Help shape our future strategy

We are working to refresh the Council's Equality & Diversity Strategy (2010-13) & Single Equality Scheme (SES) which expires at the end of this year. Over the next few weeks we are keen to hear from individuals and groups who have ideas regarding how we can improve on the current document.

We have prepared a short presentation explaining what we are trying to achieve and how we will do it. To see the progress on all our current equality priorities, take a look at our Single Equality Scheme Plan.

You can help us shape our strategy for years 2014-17 in the following ways:

1. Complete the online survey by clicking on the following link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/pccequalitystrategy (or ask us for a word version or paper copy).

2. Send us an email to equalities@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or telephone 023 9268 8559.

3. Attend one of our drop-in sessions:

22 October 2013, 2-4pm, in Ground Floor Meeting Room 3, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth

24 October 2013, 6-8pm, in Southsea Library, 19-21 Palmerston Road, Southsea, PO1 3QQ

30 October 2013, 10am - 12pm, in Cosham Community Centre, Wotton Street, Cosham, PO6 3AP

4. Let us know if you would like a group session for a particular community group or organisation.

This consultation is open until 31st October 2013.

We will publish the results of the consultation in December 2013 on our website: www.portsmouth.gov.uk (search for 'consultations').

Chrysalis Transgender Training Event

Friday 8^th November 6pm to 9pm

Venue: Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LY

Do you have transgender clients, beneficiaries or staff? Want to learn more about support available to improve your services and / or of benefit to your clients? 

Chrysalis is a charity supporting people with gender identity issues. They are staging a learning event in Southampton to raise awareness of the service Chrysalis offers and to raise awareness of issues relating to gender reassignment.

By the end of the session you will have an appreciation of:

-      The main challenges and barriers faced by people with gender identity issues  

-      What support is available and how it can be accessed

There will be a roundtable question and answer session with representatives from Chrysalis and beneficiaries of Chrysalis.

Refreshments Provided

This is a FREE event, but prior booking is required. To book places please contact Chrysalis on 01489 589111 or email: office@chrysalis-gii.org. 

Conversations with Parents/Carers and General Disability Awareness Workshop

When: Monday 21st October 2013, 10.00am to 1.00pm

Venue: South Downs College, College Road, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 8AA.

Cost: £10 per person

This workshop is for mainstream and specialist recreation and leisure providers – including managers, volunteers, reception staff, tutors, instructors, rangers, coaches, librarians, assistants and more.

Workshop description:

Conversations with Parents/Carers and general awareness of disability. The course will include:

How to approach sensitive conversations with parents/carers of a disabled child.

How to get the information you require to meet the needs of the child.

How it feels to be the parent/carer of a disabled child trying to access activities.

Exploring the kinds of things you can do in your setting to improve access for disabled children and young people.

Learn about words and phrases which are respectful and those which are not.                           

Rachel Harrison will deliver the workshops in an interactive, relaxed and informal way.  Rachel is a Senior Lecturer at the University Of Winchester and has experience of working with people with ‘physical disabilities’, ‘learning difficulties’, ‘people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder’, and ‘people whose behaviour challenges the service’.                    

For more information about the workshop contact Rishi Ghosh, The Bridging Worker for Havant. Phone: 07881 340132, Email:  rishighosh@roseroad.org.uk

To book your place/s, complete the booking form available on www.hants.gov.uk/learning-development see the Workshops tab or you can contact us and we will email one out to you.

ThisAbility: Exploring historical attitudes to disability

Landport Film-Makers are working on the ThisAbility project; Comparing attitudes towards people with disabilities both now and in the 19^th century. Landport Film-Makers is a small community group with a track record of producing documentary films reflecting people & culture in Portsmouth.

All those with an interest in issues affecting people with various disabilities are welcome to attend a meeting / illustrated talk followed by discussion on

16^th October 2013, 1:00 - 3:30pm

In Portsmouth City Museum, Museum Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2LJ.

Light refreshments will be provided. 

For more information, contact: landportfilm-makers@hotmail.co.uk / Telephone: 023 9278 6184.

Cross-Cultural Men's Group starting in Portsmouth

Cross-cultural Men's Group has been launched in Portsmouth and will meet every Wednesday 2:00-4:00 pm at Oasis the Venue, 1a Arundel Street, Portsmouth, PO1 1NP.

• Meet other men from ethnic minority communities

• Get to know other cultures & share your experiences

•  Improve your IT skills

• Enjoy walking, sports, arts & crafts, and many other activities

• Learn about health and wellbeing

• No need to book, just drop in!

No need to book, just drop in!

For more information, contact Anita on 023 9275 5485 or email: cdw@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. 

Diaspora ChangeMakers

Diaspora ChangeMakers is a new project that seeks to identify and bring together the UK's most promising leaders of African heritage with a desire to support African communities in the UK and Africa.

The project funded by Comic Relief and Unbound Philanthropy, will encompass a number of activities, among them leadership development courses to build the capacity of participants for making change, and the creation of a new Diaspora ChangeMakers Network to help them share ideas and work together on new projects.

The programme will run until early 2015.

Researchers working at the London-based charity called the RSA are calling for participants in this new exciting project. They are looking for people who are passionate about improving the lives of communities in Africa or in the diaspora, and feel they would benefit from the networking and leadership development activities on offer in the project.

Even for those who are not in the core group of 100 Diaspora ChangeMakers undergoing the leadership development training, there are still other ways to get involved, including:

• Joining the ChangeMakers network to share ideas, contacts, and to collaborate on new projects with other ChangeMakers at all levels of development.

• Serving as a mentor or ambassador and supporting less experienced ChangeMakers.

Anyone who wishes to take part or who wants to nominate someone else, may do so by visiting the Diaspora ChangeMakers website.

The deadline for the first wave of applications is 15th September 2013. If you have any questions, please contact their team at: changemakers@rsa.org.uk.