Friday, 28 October 2011

International Day Against Hate Crime

At Phoenix Square Film and Digital Media Centre this morning, where International Day Against Hate Crime is being marked with an event organised jointly between Leicestershire Police's Stamp It Out campaign and Citizens' Eye Community News Agency.

Here's some information about hate crime, from the Stamp It Out! flyer:
The risk of being attacked or abused on the street, at work or in their own home just because of who they are remains an everyday reality for many people.
Hate Incidents and crimes happen because of hostility, prejudice or hatred of another person because of their actual or perceived disability, gender identity (transgender), race, religion or belief or sexual orientation.
No two hate incidents are the same but may include the following:
  • verbal abuse and name calling
  • physical attack
  • graffiti or other deliberate damage to property
  • written or recorded threats
These incidents don't just affect the lives of those involved but affect their friends, their families and every part of the local community.
If hate incidents are not reported, then the bullies, bigots and thugs will feel their behaviour is totally acceptable and they they can continue to abuse people whenever they feel like it.
Stamp It Out! is a community-led partnership bringing together different groups and organisations all committed to challenging, tackling and stamping out hate within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Assistant Mayor Councillor Manjula Sood (Cabinet Lead for Health and Community Inclusion, and Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths), is among a small number of speakers at the plenary session in Screen 1, the largest of Phoenix Square's three projection spaces. Here we also hear from Simon Cole (Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police), Justin Hammond (Stamp It Out), John Coster and Hollie Sturgess (Citizens' Eye Community News Agency) and Dr Loretta Trickett (Nottingham Centre for the Study of Reduction of Hate Crimes, Bias and Prejudice at Nottingham Trent University). We also watch an amazing video: No Arms No Legs No Worries.

Leicester Council of Faiths and Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trangender Centre (two of the four Core Partners in REDP) are exhibiting in the marketplace in Phoenix Square's reception area and cafe bar. We've done this sort of event here many a time, but this is probably the busiest I've seen it. Many of the displays focus on specific groups who are considered the most common victims of hate crime, whether it's racially or religiously motivated, homophobic, against disabled or older people or women. I'm especially interested to meet one Jonny Basger, representing Community Security Trust (CST) a national organisation involved in protecting the Jewish community from all forms of antisemitic incidents. I pick up a wealth of printed material from the CST display. I'm particularly impressed by their use of QR codes and smartphone apps.

REDP is planning a regional conference on hate crime in the first half of 2012. I collect as much relevant information as I can and speak to a few exhibitors and attendees about their interest and potential involvement in this forthcoming event. We've got a selection of REDP's leaflets about the Protected Characteristics as defined in the Equality Act 2010 on display today.

Monday, 24 October 2011

Disabled passenger rails at "joke" access to station

From today's Leicester Mercury:
Disabled passenger rails at "joke" access to station 
A disabled man has hit out at railway bosses after he had to push his wheelchair backwards along a dark, uneven road to gain access to Leicester train station. 
David Gordon arrived at the station early one morning to find parking spaces at the front had been barricaded off because of renovation works. He was asked to use the car park at the rear instead. 
But the 43-year-old marketing manager then had to get back to the station entrance along a route that would cause no problems for someone who is able-bodied, but which proved treacherous for him. 
"It was absolutely horrendous and a complete joke," he said. "It shows a complete lack of understanding for anyone who has issues getting around." 
First, Mr Gordon had to ask a passer-by to help him up the "slippy and impossible" disability ramp out of the car park. 
The ramp exits into Station Street, which does not have dropped kerbs, so he could not get on to the pavement. 
"The road was so uneven I had to push myself backwards because I was scared I would topple forward," said Mr Gordon. "I had to keep pulling in to the side of the road to avoid being hit by cars. 
"At 6am, in the middle of a road with no proper lighting, going backwards, is hardly what I would call proper disabled access." 
Mr Gordon, who mostly works from home in Blaby but catches a train to London once a week for meetings, complained to staff and was told he could arrange to use a goods lift which opens on to the car park when he needed to travel. 
"It's better, but the lift is scruffy and dusty – hardly what you would call ideal, he said. "Also, I have to book it 24 hours ahead and inform staff of the exact time I will be there. That's not convenient, given that anybody else can just stroll to the platform when they wish. 
"I've suggested they give disabled customers a radar key for the lift, but I'm yet to get a response." 
Mr Gordon said he was concerned about other disabled passengers who would have to get from the rear car park to the front of the station. 
"My main worry isn't me," he said. "It's the elderly lady who has to push her husband up the ramp, or the disabled person who might not have the confidence to complain." 
Network Rail, which runs the station, said it apologised for the inconvenience. 
A spokeswoman said: "We understand fully that this is not perfect. However, at present, this is the best they can do at the station. If the passenger has asked that we provide him with his own key to the lift, it is something we will look into but I do not know how feasible it will be. 
"As for the uneven surface of the road the passenger had to use, while it is the designated access, we are not responsible for the kerbs or the road surface." 
A spokeswoman for East Midlands Trains, which operates rail services from the station, said it was taking Mr Gordon's complaint very seriously and was working on changes that would make life easier for disabled passengers while the renovations were carried out.

Thursday, 13 October 2011

Happiness is Vital in Mansfield

To Mansfield this afternoon, where the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership (REDP) has been invited to take part in "Happiness Is Vital", an event organised by disability nottinghamshire. An assortment of local VCS groups and public sector officers working with people who have HIV/Aids are getting together to consider their present circumstances and future prospects. There are four workshops on offer, facilitated by the people described below in their own pen portraits (including myself):

HIV and Human Rights
Julie Musonda
Julie works for Leicestershire AIDS Support Services (LASS) as Social Enterprise and Development Worker. LASS is an independent voluntary organisation that was set up to provide a range of services for people in the city of Leicester, Leciestershire and Rutland, affected by HIV/Aids. Julie also founded the self help user led organisation LhivE, positive people helping one another empower each other to live their life to its fulfilment.

Stigma and Discrimination
Matthew Gregory
Matthew works for the Terrence Higgins Trust as the Health and Treatment Worker. THT is a national organisation working in the field of HIV and Aids. In Nottingham, they are involved in sexual health and HIV awareness, HIV testing, education, promotion and more.

User Led Organisations
Simon Bernacki
Simon currently works as the User Led Organisation (ULO) Development Officer for Disability Nottinghamshire. He's here to share his knowledge of the ways in which organisations can engage with their members to develop strong, clear visions of what is needed. He has experience of marketing, communications, events, fundraising, grants, project development, volunteers, policy, strategy and brewing a good cuppa! Come along for an informal discussion and to share good practice about any of the points above.

Equality, Diversity and the Equality Act 2010
George M Ballentyne
George works as the Equality and Diversity Officer for Leicester Council of Faiths, one of the Core Partners of the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership (REDP). While George's specialist area has to do with religion and belief, he is well-versed in the many "Protected Characterisitics" described in the Equality Act 2010 and has given seminars, talks and discussions on behalf of REDP across the East Midlands and further afield.

After the workshops, the facilitators sit on a panel, taking questions from the floor. I'm glad I'm able to contribute something about the kind of support that REDP can offer, specifically metnioning the Funding Advice Network that we heard Jonny Gutteridge speak about at our Core Reference Group meeting earlier this week.

In the main hall, there's a marketplace display of various relevant agencies, groups and organisations, including:

There's plenty of tasty Caribbean food dished up at 1700 and an hour later there's an After Party, with live music from double MOBO award-nominated singer-songwriter, Freddi Kofi. Courtney has been bigging up Freddi all afternoon and I'd love to stay and hear him but, based on my experiences getting here, I don't want to take any chances getting that train back to Leicester.