Key employers in Cumbria are holding a conference today (March 12th) to promote equality and diversity in the county and ensure that everyone in Cumbria is getting access to the right services and information.
More than 100 people are attending the event, which is being staged at Carlisle Racecourse by the Cumbria Strategic Partnership in conjunction with Cumbria County Council and the North West Regional Assembly.
Its key aims are to:
- Update organisations on recent changes in the diversity of Cumbria's population;
- Support organisations around their requirements to address Equality and Diversity as laid out in the Race Relations Act;
- Ensure that the Cumbria Strategic Partnership strategy 'Sustainable Cumbria' provides a sound vision for equality and diversity in the county.
The conference will showcase some of the best practice that is taking place in Cumbria through organisations such as Westport Seafoods and Riverside Recruitment, as well as presenting the key challenges which lie ahead. Invitees are from a variety of public, private, community and voluntary organisations.
The Cumbria Multi-Cultural Service will give a presentation on how it is responding to the needs of Eastern European migrant workers. There will also be a brief ceremony presenting the School Diversity awards to pupils who have contributed to a new Welcome Pack being produced for migrant workers. The afternoon session will focus on shaping the second Cumbria Attitudes Survey, which will be carried out in the spring to test Cumbrian opinions on equality and diversity.
Bill Lowther, Chair of the Cumbria Strategic Partnership, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for some of the major employers in the county to make sure their policies and services are all inclusive. Equality and diversity should be entrenched in the way any forward-thinking organisation operates."
Tim Stoddard, Leader of Cumbria County Council and Equality Champion for the Cumbria Strategic Partnership, said: "Cumbria's population is constantly evolving and changing. The way we deliver services needs to evolve and change too to match that. Events like this are crucial to allow us to stop, take check and then move forward in the right direction."
Elizabeth Mallinson, Cumbria County Council's cabinet member responsible for equality, said: "A head in the sand attitude to equality and diversity is just not good enough in the 21st century. The county council is a responsible employer and also responsible in the way it strives to stop any residents of Cumbria feeling excluded."
Ends
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 606332
Notes
A variety of stalls will be on display at lunch. Stalls include the Cumbria Multi-Cultural Service, Language Line, Cumbria Disability Network, Cumbria County Council's work in schools, Cumbria Deaf Association, AWAZ, Gay Cumbria, GMB and Unison.