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Local Government’s responsibility - Angela Rippon interview

The Local Government Channel talks to broadcaster Angela Rippon OBE about her work with councils on improving equality and diversity. She believes that while local government is doing well on the numbers of women and ethnic minorities employed, there is still a major glass ceiling when it comes to senior managers and high earners.

Equal  opportunities: Angela Rippon – on the Local Government Channel website

The Equality Act

On 8 April 2010 the Equality Act received Royal Assent after completing its parliamentary process. The Act contains a series of measures for tackling inequalities, simplifying legislation and extending protection to a wide range of groups that face discrimination.

The Equality Act – on the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) website

Impact of the recession on equality groups  

The above is by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Government Equalities Office (GEO). It updates findings published in early 2009 and looks at how the downturn in the UK labour market has impacted on various equality groups between the first quarter of 2008 and the quarter ending September 2009 .

Commission and GEO research shows impact of recession on equality groups – on the EHRC website

Report about the recession and older people

The recession has led to people of all ages facing redundancy, unemployment and significant challenges to get back to work. But for many older workers, particularly those who have been in employment for many years, redundancy can be a huge shock. Once out of work, it can be much harder for the over-50s, particularly men, to find a job again; and the longer they stay out of work, the worse their chances of working again become. For many over-50s this will result in an early and permanent retirement, denying them the opportunity to build up a decent pension and making them more dependent than on state benefits. Impact of the Recession on Older Workers was jointly published by TAEN – The Age and Employment Network, Age Concern and Help the Aged, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and looks at the factors affecting older people and unemployment.

Impact of the Recession on Older Workers – on the TAEN website

DCSF sexist, sexual and transphobic bullying guidance for schools 

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has developed further guidance for schools. The aim is to build understanding around what sexist, sexual and transphobic bullying is and how it is relevant to schools, and to provide schools with the information they need to prevent and tackle this form of bullying. This includes the development of whole school policy and effective practice.

DCSF sexist, sexual and transphobic bullying guidance for schools – on the DSCF website

New published research about lesbian, gay and bisexual communities

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published a suite of publications detailing the findings from extensive research into the experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain. The main 'Beyond tolerance' paper reports on what needs to be done to tackle the damaging discrimination and disadvantage lesbian, gay and bisexual people face and where organisations will need to focus in order to address the changes required.

Beyond tolerance: making sexual orientation a public matter – on the EHRC website

New research about race equality and procuring services 

The Evaluation of the Race Equality Procurement Pilots presents the full findings from research to evaluate the models developed by procurers in the three departments, to encourage procurers to achieve better race equality outcomes when procuring services. The research was carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The report forms part of the ongoing debate within the pilot departments about the role of public procurement in social policy, in particular about the extent to which public procurement can be used to effect change in organisations outside the public sector.

Evaluation of the Race Equality Procurement Pilots – on the DWP website

Poverty, Inequality and Human Rights

Thislatest research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation examines how human rights have been used internationally to shape new conceptions of poverty and new approaches to combating it, and assesses the lessons for the UK.

Poverty, Inequality and Human Rights – on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website

The Mayor's Equality Framework: Equal Life Chances for All

Equal Life Chances for All has been developed to address the remaining and significant pockets of deprivation and inequality in London. It provides a fresh analysis and different solutions to inclusion, community cohesion and tackling disadvantage. It aims to achieve equal life chances for all and proposes an approach that brings Londoners together, rather than dividing them. It sets out the Mayor’s equality vision and the framework necessary to deliver it.

Equal Life Chances for All – on the london.gov.uk website