1. 1 Hounslow Race & Equalities Council Changing Equalities Landscape Age, Disability, Race, Religion or Belief, Sex, Sexual Orientation NEW LEGISLATION – NEW EQUALITY RIGHTS

2. 2 WIDE-RANGING EQUALITIES Six areas of equality / non-discrimination now supported by law:  Race  Disability  Age  Religion or Belief  Sex  Sexual Orientation Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

3. 3 RACE EQUALITY TO OTHER EQUALITIES Beginning with Race & Sex Equality in 1970s – Equal Pay Act 1970, Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976. Gradual & increasing move to other equalities – disability, gender, religion or belief & age. Transition over last 40 years. Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

4. 4 PREVIOUS LEGISLATION Race Relations Act 1976 Equal Pay Act 1970 Sex Discrimination Act 1975 Disability Discrimination Act 2005 Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

5. 5 NEW LEGISLATION  Sex Discrimination (Gender Re-assignment) Regulations 1999  Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000  Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulation 2003  Gender Recognition Act 2004  Disability Discrimination Act 2005  Civil Partnerships Act 2004  Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations 2005  Employment Equality (Age) Regulation 2006  Equality Act 2006  Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

6. 6 NEW LEGISLATION  Disability, Age, Religion, Belief, Sexual Orientation are now variously protected in law.  Covering employment and training, goods & services, education, housing and other areas.  A growing process – new EQUALITY BILL. Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

7. 7 HOUNSLOW DIVERSE POPULATION  212,341 population  35% Black & Minority Ethnic  65% ‘White’  67% of pupils from BME  13% of pensionable age  79% of religious background  13% of no religion  49% Male  51% Female Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

8. 8 HOUNSLOW EQUALITIES PARTNERSHIP - Objectives  Local network of equalities group  Form common strategies  Share expertise and resources  Promote awareness about equality rights  Combine advocacy & representation  Lobby for financial support for equality services Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

9. 9 Proposal: ‘HOUNSLOW EQUALITIES PARTNERSHIP’

10. 10 ENVISAGED MEMBERS Black & Minority Ethnic Groups Refugee Groups Disability Network Hounslow Hounslow Disability Forum The Asian Health Agency Age Concern Citizens Advice Bureau Hounslow Domestic Violence Network Religious Groups Homophobic Crime Stakeholder Group Council for Voluntary Services (Hounslow) Hounslow Borough Council Hounslow Police Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

11. 11 HOUNSLOW EQUALITIES PARTNERSHIP  Structure  Membership  Functions  Terms of reference  Sharing expertise & resources  Funding Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

12. 12 STRUCTURE A central working group of about 10 groups (specialist in equalities). Specialist sub-groups on race, age, disability, religion, sex, etc A wider, grassroot membership contributing ideas and proposals. Grassroot membership – local groups representing Hounslow’s diversity. Policies and actions driven by grassroot membership. Administered by Hounslow Race & Equalities Council. Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

13. 13 FUNCTIONS Meet quarterly to consider local equality priorities. Devise actions. Communicate with grassroot member groups. Engage public, private & community sector groups on equality issues. Monitor and scrutinise equality actions by local public bodies. Promote resourcing of local equality service providers & advocacy services. Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

14. 14 TERMS OF REFERENCE To work together, in the Hounslow Borough area, to: a)promote positive action on equality and diversity by all groups and organisations; b)mutually aid and support equality & diversity rights groups; c)take shared action to monitor and scrutinise equality practises by public and major bodies in Hounslow; d)Promote prioritisation of equality and diversity, and resourcing of equality service providers and equality advocacy services.” Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

15. 15 SHARING EXPERTISE & RESOURCES  Collaborative advice and casework services  Collaborative information events  Collaborative proposals for improving equality actions and services.  Collaborative funding applications  Collaborative monitoring and investigations of equality practises Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

16. 16 FUNDING Statutory sector funding (e.g. Equalities & Human Rights Commission, National Lottery, Home Office, Hounslow Borough) Partnership (member) contributions Charitable sector funding Hounslow Race & Equalities Council