This is a particular full and exciting edition of the Equality North East
newsletter. First of all we can share with you some of the inspirational
stories and photos from the recent NIACE Regional Adult Learning
Awards Ceremony. Well done to all of you who were winners and
those who were highly commended. You make us all very proud! This
was the first time Equality North East worked with NIACE on the coordination of the awards and we anticipate working with all of you
again next year.
We now look forward to the 10th Anniversary of the North East
Equality Awards. I hope you all have your applications in. If not, you
might want to pop along to our support event at The National Glass
Centre Monday 1st July. Even if you are not putting in an application I
Liz Reay
Chief Executive
Equality North East
am sure you will enjoy the opportunity to be one of the first to see the
new developments at The National Glass Centre and enjoy the
networking lunch. Please see further down this publication for more
details.
This publication will also introduce you to some of the exciting new
developments in our training portfolio and of course once again
celebrate the newest achievers of the Equality Standard and also
give us the opportunity to say thank you and farewell to our very good
friend Kevin Rowan.
Equality North East Training Launch their new Training Portfolio and Summer
Programme
Following the release of their training portfolio, Equality North East is delighted to announce the launch of
some exciting new developments. The new training portfolio is now aligned against three levels:
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Equality Essentials: covering the essentials for workplace Equality and Diversity
Embedding Equality: covering specific topics mainly aimed at Managers or people with specific
responsibility for Equality & Diversity
Excellence in Equality: masterclasses and best practice sessions aimed at senior managers or
specialists
Liz Reay, Chief Executive of Equality North East said ‘Our new training portfolio has been designed to
meet the needs of all of our customers whatever their knowledge level or position in the organisation.
There is also more flexibility in delivery options to ensure we can support learning within a busy working
schedule. We are very excited about our new training packages and our Summer Programme of Training
Events.'
The Summer Programme includes bite-size modules on topics such as age and disability and half day
workshops on protected characteristics, equal pay and a mock tribunal.
For full details visit the Training Section of our website or telephone: 0191 426 4399.
Equality North East says Farewell to Kevin Rowan
Kevin Rowan has moved on from his role as Regional Secretary of the TUC to take up the post of Head of
Department for Organising and Services in the TUC based at Congress House in London. As such he has
tendered his resignation form the Equality North East Board.
Liz Reay, Chief Executive of Equality North East said ‘Kevin has served on the Equality North East Board
both as a Director and Chair for over ten years. I would like to thank him for all his support and guidance
over those years. I know that the Equality North East team and the other Board Members understand what
an enormous benefit he has been to the organisation. Apart from his time and commitment which he gave
in abundance, the positive influence of just having Kevin as a member and Chair has been invaluable and
this has been due to the universal respect which he has from all sectors in the region.
We wish Kevin continued success in his new role.
Clarity in Equality
Equality North East is delighted to announce a very special event being held in partnership with The
National Glass Centre, Monday 1st July. You are invited to a networking lunch and will have the
opportunity to be one of the first to view the exciting new developments.
It is ten years since Equality North East held the first North East Equality Awards and on that occasion the
ceremony was held at The National Glass Centre in Sunderland. We are delighted that Sunderland
University and The National Glass Centre are sponsoring this, the tenth anniversary, by providing us with
wonderful glass awards which will be crafted at The National Glass Centre and presented to the winners of
the 2013 Awards Ceremony at the Gosforth Marriott on 4th October.
In addition to the tour of the National Glass Centre there will be a short presentation on why openness and
clarity is of paramount importance in achieving equality in the workplace and in society as a whole. You will
also have the opportunity for support and guidance to complete your 2013 Awards applications.
This is a free event and numbers are limited so you are advised to book your place as soon as possible.
Please see the events section on our website or telephone 0191 426 4399.
RSVP 24th June
Programme
11am - Coffee and networking
11.30am - Tour of the glass centre
12.00pm - Presentation
12.30pm - Networking Lunch
1pm - Awards application support
2pm - Close
Standards Remain High
The Equality Standard continues to grow in strength and organisations across the region and country are
reaping the benefits of a system that helps them embed equality. It also gives them national
acknowledgment of their good practice. Having the Equality Standard helps you improve your business
practices and win contracts.
Liz Reay, Chief Executive of Equality North East said ‘I am delighted that so many far sighted
organisations are continuing to work to embed equality and are proud to work towards and achieve the
Equality Standard. Congratulations to you all!’
Gold Award Achievers - Middlesbrough College
When asked if they would recommend The Equality Standard ’Gold’ to anyone else, Pat Congerton,
Workforce Development and Equalities Manager, said, “It is a badge that can be proudly displayed to
convey to staff, students’ and the wider community the importance and commitment we have placed into
Equality, Diversity and inclusion practice.” Pat went onto say, “This has demonstrated a true recognition of
what our college and community is all about.”
Standard Achievers - Four Housing
Chief Executive Paul Tanney and Chris Reed of Four Housing with Liz Reay, Chief Executive Equality
North East achievers of the Equality Standard and well on their way to the gold award.
Successful renewal of the Equality Gold Award - Cestria Housing
Cestria’s Corporate Services Officer Arshia Bhatti, said: “This accreditation is testament to our commitment
to equality and diversity practices within the organisation and I am extremely pleased as we have not just
retained the standard, which we achieved in 2010, but we have been upgraded to the Gold award.
The Legal Eagle
We keep a close eye on changes, proposed changes to legislation and interesting cases that affect
discrimination but we do have to point out that we are not legally trained and therefore accept no
responsibility whatsoever for our comments. Seriously please just see this as a guide and take legal advice
if you are concerned as to how it affects your organisation.
Charges to make a discrimination claim will shortly become a reality. The cost to bring a discrimination
claim will be £1200. We think this will result in far less claims and more discrimination and introduces the
concept that only well off people will be able to bring claims!
The third party harassment provisions in the Equality Act have been repealed so employers will no longer
be liable for the harassment of an employee by a third party/customer.
The power of Tribunals to make recommendations beyond that of an individual claimant has also been
withdrawn and the statutory questionnaire procedure, the mechanism by which potential claimants can
obtain information from an employer, have also been withdrawn.
The Governments attempt to scrap the General Equality Duty in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill
was stopped at the very last minute when MP’s from all parties voiced their objection to this late
amendment to the bill.
Unpaid Parental leave has increased from 13 weeks to 18 weeks (need to alter your policy)
Caste discrimination is to be made unlawful. We await the details on how this will be applied and how it
will be applied.
To keep uptodate with the law and other matters visit the News section of our website or become a
ConNEcting for Change member.
Ruby’s Shoes
Ruby Bridges was born in 1954, the same year that the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the decision
that schools must desegregate. The ruling was made in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education.
Thirteen African-American parents in Topeka filed suit on behalf of their children, who were being made to
travel extra miles just to attend their segregated schools. Of course, behind the practical matter of distance
was the more urgent issue of civil rights.
For 60 years preceding the Brown case, segregation in schools in the U.S. had been informed by another
Supreme Court case, Plessy v. Ferguson. That 1896 ruling held that as long as the separate facilities for
separate races were equal, segregation didn’t violate the Fourteenth Amendment (“no State shall . . . deny
any person . . the equal protection of the laws.”) But many of the facilities were not equal. Often, the black
schools were housed in run-down buildings, and prone to regular shortages of everything from books to
supplies to qualified teachers.
When Ruby Bridges was two, her parents moved the family from Mississippi to New Orleans, in search of
better jobs. In 1959, Ruby started kindergarten in a segregated school. The Supreme Court ruling was still
a year away from becoming law in Louisiana.
As she prepared to begin first grade, Ruby was one of six black children given the opportunity to attend an
all-white school. In the end, she would be the only one who took the chance.
Initially, Ruby’s parents disagreed on the matter. Ruby’s mother wanted her daughter to have the
advantages that she never had. But with the opposition to desegregation roiling through the south, her
father worried about endangering the family. Finally, he agreed that his daughter’s education should come
first.
On the morning of November 14, 1960, Ruby and her mother approached William Frantz Elementary
School in New Orleans. They were escorted by four Federal Marshals. Local police and officials had been
unwilling to ensure Ruby’s safety. Crowds of protesters waved signs and chanted, “Two, four, six, eight, we
don’t want to integrate.”
Ruby didn’t realize that she was making history. She has said, “People were waving their hands and
yelling. I remember police officers being on horseback and motorcycles. So I actually thought I was in the
midst of a parade. I thought it was Mardi Gras that day.”
She spent most of that first day in the principal’s office, while chaos rippled around and through the school.
Only one courageous and compassionate teacher in the school was willing to take her on as a student. So
that year, Ruby was in a class of one with Mrs. Barbara Henry. They did lessons together and played
games inside at recess. They bonded as student and teacher, and as friends.
Meanwhile, Ruby’s family suffered for their courage. Her dad lost his job. Her mom was shunned by some
store owners. And her grandparents were evicted from a farm in Mississippi where they’d been
sharecroppers for 25 years.
As time passed, desegregation became more accepted, and Ruby eventually graduated from a fully
integrated high school in New Orleans.
Today, Ruby Bridges Hall is a civil rights icon and activist. She’s received a Presidential Citizen’s medal.
There’s an elementary school named after her in California. And since 1999, she has run the Ruby Bridges
Foundation, whose motto is: “We believe racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our
children to spread it.”
Lori Mckenna-Ruby's shoes - YouTube
[email protected] | www.equality-ne.co.uk | 0191 495 6262