About The Project
Wiltshire Racial Equality Council was successful in securing funds from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. Wiltshire County Council and Salisbury District Council to develop a cohesive framework/organisation to represent the six strands of equalities which will seek to influence policy and strategy and deliver services appropriate to the need across the County of Wiltshire.
The role of the Task and Finish Group
The first stage of this project was to convene a steering group, to be known as the Task and Finish Group, to create a cohesive framework for Wiltshire. The Framework is, in short, a statement of intent for working to combat discrimination throughout all levels of the Wiltshire community and a “live” method of framing and evaluating equalities work, based on everyday good practice. The six strands are: race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief and age. (see note below)
An initial meeting was held on the 8th September 2008 to develop the Task and Finish group, determine who should be in it, what it should do and how it could work towards the key milestones of the project. Notes from the group's meetings can be found here. The Task and Finish group has met monthly since then and driven the work of the project, overseen a widespread consultation the results of which are in a Needs Analysis document and developed the Wiltshire Equalities Framework Equal Chances, Better Lives.
Where are we now?
The project has now come to the end of its inital lifetime (April 2009) and much has been achieved including
the production of a needs analysis and Framework as well as a funding strategy and a transition plan to take the work further. However, perhaps the most important achievement has been the development of the Task & Finish Group from a selection of individuals, naturally a little sceptical and wary, to a team of committed representatives, passionate about the work and keen to take it forward. Without the Task & Finish Group this work could not and would not have progressed.
Now its your turn. To join in and take it forward contact us
Note: At the start of the project and throughout the group was working on six strands of equalities.Since then a seventh has been added (transgender) but the reports and reference documents still refer to six.
The project requires:
1. The establishment of a Task & finish Group with agreed Terms of Reference – to be approved by the WREC Executive Trustees, Wiltshire County Council and key stakeholders with specific interest in the six equality strands drawn from the VCS.
2. Work to the direction of the Task & Finish Group to achieve the agreed outcomes and timetable
3. A comprehensive community consultation exercise through meetings and other appropriate methods, across the County of Wiltshire to identify and evidence the needs of grass roots agencies in respect of an equalities framework.
4. Monitoring at each stage the engagement including key information relating to where they live and equality monitoring. Monitoring outcomes to be reported to the Task & Finish Group on a quarterly basis.
5. The co-ordination of a series of consultative meetings with key stakeholders from both the statutory and voluntary sectors to determine the needs of these agencies in respect of an equalities framework/organisation
6. A written report of key findings from the consultation exercises and present an option appraisal, with associated risk assessments, scoping in detail a series of options (these should also include analysis of best practice and workable solutions from similarly established agencies in England, and in particular those serving rural county areas.
7. Presentation of an option appraisal framework with associated risk assessments in a series of 6 workshops to key stakeholders and to incorporate their feedback, making key recommendations to the steering group
8. Subject to the agreement of the options, to contribute towards the development of an appropriate sustainability strategy for the Framework with relevant supporting documents and evidence.
