Equality StrandsForum for Equality and Diversity in Somerset

The Equality Strands

The Forum for Equality and Diversity brings together campaigining and service delivery organisations for the six equality strands of Disability, Race, Faith, Age, Sexual Orientation and Gender. Each of these strands has a representative on the FEDS steering group:

Compass Disability Services is the Disability representative. It is a charitable organisation of disabled people working through consultation, representation, research and service provision to improve access to all services and facilities. It has representatives on many boards and panels, bringing a disabled persons perspective to the table at the decision-making and policy-formation stage. Compass Disability Services is currently the lead organisation on FEDS and employs its Chair and its Development Worker.

www.compassdisability.org.uk

Somerset Black Development Agency (SBDA) is the race representative and is an organisation for developing the black voluntary sector infrastructure for Somerset. It is an umbrella organisation for all black and minority ethnic (BME) groups and assists them in becoming constituted, independent self-help associations by providing training and advice on a variety of topics. SBDA provides BME orientated projects and activities. It serves as a consultation mechanism for those wanting to access BME associations and provides strategic leadership for the sector through policy development and research. SBDA is part of the Somerset Racial Equality Council (SREC) and it has a management committee comprising representatives of the existing BME member groups.

www.srec.org.uk

Somerset Churches Together is currectly the faith representative, until the Multi-faith Forum becomes more fully established. They are working with other faith groups to establish this forum for Somerset.

www.sctog.org.uk

Age Concern Somerset is the representative for the age strand. and is working across Somerset and North Somerset to promote the well being of all older people and make life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. It provides services such as advocacy, befriending, ageing well classes, falls prevention, safety and security and toe nail cutting. It works in partnership with communities and groups across Somerset to establish Active Living Centres for people to be able to access services and activities they want, where they want them, and in North Somerset to identify individuals who are isolated or needing support to link them to the service or activities they require.

www.ageconcernsomerset.org.uk

Somerset Gay Health is the sexual orientation representative. This is a charity offering support and advice to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender population of Somerset, including befriending, counselling, sexual health information, support for hate crime victims, youth groups and free condoms. Somerset Gay Health is also at the forefront of the equalities agenda with repesentation on the EAG (Avon and Somerset Constabulary;s Equalities Advisory Group), the PAHC (Partnership against Hate Crime) and Somerset County Council's Corporate Equalities Board.

www.somersetgayhealth.com

The Rural Women's Network is the representative for the gender strand. It was set up in 2002 to raise awareness of rural stress, to improve rural women's wellbeing and their access to support throughout Somerset. It aims to support all women, regardless of ability, colour and creed, to make the most of themselves, to gain confidence and live life to the full. The Rural Women's Network also provides support and advice services for rural women who are seeking work or who are hoping to enter self-employment.

www.rwn-somerset.org.uk