awards 2006 - Winner
 

Promoting Equality in the South West

Equality South West is supported by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), the Government Office for the South West (GOSW), the South West Regional Assembly (SWRA), South West Trade Union Congress (SW TUC), South West Forum, Capacity Builders and the Big Lottery Fund.  The website of Equality South West is supported and contributed to by Equality North East.

So what do we mean by Equality & Diversity? We define it as the pursuit of excellence through healthy relationships with people.

We work through Our Regional Equality Networks in the South West of England to tackle discrimination and promote and embed equality and diversity within public, private and third sector organisations.

The Equality Bill

Events

Equality South West have held three fully booked and over subscribed 'Sub-Regional Equality Bill' events, the first in Plymouth on Tuesday 16th June, the second in Bristol on Tuesday 23rd June and the last of the three was held on Monday 29th June in Weymouth. Equality South West are also running a Regional Equality Bill event entitled 'A Fairer South West - The Equality Bill Explained' in partnership with RIEP, the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership, on Monday 13th July. Details of all these events are available through our events pages.

Presentation from the Sub-Regional Equality Bill Events

At each of the events one of Equality South West's Equality Development Officers gave an overview of the new Equality Bill through a Power Point presentation. This presentation is available to view here: Equality Bill Presentation

Information from the Sub-Regional Equality Bill Events

At our Sub-Regional Equality Bill events we handed out packs which included the programme from the day, a delegate list, a list of MP's who voted for and against the Equality Bill and a discussion guide for the workshops. All of these documents can be found below:

  • The programme from Plymouth is available here: Plymouth
  • The programme from Bristol is available here: Bristol
  • The programme from Weymouth is available here: Weymouth
  • A list of MP's who have voted for and against the Bill is available here: List of MP's
  • The discussion guide used for Workshops is available here: Discussion Guide

Easy Read Guide to the Equality Bill

  • Government Equalities Office have produced an 'Easy Read' guide to the Equality Bill - this is available to download here: Easy Read

Summaries of the Bill

  • British Humanist Association (2nd Reading) - this briefing is available here: British Humanist Association
  • Equality and Diversity Forum (Multiple Discrimination Response) - this document is available here: Equality and Diversity Forum
  • Equality and Human Rights Commission (Parlimentary Briefing) - this briefing is available to download and read here: EHRC
  • Government Equalities Office - A Fairer Future - this document is available to download here: A Fairer Future
  • Liberty (Committee Stage Briefing) - this briefing is available to read and download here: Liberty
  • RADAR (Parlimentary Briefing) - this document is available here: RADAR
  • Royal College of Nursing (Committee Stage Briefing) - this briefing is available here: Royal College of Nursing
  • Royal College of Psychiatrists (2nd Reading) - this document is available here: Royal College of Psychiatrists
  • UNISON (General Briefing) - this briefing is available to download here: UNISON

Consortia development Fund - Capacitybuilders

South West Regional Equality and Diversity Strategy for the Third Sector

Equality South West are the specialist (regional) lead on equality and diversity.  We were asked by Capacity Builders - Consortia Development Fund, in partnership with other local and specialist consortia, to develop a regional Equality and Diversity Strategy for the Third Sector.  The Strategy was widely consulted on in 2007 and the current version can be accessed here.

It is hoped that the new strategy will be used as a framework for partnership working in the region.

Also included in the strategy are some statistics which illustrate the need for an Equality and Diversity Strategy within the South West and also a simple glossary of equality related terms and acronyms. 

The next phase of work is to develop an action plan to implement the strategy.  A consultation is currently underway and the draft action plan can be accessed here E&D Strategy and the Action Plan can be accessed here: E&D Strategy Action plan

Equality and Human Rights Commission - EHRC

The Equality and Human Rights Commission opened on 1 October 2007.  The EHRC champions equality and human rights for all, working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.  The Commission brings together the work of the three previous equality commissions and also takes on responsibility for the other aspects of equality: age, sexual orientation and religion or belief, as well as human rights.  The EHRC is a non-departmental public body established under the Equality Act 2006 – accountable for its public funds, but independent of government.  To find out more please visit their website: EHRC

For an Equality South West Contact Form please click here:  CONTACT FORM

We work to promote equality and prevent discrimination:


We provide Fact sheets and information on the law, relating to equality, diversity and discrimination.