Equalities

Somerst Gay Health

Working for Equalities

Mark our worker for equalities tells

all about his work over the year

The past year has been an extremely busy one in the Equalities and Diversity field, with new laws, strategies and forums, all aiming to banish discrimination at all levels and bring about a more cohesive community. One of these is the Forum for Equality and Diversity in Somerset or F.E.D.S. for short.

F.E.D.S. has been established as a network to promote equality and diversity throughout the community of Somerset, through consultation, monitoring and support to all sectors. As part of this work, the forum organised an event at Taunton Racecourse called ‘One Somerset’, the idea being to bring together all the six strands of equality and celebrate the diverse world we live in.

With Somerset County Council driving the equalities agenda throughout their workforce and beyond, I have had the opportunity to sit at corporate level on the service delivery board, this once again allows Somerset Gay Health to have a voice at the heart of policies being considered and also allows the charity to speak with all the different directorates on a one-to-one level

I was recently made Chair of the Independent Advisory Group for the Somerset Police, at the heart of this group is social capital, this means that essentially the police have bigger ears and smaller mouths. Within that role I have the opportunity to be a ‘Critical Friend’ to the police on matters such as Stop and Search and also give the group the chance to look at policies that affect the communities that are represented.

I also attend the Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s Strategic Independent Advisory Group; this is a force wide group, taking in community groups from Bristol to Yeovil. Formed under the recommendations from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, both these groups are fairly new and we are still moulding them, I also attend the Strategic Partnership Against Hate Crime. A similar set-up to the advisory groups, the partnership consists of different strands of minority working together to banish hate crime at all levels. We also look at new methods of promoting the different cultures and give a greater understanding to eliminate the fear some of the public have. All these groups allow communities to assist the police and form part of the basis for modern day policing.

Creetown House, Albemarle Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1BG

01823 327076 / 01823 327078

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