Excellence in Diversity Awards

Author: admin

  • Saving a Life is akin to Saving the Whole of Humanity

    AMYA

    The history of Islam tells us of the well-known story of Talha Ibn Obaidullah, a wealthy businessman and an early convert to Islam, known for his kindness, his generosity and his bravery. At a time when Islam, and religion as a whole, was being attacked by an Arab society steeped in barbarism, Talha was among those who fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), to save Arabia from tyranny and to enable freedom of conscience for all individuals. His fearlessness in battle was so remarkable that he would shield the Prophet from arrows with his own body, such that his arm became heavily wounded and crippled, and would carry the Prophet on his back to ease his hardship. For Talha knew that the Prophet who he was protecting was the one who preached peace and tolerance and compassion, the one who gave his soul for the sake of humanity, the mercy for all of mankind.

    Today, as a Muslim living in the West, I feel fortunate, for it is no longer my life or my limbs that I must give to save the lives of others. What is required, however, is my blood. Around 1 in 7 people entering hospital require a blood transfusion, a procedure which relies on the donation of others. Each time a person gives blood they save up to three lives, yet the tragedy remains that the rate of both blood and organ donations by ethnic minorities in the UK stands significantly lower than that of the White population. A recent telegraph article told the heartbreaking story of Aneesa Hussain, a teenage girl diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, distraught by the fact that she could not be treated due to the lack of suitable transplant matches because of the lack of donation by those from her ethnic background. Unfortunately such stories are not uncommon. As well as the evident humanitarian benefits, evidence suggests that donating blood is beneficial for the health of the donors themselves. Currently, around 4% of the UK population donate, and as mentioned this figure is significantly lower amongst ethnic minorities, leading to a shortage, especially of the B negative subtype, which is causing vast problems for those such as Aneesa, who are requiring blood.

    This is a complex issue, and must be addressed on a collective level rather than on an individual one. It is difficult to fully understand why ethnic minority donor rates are so low, but addressing the potential ideological explanations is necessary to attempt to solve the problem. Aneesa was let down by the Pakistani community, perhaps in part due to the religious perceptions surrounding donations. Islam gives extraordinary value to human life, to such an extent that the Quran teaches that ‘Whosoever killed a person…it shall be as if he had killed the whole of mankind; and whoso gave life to one, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind.’ (5:33). Thus the importance that is given to protecting and helping others in Islam is emphasised so ardently that saving a single individual through our efforts is regarded as equivalent to saving everyone. By denying help to Aneesa and those like her through donation, innocent young lives are being ruined by a collective failing on the part of those who could have saved them.

    Thankfully though, a light and a hope exists, for through the blood donations of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association in the UK, 2500 pints of blood were donated in 2013 alone – the equivalent of saving 7500 lives. This has been a collective effort by the Community, spanning not only the UK but also other countries such as the United States, where such blood drives have reached even greater proportions in recent years. Ahmadi Muslim youths have worked tirelessly in recent years, both in donating blood and in raising awareness of the importance of doing so, seeking to collaborate with NGOs who share similar goals. The hope for the future is that all ethnic minority communities can follow in these footsteps, and that each of us individually can become the Talha of this age, giving a part of our own selves to save the lives of others.

    Written & Provided to The National Diversity Awards by Damir Rafi

  • 25 November: The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

    Karen Ingala Smith

    In July 1981, at the first Feminist Conference  for Latin American and Caribbean Women in Bogota, Colombia, 25th November was declared an annual day of protest, the International Day Against Violence Against Women, in memory of three sisters who had been murdered.  Patria, Maria Teresa and Minerva Mirabel were assassinated in a ’car accident’ in the Dominican Republic in 1960. They were political activists, killed for their involvement in efforts to overthrow the fascist government of Rafael Trujillo.

    On 6th December 1989,  Marc Lépine shot 14 female  students  dead and injured another 10 at the University of Montreal, Canada claiming he was ‘fighting feminism’.  This led to  a group of men in Canada launched the first White Ribbon Campaign in 1991.  This has become a global campaign to ensure men take more responsibility for reducing the level of violence against women.

    On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

    Increasing though, the 25th November is referred to as White Ribbon Day.  I support men’s acknowledgement of their role in ending violence against women, it is essential for this to happen if we are going to end men’s violence against women and girls.  But the campaign by men is overshadowing, not complementing, the International Day for the Elimination of  Violence Against Women.  Based on a huge assumption about the founders of White Ribbon Day,  one  might be tempted to question the race and sex dynamics at play when a campaign founded by white men eclipses a campaign founded by women of colour.

    Sadly, some fail to take the time to understand even the central them of ‘White Ribbon Day’, I’ve seen a ‘white ribbon event’ described as a ‘for all victims of domestic violence, because men can be victims too’, simultaneously erasing the crucial linking of the different forms of men’s violence against women and the campaign for men to take responsibility for their violence against women.

    Men’s violence against women is endemic and worldwide:

    • globally 35% of women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence (World Health Organisation)
    • In Japan 15% of women reported physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime; in Ethiopia it is 71%
    • 17%of women in rural Tanzania, 24% in rural Peru, and 30% in rural Bangladesh reported their first sexual experience as forced
    • 66,000 women are killed through men’s violence every year, in the USA four women are killed though men’s violence every day

    Back home, in the UK

    • 131 UK women have been killed by men this year alone
    • 3 women were beheaded in London in less than 6 months
    • So far this year, at least 11 women have been killed by their sons
    • 144 women were killed by men in 2013,  67% of them by a partner or former partner

    Women’s activists have marked November 25 as a day to fight violence against women since 1981.  For me the 25th November is The International Day for the Elimination of  Violence Against Women.  It is about recognising the global nature of men’s violence against women. It is about standing side by side with my sisters.

    On The International Day for the Elimination of  Violence Against Women this year, I’ll be commemorating the UK women killed through suspected male violence this year on the twitter account @countdeadwomen.  Starting on the 8th January when 87-year-old Elsie Mowbray was killed by burglar Peter Harris, 33; 22-year-old Sarah O’Neill was killed by her former boyfriend Sergio Navarrete and Sameena Zaman was killed, a crime with which Mohammed Zaman has been charged. If I start at 8.00 am, and name a woman killed by a man every 5 minutes, I’ll still be naming women 10 hours later.

  • Challenging gender stereotypes in schools

    Let Toys Be Toys copyJess Day, Let Toys Be Toys

    Children are keen to fit in and quickly pick up ideas about what’s supposedly ‘for boys’ and what’s ‘for girls’ – but this can limit what they believe they can do. Many toys and books are marketed as being for one sex or the other and children may worry if their favourite toys or hobbies challenge these stereotypical ideas. Parents and carers are often concerned that children who challenge these norms will be teased or bullied.

    The Let Toys Be Toys campaign works to challenge gender stereotyped marketing of toys and books. We’ve been approached by parents and teachers about the importance of schools, so we’ve worked with teachers to develop resources to help schools tackle stereotypes in the classroom.

    Why gender stereotypes matter in school

    Children need access to a wide range of activities and playthings for balanced development, particularly in the early years. Believing certain things are ‘for girls’ or ‘for boys’ limits their opportunities, and can feed into bullying.

    As they grow older, narrow ideas of what boys and girls are like can damage children’s chances as some boys pick up the message that learning and reading is ‘unmasculine’, and girls are less likely to pursue interests in science and technology subjects that they’ve learned are ‘unfeminine’. However, research has shown that questioning stereotypes can help both boys’ and girls’ educational achievement.

    Our resources

    As well as the ‘ten tips’ below – which draw heavily on the NUT’s excellent Breaking the Mould project – we’ve produced lesson plans and drawn together links to other useful material for tackling gender issues in the classroom. See the Let Toys Be Toys schools section for more details.

    Ten ways to challenge stereotypes in the classroom

    1/ Create a safe space

    School should be a safe environment to learn and explore – you can help children by affirming unconventional choices, reassuring them that it’s OK to be different and encouraging a culture of acceptance.

    “Boys [in Reception] sometimes want to wear the Princess dresses. This bothers one or two of the staff and sometimes parents object. One boy wanted to wear the Mummy Bear outfit, an apron, and mum questioned this. We encourage staff to support the children’s choices – our role is to accept what comes out of the role play.” Teacher

    2/ Challenge stereotypes when you hear them

    ‘Why can’t a boy wear pink? My Dad does.’ ‘Why can’t a girl like football? My wife plays for our local women’s team.’ Children are often very keen to ‘police’ one another and make sure their peers follow the gender ‘rules’ they’ve learned. You can set the example by questioning them, and offering counter-examples from your own experience.

    3/ Talk about stereotypes

    The Let Toys Be Toys lesson plan activities are designed to help older primary pupils start to question stereotypes about boys and girls (Key Stage 2), and we’ve pulled together links to more resources and ideas.

    4/ Provide a range of role models

    Give children real-life examples that counter stereotypes, both in your own activities, and in topic work and external visitors.

    “My daughter pointed out to me recently that all the science groups in her Y2 class are named after men. And politicians bemoan the lack of women in science without seeing any connection!” Caren

    “When I heard the new topic was ‘superheroes’ I was concerned this would be full of aggressive beefcakes ‘to get the boys interested’, but it was great. The staff made sure to include female heroes, and they looked at of different sorts of ‘heroism’ – eg a nurse, plumber.” Jane, Cardiff

    “I tell the kids that I’m the person who cooks in our house. I didn’t think of this as breaking down stereotypes until now.” Teacher

    “Where possible we also try to get visitors who challenge stereotypes so we always ask if we can have a female firefighter or police officer or a male nurse… We’re also trying to get some of our male staff to help with things like knitting club (they’re willing but need to learn the basics!) and more women playing football.” Teacher

    5/ Make the most of books

    Take a look at the stories and factual books in your classroom. Are there examples of working women, caring fathers, active girls and creative boys? Are all the animals in the stories male?

    Carefully chosen books can be very helpful in challenging stereotypes – the It’s Child’s Play report from the NUT’s Breaking the Mould project has suggestions of books with additional notes and ideas for discussion. Inclusive book retailer Letterbox Library has a great selection, including themed book packs for schools and nurseries.

    “We picked William’s Doll on purpose partly because the father is in charge at home [William’s mother is not mentioned in the story – only his Grandmother]. But we also wanted the boys to see that they can make their own choices – and to try and stop the other boys telling each other what they should be doing.” Teacher

    Labelling a bookshelf ‘Boys’ Books’ might seem like a good way to encourage reluctant boy readers, but this can be counterproductive, reminding boys of the stereotype that they are supposedly less interested in reading, and encouraging the idea that only certain interests are allowed. 

    6/ Look at who uses which spaces and equipment

    Do certain areas get dominated by certain groups, or by one gender or the other? Are there changes or movements you could make to encourage children to feel equally free to use the home corner, the reading corner, the bikes, the Lego…

    “The colour of things is very significant – often children would play with anything unless it was pink – in which case the boys wouldn’t touch it and, sometimes, the girls would be quite proprietorial about it. Perhaps we should just get rid of anything pink…” Teacher

    7/ Make sure there aren’t ‘girls’ jobs and ‘boys’ jobs

    Who gets asked to do what? Is it always ‘three strong boys’ who move the chairs? Or ‘two trustworthy girls’ who take a message? It’s easy to fall into a pattern – mix it up and try asking someone different.

    “EVERY assembly I’ve attended has had all major parts performed by girls even when they don’t need to be. Drives me CRAZY.”  Jenny, London

    “I asked some Year 4 girls to put out the chairs. They said ‘great – we never get asked to do that’ – so I think they do notice the different ways in which genders are treated.” Teacher

    8/ Pick other ways to divide up the children

    Are girls’ and boys’ coat pegs labels or lunchbag shelves coloured pink or blue? Do boys and girls line up separately? Using gender to divide the children up can be quick and convenient, but it gives them the constant message that being a boy or a girl is the most important thing about them and reinforces stereotypes. Getting the children to line up a different way – by age, birthday, alphabetically – can be a subtle but effective way of encouraging them to think about their identity in different ways.

    Encouraging children to work in mixed pairs or groups can have benefits too.

    “Working in mixed pairs and groups challenges them – they have to be more adventurous about talking and learning from each other. They stay on task more and talk in full sentences. It keeps them on their toes because it is different from the playground where they tend to play in single sex groups. Some children object but we usually find they are the ones it’s most effective with!”  Teacher

    9/ Use inclusive language

    Small changes, like saying ‘children’ instead of ‘girls and boys’ or ‘parents and carers’ or ‘families’ rather than ‘Mums and Dads’ can help to affirm the things we have in common rather than our differences.

    10/ Think about rewards and sanctions

    Are boys and girls rewarded differently, or given different sanctions for similar behaviour? Do rewards imply that you think boys and girls can’t like the same things?

    “My daughter was quite upset when ALL the boys were punished for a rowdy game that SOME of the boys had been playing. She could see it was unfair to just assume they all behave the same way. What are they supposed to learn from that?” Jane, Cardiff

    “My son’s teacher gave out end of term books, which was really nice of her, but they were wrapped in pink/blue and labelled ‘Boy’ or ‘Girl’. The boys got a dinosaur or pirate book and the girls got princesses and glitter. On the other hand my daughter’s teacher also gave out books; my daughter (7) got a science one as she loves science and the teacher had chosen them books based on their own interests, which was just brilliant. Shows how it can be done!” Jennifer, Essex

    “I thought they would complain but they didn’t [when I handed out pink and blue reward stickers randomly]. I realised that I was the one who, unconsciously, had been affirming stereotypes about pink and blue.” Teacher

    For more information please visit lettoysbetoys.org.uk/schools

  • Baroness Campbell: ‘If we do not champion Diversity in Britain, then we cannot call ourselves inclusive’

    P1020747 copyBaroness Campbell of Surbiton joins a host of diversity leaders to launch a new awards ceremony honouring British diversity.

    The widely anticipated Excellence in Diversity Awards has opened its nominations for the 2015 ceremony to recognise companies with truly inclusive workforces.

    The inaugural awards, to be held at the Midland Hotel, Manchester on May 14th 2015, will make inroads towards organisers’ goal of ‘rewarding organisations that operate within all strands of diversity’.

    Baroness Campbell, judge for The Excellence in Diversity Awards, has continuously campaigned for disability rights most notably against the legalisation of assisted suicide.

    “If we do not champion people’s diversity in Britain, whether that be in employment, education or full access to public life, then we cannot call ourselves progressive, inclusive and successful human beings. I cannot think of anyone who would want that, but sometimes we need role models to help show us the way”.

    Baroness Campbell continued “These awards will help society to understand and learn what it means to genuinely include all diverse people in our communities. To be part of that process is very important to me”.

    The event is definitely one to mark down on your calendar and provides recognition for excellence regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, faith, religion and culture.

    Headed by the Diversity Group and supported by the likes of J.P.Morgan, PwC and ITV amongst others, the launch of the unprecedented awards will break ground as the leading diversity awards ceremony recognising only UK companies that are committed to inclusion across the board.

    Mark Shrimpton, Equality Specialist for Disability Rights UK expanded on the importance of such an awards, “Modern and thriving businesses cannot achieve without embracing diversity. Barriers to inclusion fail society, trouble shareholders and damage profits. That’s why I’m delighted to help this programme by celebrating all that’s good about the UK’s diversity practice”.

    CEO Paul Sesay added, “There is still alot of work to be done on the grounds of equality, and not just in one particular strand but all strands of diversity. It is important that companies reflect the market place in which they serve, and we are delighted to showcase those that celebrate diversity throughout the whole ethos of their corporation”.

    The Excellence in Diversity Awards also focus on leading diversity champions, unsung diversity heroes and extraordinary employees that have displayed motivation, innovation and commitment to inclusion.

  • Shabang! ….Live Love Laugh Learn

    Shabang ThumbnailShabang! is all about raising awareness, promoting inclusion and acceptance, and celebrating difference.

    To this end we build networks of families with children with additional needs, bringing them together under the supportive umbrella of our arts  based projects – life enhancing and confidence building; and hopefully giving everyone a great time.

    As winners of the National Diversity Award Community Organisation for Disability it looks like we are making progress, in our Shabang! bubble at least!

    However, at the heart of what we get up to at Shabang!, it can feel like being in a strong magnetic field with forces pulling one way and then another.

    Whilst we celebrate difference, enjoying our little square pegs, trumpeting their unique qualities and giving space to our children to be themselves, we are also wishing the world would see them as just kids. See the child before you see their difference, lose the label, don’t judge a book by its cover, all men are equal etc.

    National Diversity AwardsLet’s look at the family model. When a baby is born with Down Syndrome for example, the family  will go through a phase of re adjustment  i.e. “this wasn’t the baby we were expecting but let’s get on with it”. A phase which can vary from a few fleeting moments to weeks, months or years.

    Nevertheless in most cases, acceptance eventually comes with love. The family love the child, see them as their own person and the extra chromosome no longer dominates how the child is included in the family.

    In Shabang world we aim for the same sort of acceptance – where all families value each other’s children equally. We would like to think that we have created a place where acceptance and love is the key to everything. The real trick however, is how we roll out this model into the wider world. 

    So how then do we help the world to love, celebrate, include and genuinely accept those with difference?

    Equality laws go a long way but changing hearts is the real trick.

    To be honest, we think people with an intellectual disability are too often regarded as somehow “less important”. They are seen as not having as much to give to society. There is an implication that people who are cognitively different are emotionally different too. That they don’t count in the same way. Could it be, we think that somehow they carry a lower price tag or are of less worth and consequently less human than the rest?

    Are you less of a human being because your brain works differently, or slower than your typically developing peers? In the end it has to come down to a belief system wherein we are all regarded as equal. We all have an equal right to be here.

    Let’s not forget that 90% of pregnancies in Europe with a diagnosis of Down’s Syndrome are terminated. We have a huge fear factor to work some magic on here too.

    So back to our magnetic field. How do we achieve this? Well at Shabang! we chisel away at the edges. Apart from helping families of children with additional needs feel proud, confident and proactive we also look for other ways to wave our flag at the world.

    We create beautiful calendars with models with additional needs – in the hope that the more walls they hang from, the more our children will be seen as “everyday”. 

    We post short films on YouTube promoting understanding so that the most common myths are challenged.

    National Diversity AwardsWe make children’s DVDs starring actors with additional needs – in the hope that the more exposure our children have in the media the more familiar they become. How we long for TV and film to embrace intellectual disability in the same way, then we really would be getting somewhere n.b. A Shabang! series on CBBC would be great, yes please!

    Once we reduce the fear, achieve familiarity and improve acceptance then we must work on inclusion, integration and equality. Equality doesn’t just mean “same”. Equality involves accepting, celebrating and embracing our differences.

    At Shabang! we say “Live, Love, Laugh, Learn” 

    We know we are only just starting to scratch the surface , but believe us – we will keep scratching! 

    If you would like to find out more or buy a Shabang calendar follow this link:

    https://www.shabang.org.uk/product.php?id=63

  • You Made a Difference in My Life

    National Diversity AwardsIt was such an honour to be recognised as an entrepreneur of excellence and represent the LGBT community at the National Diversity Awards. Sitting in the same room as so many amazing individuals and organisations who work tirelessly to support their communities, at the NDA Awards Dinner, was humbling. It is often easy to forget that we still need these activists, campaigners, support groups and community leaders to build diversity and inclusion within the UK. In fact, being nominated and then shortlisted gave us the inspiration to strengthen the Planet London website and undertake a complete site redevelopment to ensure Planet London (and Brighton) is even more accessible and offers even more for the Lesbian, Bi and Queer women’s community.

    When we read the nomination reasons that came in from a number of people we have supported over the last few years, we were struck at how one simple idea to bring inclusion to the lesbian, bi and queer (LBQ) women’s community in London has grown, evolved and really helped the women we set out to support.

    From an events calendar that aimed to be a comprehensive and accurate source of information and encourage a diverse and thriving social community for LBQ women to a growing portfolio of affordable business support opportunities aimed especially at micro businesses run by LBQ women, building on mobile technology with the My Pocket Planet app – Planet London is THE place for women to connect with their community and grow their ideas to create spaces women can connect. We wanted to make sure that LBQ women will always have somewhere they can go and be themselves and that meets their needs.

    DSCF4638There are not a lot of opportunities to give recognition to LBQ women working incredibly hard to create exciting, different, diverse, creative and safe spaces for their community, nor are there many places for event organisers to raise their own profile. We are currently running the grass roots focused Ultimate Planet Awards to give that opportunity to say thanks, “you made a difference in my life” – to recognise the passion behind the LBQ social community. Change starts at the grass roots and this level of change is so often ignored as it’s not always sexy or media friendly work. It’s not about the winning – it’s about every now and then being reminded of the difference made to people’s lives by the things you do with only passion as a driver.

  • Educate OUT Prejudice

    Sue Sanders copyWe care about diversity and, I assume, equality. That’s why we are on this site is it not?

    With an election looming we need to be on our toes. We need to be ready to challenge the lies and stereotypes that will unfortunately start to flow as the parties sink to the lowest common denominator.

    It is useful to see that in areas like London, where a great many locally run state schools have embraced and celebrated diversity, there is little support for parties that seek to demonise immigrants. Though London can be said to be multi-cultural, employment is also high and schools constantly outperform their counterparts in other areas. Immigrants are not a problem, yet the media and the mainstream political parties keep them at the front of the agenda.

    In the Essex seaside town of Clacton, however, the immigrant population is less than half the national average – yet wages are 20% below the national average, while the proportion of people dependent on benefits is higher.

    In Kent – and Buckinghamshire – grammar schools and secondary moderns still exist and children are selected at 11. Kent’s local authority held on to section 28 for some years after it was repealed. It is there that we see prejudice and stereotypes abound and a growing support for political parties that want to blame immigrants for local joblessness. It was telling that recently a TV news programme asked residents of Ramsgate what percentage of immigrants were resident in the area and what the problems were. One woman was adamant that it was in the 80’s; whereas it is between 8 and 9%. One may wonder what has fed this erroneous estimate. 

    My guess is ignorance of the facts and a perpetual diet of misinformation. Because people seek scapegoats; they want to blame someone for their misfortunes – or perceived misfortunes – and political parties have down the centuries used ethnicity, sexual orientation religion, gender and/or disability.

    The 2014 winter floods were blamed on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people; disabled people claim too much benefit and are not ‘worth’ the minimum wage; it was not that long ago that equal pay for equal work was disputed and the reality is we still do not have it!

    So we see politicians shifting the blame, making up stories such as one about ‘tourist benefit scroungers’ which they were unable to prove when challenged. They focus on the people who have less power and squeeze them; so we see disabled people being deprived of their benefits by inappropriate tests that have resulted in many deaths.

    ”    By Nick Sommerlad on April 4, 2012 11:00 PM in Health

    32 die a week after failing test for new incapacity benefit

    More than a thousand ­sickness benefit claimants died last year after being told to get a job, we can reveal.

    We’ve highlighted worries about the controversial medical tests for people claiming Employment Support Allowance which are being used to slash the country’s welfare bill.

    The Government has boasted that more than half of new ­claimants are found “fit to work” – failing to mention that over 300,000 have appealed the decision and almost 40% have won.”

    So we have seen the present Government’s policies have already cost lives. The policies being talked about: reducing the power of the Public Duty of the Equality Act; scrapping the Humans Rights Act and reducing  immigration, which would mean leaving the EU and thereby the Human Rights Court as well.

    The Stephen Lawrence Report of 1999 raised awareness of institutional prejudice and instigated much needed work in the criminal justice system, which meant that hate crime was taken more seriously. However, under the concept of ‘austerity’ we see the structures, training and culture that supported this work massively diluted.

    We see the appalling result in an atrocious homophobic attack and totally inadequate response from both the CJS and NHS here http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/homophobia-in-microcosm-how-a-savage-gang-attack-tore-one-mans-whole-life-apart-9780443.html

    We know what will happen if we do nothing.

    Gordon Allport produced a really useful diagram explaining what happens if we do nothing (see below). It starts by enabling people to see the danger of using banter and inappropriate labels, which all too often people ignore or trivialise. This perpetual labelling feeds a culture of negativity and prejudice which quickly builds to social withdrawal from the target of that abuse. Once that is done the target is less known, so they can be demonised and seen as less human. This encourages discrimination, which further feeds the targeted group’s lack of worth in the perpetrators’ eyes and it is even seen as acceptable to attack members of the group physically. Dealing with that level of abuse often renders the target unable to go on; so they suicide or the dominant group feels justified or confident or enough to kill them.

    It is our job as citizens to dispel the lies, challenge the prejudice, and educate OUT prejudice.

    Sue Sanders chair LGBT History Month www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk

    Allport’s Scale

    Extermination

    Genocide 

    Murder

    Suicide

    Resignation

    Physical Attack

    Assault

    Rape

    Criminal damage

    Physical bullying

    Graffiti

    Discrimination

    In employment, education, 

    access to housing, health 

    care, services, goods etc.

    Avoidance

    Ignoring, excluding, invisilbilising, physical

    withdrawal, not patronising businesses etc.

    Anti-locution

    Bad-mouthing, spiteful gossiping, creating

    negative myths about people, anti-jokes, verbal

    abuse, stereotyping

     

  • Supporting boys and young men: Is this the shift in mindset we’ve been waiting for?

    Working With MenThis month we won the Community Organisation Award for Gender at the National Diversity Awards. I was genuinely surprised when they announced our name.  At that moment I was sitting back in my chair getting ready to applaud the winner, when I realised they were playing our video on screen and saying our name.

    WWM Blog PicChief Executive of Working With Men – Shane Ryan 

    It is a significant moment for us in many ways – not only are we getting a clear message from people that what we are doing is recognised and needed – but it means disadvantaged boys and young men have finally made it on the public agenda.

     We are the first ever charity working specifically with helping boys and young men to receive such an award. This is great, but there is a penny dropping – true equality needs to work both ways for men and women for everyone to move forward together.

    Equality for men and women

     While much of the public focus on our work tends to highlight our programmes in schools or our work with unemployed young men. Families are the perfect example of the place where the two things can go hand in hand, where there is reciprocity between equality for men and equality for women.

    Imagine if we offered all fathers the same level of support and services we offer mothers. We have nearly a quarter of a million fathers in the UK that are stay-at-home dads and two million mums. In 1993 there were less than 120,000 dads. Things have changed. Some women are out at work earning more than men. How are we accommodating that change? This is the reality of 21st century Britain.

     The more we offer family services for men, the more we make it OK for them, and, for those women, to make conscious decisions on how they are going to live their lives. This removes the shackle, or the onus, that is constantly on mums to look after children.

     If we want to reduce the incidence of children’s involvement in social care, if we want to foster more equitable arrangements around child rearing and parental roles and want a more equal society where both women’s and men’s roles in life and wider society are not tied to historic stereo types and positions this has to extend to family life as well as work place and public life.  We have quite rightly witnessed the emancipation of women from enforced roles within society and now hope and expect these rights and freedoms will grow and continue.

    Everyone of both genders and from whatever cultural or ethnic background need to be afforded the same rights and opportunities including when it comes to children, families and parenting roles; if we set an expectation or precedent that men can and should be involved in all aspects of parenting not just in the financial provider or occasional babysitter role, we make an important statement about equality for all generally.

    Breaking down boundaries

     The work we are doing is breaking down boundaries and is forcing a change in mindset. Not only are we truly humbled that so many people would go out of their way to vote for us among such strong competition, we also recognise – as someone said to me the other day – we now “deserve to be in that field”.

    Remaining with the family theme we have really important work ahead of us. For example we want to record the numbers of fathers who are still in school.  Most of the time people don’t acknowledge they are fathers – so understandably they struggle with it. These young men have just been told they are going to be a dad, they can’t get time off to go to the antenatal appointments or the birth. Rather than brand them as boys who need to be punished, we need to keep them involved with the family and support them – the outcomes are better for the whole family, and the young mums we’ve spoken to agree with this as does the associated research. This is why we believe the creation of statutory requirements to capture father’s data where possible by health and children’s services is essential particularly where they may be vulnerable

     “An extraordinary 10th anniversary year”

    WWM Pic02We are having an extraordinary 10th anniversary year. It’s snowballing; we have cross party support for the work we are doing, the next all-parliamentary group on fatherhood is around the corner; press interest is high; we are being asked to speak at  conferences and universities; our fundraising is growing, our profile is stronger, and we are looking forward to marking International Men’s Day on 19 Nov.

    And here we are, a small organisation with a funny name!

    On a serious note, what is significant is that our national and parliamentary work is growing. Two years ago we took over the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fatherhood and that added a new dimension to the work. 

    In this crucial time before the general election we need to show politicians what we have learned in the last decade about how to target marginalised young men and make them feel they have a stake in society. We also now work with organisations nationally, including Bardardos, Mums Net and the Royal College of Midwifery for their support at the party conferences recently it shows a real shift in mindset. With this in mind our core three-pronged strategy works on a ‘Manifesto for Men’ for the 2015 General Election, developing a robust evidence based programme that beings to address inequalities in health and education.

    We will continue to push the message that there are other paths to walk down – we need to gear up our young men particularly with the tools to do that. Otherwise they can often become lost and unsure what their responsibilities are.

     There is more than one way to be male.

     Thank you to everyone for your support. We are really proud to have won this award.

  • Senior Assistant Director for London

    Kasia Allan is Senior Assistant Director for London for the UK’s premier business lobbying organisation, the CBI. She is the lead representative for the CBI’s business-to-business gender diversity initiatives. Kasia is responsible for leading the CBI to act as a facilitator in the gender diversity debate, to connect policy recommendations with tangible business solutions, and to promote best practice sharing. She has spoken at numerous roundtables and conferences alongside both business and government leaders.

    She is also responsible for some of the CBI’s largest corporate relationships, primarily in retail, media, engineering and property sectors and heads up the Business Development function for the Greater South East.

    Kasia joined the CBI in 2011 from The Stroke Association, where she oversaw all UK preventative health campaigning. Prior to this she worked for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, in Scotland. She holds an international business degree from the Australian National University and in her spare time enjoys running and attempting DIY (not at the same time!).

     

  • Conquering Intolerance Through Peace

    Muslim Youth Association

    There is a breeze blowing in parts of the world today. In some areas it is gentle, a serene zephyr drifting in the peaceful azure skyline. In other places it blows fiercely, knocking people off their feet, causing houses to be demolished and lives ruined. In such areas of our planet this breeze has become a tempest, causing misery to innocent souls, a whirlwind creating destruction. It is no longer simply an insignificant breeze but has transformed into a devastating storm.

    This is the storm of intolerance.

    Its gales are far-reaching, and its flames devour individuals and groups who are perceived different, those who’s appearances, or beliefs, or cultures are not in line with those who are more powerful. This storm aims to destroy diversity, to suppress that which makes societies flourish, to quell our differences rather than to celebrate them.

    It is through a variety of means that people today seek to create division and disharmony, but the most distressing for me as an Ahmadi Muslim, is when people use religion as means of sowing the seeds of hatred, particularly when it is Islam, a word literally meaning peace, which is the faith that is hijacked in this manner. Groups such as ISIS today not only discriminate, but also murder with relish those whom they decide, all the while pretending to be the custodians of religion. Such barbaric atrocities are not new to our world; rather these flames of division and discrimination have plagued our planet for as long as Man has ruled over it.

    Thus as sectarian conflicts and brutal horrors plague the Muslim world today, the picture painted of Islam, and indeed religion as a whole, is not a pretty one. The truth however of what all faiths really teach, is quite different.  It was the Buddha who said that he who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings. It was Jesus who urged his followers to pray for those who persecute you. It was the Prophet Muhammad who said that a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white – except by piety and good action. On a personal level, it is because of my faith, and not in spite of it, that I follow the motto ‘Love for all, hatred for none,’ as I believe, as the Quran states, that we have all been created with diverse looks and beliefs and characters not for the purposes of hating each other, but so that each of us can utilise the gifts of our diversity to build a more cohesive and just society for us all.

    As a tenant of my faith, I pledge each year to always remain loyal to my country, the United Kingdom, a place in which the light and sound of diversity reverberates with beauty and with colour and with life. I live each day with friends and companions from all walks of life, united despite our differences, bound together by the thread that connects us all – the thread of humanity. I often pray that in the near future, the entire globe can feel a sense of unity despite our diversity, and that I may soon see the day that the storm of intolerance in our world is replaced by the shining light of peace.