Still unheard Out There – Making Rainbows through the Prism of LGBTQI+ Diversity LVSC, 200a Pentonville Road, N1 9JP
30th June, 1pm-5pm

HEAR The Way Ahead for Everyone
No Missing Pieces-Equality, Rights and Inclusion for the Whole Person

Tuesday 6th June 2017, 12.45pm-5pm , The Camden Centre, Kings Cross, (including networking lunch)

As part of its work to support the development of The Way Ahead, to strengthen and support civil society in London in a changing future www.lvsc.org.uk/programmes/the-way-ahead. HEAR invites you to an exciting event looking at the specific issues faced by community groups, voluntary organisations, individual activists and campaigners, public sector partners and funders when seeking to support Londoners whose identities and/or experiences don’t fit neatly into ‘boxes’ and cross boundaries of specialism and expertise.

How can we work better at a time of challenge for civil society infrastructure to make sure that nobody is missed out, and that intersectionality is not merely a word that some  of us sometimes use, but something real that we build into our practice.

To register your interest in attending please email the HEAR Coordinator hear@reap.org.uk
or call 0207 832 5817/07466 119268

1. HEAR Resources Webpage
2. HEAR Membership and Contact Details
3. Pan-equality Hate Crime Network, Charities Challenging Hate Crime
4. HEAR The Way Ahead for Everyone
5. Disabled Refugees Googlegroup.
6. LGBT Diversity – Still unheard Out There?
7. The Way Ahead-Supporting Refugees and Refugee Organisations
8. Mental Health Equality
9. Transport for London Access and Inclusion
10. Tower Hamlets LGBT, IDAHOBIT
11. Friday 26^th May Changing Faces UK’s first Face Equality Day
12. Doctors of the World #StopSharing campaign
13. Just Fair #1ForEquality campaign
14. REAP – Working with Asylum Seekers and Refugees
15.Galop Hate Crime Survey

1. HEAR Resources Webpage
HEAR are updating our website and have started to add resources to support VCS campaign, lobby and influence decision makers. As the general election looms these resources can help your organisation get your equality messages out there! Visit the resources page on www.HEARequality.org.uk or via www.tinyurl.com/HEARresources

More coming soon. If you’ve got a resource you want to share with HEAR members please get in touch HEARcampaigns@reap.org.uk

2.HEAR Membership and Contact Details

As part of our new phase of work HEAR is updating its membership list; if you receive this email bulletin your organisation is already a member of the network. If you and/or your organisation no longer want to be a member and receive mail from HEAR please email hear@reap.org.uk and we will remove your details.

If your organisation would like to find out about joining HEAR’s Steering Group and/or becoming a Formal Member of the HEAR Charity, and have more influence on how London’s VCS work together for equality and human rights and the development of HEARs work, please contact the Coordinator, Christine Goodall hear@reap.org.uk

3. Pan-equality Hate Crime Network, Charities Challenging Hate Crime
The July meeting of HEARs Pan-equality Hate Crime Network will be for VCS and statutory stakeholders, venue and date TBC. By connecting Hate Crime specialists, across all protected characteristics, to campaign to #EndHateTogether the VCS has a combined voice to tell our statutory partners in the police, MOPAC, GLA, Local Authorities and the CPS what survivors of Hate Crime need.

We ask members of the Hate Crime network to invite their local contacts. For more information or to book your place email HEARCampaigns@reap.org.uk

4. HEAR The Way Ahead for Everyone
Save the Date for this exciting HEAR event!
Tuesday 6th June 2017, 12.45pm-5pm , The Camden Centre, Kings Cross, (including networking lunch)

The Way Ahead for Everyone:
No Missing Pieces-Equality, Rights and Inclusion for the Whole Person

As part of its work to support the development of The Way Ahead, to strengthen and support civil society in London in a changing future www.lvsc.org.uk/programmes/the-way-ahead. HEAR invites you to an exciting event looking at the specific issues faced by community groups, voluntary organisations, individual activists and campaigners, public sector partners and funders when seeking to support Londoners whose identities and/or experiences don’t fit neatly into ‘boxes’ and cross boundaries of specialism and expertise.

How can we work better at a time of challenge for civil society infrastructure to make sure that nobody is missed out, and that intersectionality is not merely a word that some  of us sometimes use, but something real that we build into our practice.

To register your interest in attending please email the HEAR Coordinator hear@reap.org.uk
or call 0207 832 5817/07466 119268

5.Disabled Refugees Googlegroup
To help our members access rights and entitlements for disabled asylum seekers and refugees HEAR has set-up a Googlegroup.

Click on Disabled Refugees or email HEARCampaigns@gmail.com to join a place for NGOs working with refugees, asylum seekers and those with NRPF with long-term health needs and impairments. Share information, case studies and ask the experts. Get our briefings showing that rights for Disabled People ‘trump’ immigration law through the group and on our website www.tinyurl.com/HEARDASR

6. LGBT Diversity – Still unheard Out There?
To help increase diversity of LGBTQI+ voices lobbying for funding of specialist, user-led services, as recommended in the Still Out There report HEAR are hosting an event for Pride London for under-represented voices; Still unheard Out There?

We have a small budget for bi/pan/sapiosexual, intersex, non-binary, intersectional LGBTQI+ people and projects to present their stories, work, research or whatever else you think needs to be Out There but Still isn’t!

Please pitch us your ideas, suggestions for names, what you want to get paid to present! HEARCampaigns@reap.org.uk

7. The Way Ahead-Supporting Refugees and Refugee Organisations
Thurs 6^th July 2017, (9.30) 10.00 – 4.00, Botwell Parish Centre (Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Halls) Botwell Lane (Botwell Green) Hayes UB3 2AB
HEAR will be hosting The Way Ahead-Supporting Refugees and Refugee Organisations session at REAPs What is Refuge event and AGM.
A networking conference in West London for refugee support, equality, migrant, campaigning, welcome; voluntary, community, faith and statutory bodies in West London and beyond.

More details to follow, please email hear@reap.org.uk if you would like to find out more
workshops/a discussion session at this event, watch out for more details

8. Mental Health Equality
To ensure HEAR members can influence CCGs Equality Objectives, commissioning and positive action to reflect pan-equality/intersectional local mental health needs we are arranging events for local VCS, Healthwatchs, CCGs and Mental Health Trusts.

Do you work in one of the following areas Camden, City of London, Islington, Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Tower Hamlets or Hillingdon and the surrounding boroughs?

Please get in touch if you want to be involved in these events (you bring the local expertise, we bring the biscuits!) please email HEARcampaigns@reap.org.uk   

9. Transport for London Access and Inclusion
a. Safe and accessible travel for refugees and asylum seekers
Tuesday 9th May 2017, 10:30am to 12:30pm. Palestra House, 197 Blackfriars Road, SE1 8JZ.
TfL are holding a joint event with Refugee Action on safe and accessible travel for refugees and asylum seekers. Anyone who supports migrant communities can email tflaccessibility@tfl.gov.uk to be added to the attendance list.
b. IDAHOBIT event
Wednesday 17th May 2017, 6.30pm – 8pm
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia event with TfL, Stonewall, Galop and friends. Register through Eventbrite link page. The aim of the event is to increase understanding between LGBT+ communities and enforcement, and to increase reporting of any hate crime or violence. This event is open and free to anyone at all!
c.Please Offer Me A Seat campaigns
TfL have launched their ‘Please Offer Me a Seat’ (POMAS) badges. Details on their website

10. Tower Hamlets LGBT, IDAHOBIT
Elop, REAL DPO and Equal Voices have joined forces for IDAHOBIT 2017 come along and enjoy, celebrate, share, learn. All events are free and open to all and include

HATRED HURTS ALL CONFERENCE, Thursday 18th May, 2.00pm – 4.30pm
The Brady Centre, 192–196 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields, London E1 5HU.
Contact ELOP on 020 8509 3898 or info@elop.org to confirm your attendance

11. Friday 26^th May Changing Faces UK’s first Face Equality Day

HEAR members Changing Faces will be marking their 25^th birthday with the UKs first Face Equality Day. The Face Equality campaign is one that aims to shape societal attitudes towards the fair and equal treatment of all; irrespective of appearance.

On this day Changing Faces will publish a report as a result of a recent survey we conducted, titled ‘Disfigurement in the UK’. The findings of which solidify our knowledge that disfigurement, as an equality issue is still overlooked in business, government, school and throughout society. The results make for difficult reading, with statistics and comments that support the claim that prejudice against disfigurement is still prevalent in modern day Britain.

We are asking organisations to show their support by doing the following

1. Sign a pledge in support of Face Equality
2. Wear and share our butterfly logo transfer
3. Publicise the event and support on Social Media like Thunderclap

12. Doctors of the World #StopSharing campaign

HEAR member Doctors of the World has launched its #StopSharing campaign. They’re getting people across the UK, including medical professionals, to tell the UK government to stop using NHS patients’ personal information to track down migrants
The UK government and NHS Digital, which stores NHS patients’ data, published a deal in Januaryto give the Home Office easier access to migrant patients’ information. This allows immigration officials to get hold of patients’ personal details, such as addresses, and then to track down, arrest and deport undocumented migrants.

Patient confidentiality is essential for NHS staff to be able to do their job – and yet they have not been consulted about this deal. Concerns raised by medical organisations have been ignored and the agreement was made in secret. The deal also makes vulnerable patients scared of getting healthcare. Doctors of the World’s UK clinics regularly see people in urgent need, including pregnant women and cancer sufferers, who are afraid to see a doctor due to data-sharing.

DOTW has launched a petition with the National Aids Trust and Liberty against the deal. They will take the petition to the government and ask them to respond. If you or your organisation would like to sign the petition go to:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/stopsharingNHSinfo

The “Safe Surgeries” toolkit for healthcare professionals gives GP practices concrete ways to defy the data-sharing deal by keeping their patients’ addresses off NHS records, including using the GP practice address as c/o address. All suggestions are in line with NHS guidelines.
https://www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/SafeSurgeries-toolkit  

13. Just Fair #1ForEquality campaign

HEAR members Just Fair and The Equality Trust have recently initiated a campaign together to bring the Equality Act to life. The message of this campaign, #1forEquality, is this: The Government must bring into force the socio-economic equality duty contained in section 1 of the Equality Act. Find out more about the campaign:
www.1forEquality.com

14. REAP – Working with Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Friday 16^th June 2017, (9.30) 10.00-1pm (then Q&A time)
Venue: TBC – UB7, UB3 or UB8
REAP, HEARs host organisation for the last years, is running an interactive training and discussion workshop for people who find themselves working with and supporting asylum seekers and refugees in West London.  To build knowledge and practice with hands-on staff, leaders and volunteers in public, voluntary or community services and support.

http://reap.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Fri-16th-June-Working-with-Asylum-Seeker-and-Refugees-flier.docx

It is essential to book.  Please email  sarah@reap.org.uk or call 01895 441530

15.Galop Hate Crime Survey
HEAR members Galop have launched a short online survey about hate crime against LGBTI people. It aims to understand how people who report hate crime would like the police to respond. It will be used to improve work tackling homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LGBTIhatecrime

Please feel free to circulate it to friends, colleagues, or on social media.

 

 

 

HEAR is funded by London Councils to provide a wide range of free training, workshops and peer learning and networking events for London voluntary and community organisations. Training, workshops and events address many different topics related to equality, human rights, diversity and inclusion.

The Policy and Campaigns project funded by Trust for London also organises networking events to support organisations with their policy and campaign work.

HEAR upcoming training and events

HEAR has more exciting free training, workshops and events planned for the coming months.

1. Economic and Social Rights: A Human Rights Approach to Social Justice Training 23rd January
2. Refugees: Home, Homelessness and Survival 24th January
3. Pan-Equality Hate Crime Network, Charities Challenging Hate Crime, 26th Jan
4. Rainbow London: Illuminating, Celebrating and Supporting Diverse LGBT Lives in London 30th January
5. Faith and Older Age: Making Connections 31st January
6. Bespoke Training

1. Economic and Social Rights: A Human Rights Approach to Social Justice Training
Monday 23rd January 2017, 10am-1pm (arrival from 9.30am)
Human Rights Action Centre (Amnesty International), 17-25 New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EA

Access to housing, education, health and food are globally recognised as human rights. The UK has ratified a number of international treaties that say so, the most important of which is the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. After two years of discussion with government officials and evidence gathering from NGOs, last June, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights issued a damning report on the enjoyment of these rights in Britain, and made detailed recommendations to UK authorities. International human rights law provides a useful and innovative set of guidelines for civil society groups working on issues as diverse as welfare, child rights, non-discrimination, mental health or workers’ rights.

HEAR and JUST FAIR, dedicated to monitoring and advocating economic and social rights in light of international human rights law, invite you to a training event on economic and social rights.

The training will include the following:
International law on economic and social rights
International human rights mechanisms for economic and social rights
Nine contributions of a human rights-based approach
2016 report of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the UK

Facilitated by Koldo Casla, Policy, Research and Training Officer at Just Fair. Attendance is free but registration is required

To reserve your place please email the HEAR Coordinator Christine Goodall (hear@reap.org.uk) stating your name, organisation name, organisation postcode, and any dietary or access requirements (Open to voluntary sector organisations, community groups and social enterprises based in Greater London)

2. Refugees: Home, Homelessness and Survival
Tuesday 24th January 2017, 9.15am to 1.30pm
Centre for Armenian Information and Advice, 105 Mill Hill Road, Acton Town, W3

A networking, information sharing and collaboration planning event for people concerned about the impact of homelessness and insecure housing and futures for refugees  and asylum seekers in London

Themes for discussion include:
Young people, mental health, housing advice, No Recourse to Public Funds/refused asylum seekers, role of faith groups, hosting projects, street homelessness

Please email hear@reap.org.uk if you would like to attend. Please provide details of any access or dietary needs in your email

3. Pan-Equality Hate Crime Network, Charities Challenging Hate Crime
Thursday 26th January, 13.30 – 17.30
Real DPO, Jack Dash House, 2 Lawn House Close, E14 9YQ.

In its second year London’s pan-equality Hate Crime network will be discussing how to campaign and lobby for equity in law, consider and contribute to the consultation on the Mayor’s plan for policing and crime in London from MOPAC as well as hear from what our members are doing on Hate Crime locally.

To book your place or learn more please email HEARcampaigns@reap.org.uk

4. Rainbow London: Illuminating, Celebrating and Supporting Diverse LGBT Lives in London
Monday 30th January 2017, 10am-4.15pm
Human Rights Action Centre (Amnesty International), 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA

An event to support the LGBT Consortium’s Still Out There report

To support the LGBT Consortium’s Still Out There report funded by Trust for London, the HEAR London for All and Policy and Campaigns projects are holding an event to highlight the intersectional lives of London’s LGBTQI+ community. The whole day event will have space for the voluntary and community sector to look for ways of working together to improve the lives of LGBTQI people, and we will also welcome statutory sector colleagues who want to learn more.

Including a fabulous pop-up exhibition from Twilight People, Poet PJ Samuels,  and presentations from Micro Rainbow International, UKGLIG and LGBT Consortium, workshops, stalls and networking lunch.

To book your free place, please email hear@reap.org.uk or HEARcampaigns@reap.org.uk providing your name, organisation, organisation postcode, and any dietary or access needs

5. Faith and Older Age: Making Connections
Tuesday 31st January, 1.30pm-5.30pm
Conference Hall, Resource for  London, 356 Holloway Road, N7 6PA

HEAR, in partnership with members Age UK London and Faiths Forum for London, invite you to a networking, information sharing and collaboration development event to think about how faith- based organisations of all types  and those that support and work with older people in London can work better together.

HEAR commissioned a research report from Age UK London and the event will share the findings of the research, and discuss with stakeholders how we might work better together.

The report covers two main linked themes: collaboration for mutual benefit between faith organisations and the wider voluntary sector, and equality of access to services for older people of different faiths.

There will be an opportunity to hear more about the report findings, and discuss the main issues raised, with the aim of promoting greater awareness and collaboration, promoting understanding and increasing equality and inclusion.

If you are interested in attending please email hear@reap.org.uk telling us about any dietary or access needs

6. Bespoke Training
HEAR can also provide bespoke training for groups of organisations, networks and forums in any part of Greater London

Some examples of our bespoke training:
The Equality Act and Delivering Inclusive, Accessible Services
Equality and Diversity Policies-More than just a document in the drawer!
Equality and Diversity Monitoring
LGBT Awareness-Delivering Inclusive Services
Including Disabled People in Volunteering
Visual Impairment Awareness
Deaf and Hearing Impairment Awareness

Most of our bespoke and  open booking training is delivered by member organisations with specialist knowledge to share, with a particular  focus on ‘experts by experience’ and user led services.  Contact hear@reap.org.uk for further information and enquiries or call the Coordinator: 07466 119268

Partners for whom we have delivered bespoke training include:
Greater London Volunteering, Greenwich CVS, Haringey Association of Voluntary and Community Organisations, Lewisham Volunteer Centre, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Newham Forum for Health and Wellbeing, Redbridge CVS, Richmond CVS, ASCENT Partnership, London Borough of Haringey, Barnet Healthwatch, Lewisham CVS

Members and allies events:

HEAR sometimes includes relevant partners or allies events on this page

Recent HEAR events:

Trans Awareness Training

The Gender Recognition Act

Supporting LgBT Refugees and Asylum Seekers

LGBT People of Faith

Disabled and in Exile: Being Excluded Twice

Disabled Refugees: Rights to Health, Mental Health and Social Care Support

Human Rights Approach to Social Justice

HEAR and London for All Access Awards

 

HEAR’s Access Award aimed to encourage member organisations to showcase their work to make their services more inclusive and accessible for diverse beneficiaries. HEAR  defines accessibility very widely, encompassing  all the many ways in which we can make it easier for people who need our services to find out about them, know how to access them, feel welcome and included, communicate with us and experience a service most suited to their needs and life experience.

 

The Access Awards presentations at the recent London for All Conference at the Ort Centre in Camden Town showcased examples of good practice in accessibility and inclusion by HEAR network members in service delivery, and how small changes can have a big impact!

 

Delegates enjoyed presentations from Young People for Inclusion and Bexley and Bromley Accessible Transport, and the winning organisation, Solace Women’s Aid, who were presented with the Access Award by Andy Gregg, Acting Chair of HEAR, for their work  towards improving the inclusion of deaf and disabled women in domestic violence services.

 

For all the presentations please go to:

 

http://lvsc.org/londonforall/keeping-it-human-in-a-digital-age/

 

HEAR is pleased to announce the recent launch of our new Policy and Campaigns Project funded by Trust for London

 

Please watch out for further information on the project and how to get involved

 

You can also contact the Policy and Campaigns worker Mhairi McGhee:

 

hearcampaigns@reap.org.uk

 

for further information

In March 2015 HEAR held a major event showcasing a wide range of work by London’s voluntary sector aimed at reducing inequalities in health and wellbeing for the most disadvantaged Londoners.

At Working Together for Health Equalities more than 50 delegates heard presentations and case studies from 10 different London VCS organisations demonstrating how they tackle inequalities in health in a wide variety of innovative ways. They also heard an extremely informative keynote presentation from Lindsey Ahmet from Middlesex University and had the opportunity to attend workshops on improving communications in health delivery, learning from experience in forming consortia, partnerships, collaborative working and user involvement, and a very interesting storytelling session.

Presentations:

 

-Communications in Midwifery Services: Lindsey Ahmet

-Why is Silence Cancer’s Best Friend?: Cancerkin

-Learning English-A Gateway to Wellbeing: Wonder Foundation

-SPLIT Project-Working with Disabled Experts: Haringey Disability First Consortium

-Roma Health and Partnership with the Public Sector: Roma Support Group

-The Green Gym-A Case Study: Conservation Volunteers

-The IRIS Project-Improving Support for Women Experiencing Domestic Violence and Abuse-Solace Women’s Aid

-Inequalities in LGBT Mental Health: PACE

-Abused No More-Improving Front Line Health Services for Women Refugees and Asylum Seekers: IARS

-Supporting People Excluded from Primary Health Services: Doctors of the World UK

 

Delegates also heard a presentation on Working with the London Voluntary and Community Sector from the Care Quality Commissiion and viewed ‘Seabreeze’, a film showcasing an innovative dance project   by Dance United.

 

All the presentations, case studies and workshop materials can be viewed here:

 

http://www.lvsc.org/londonforall/working-together-for-health-equalities/

HEAR, the equalities and human rights network for London, has launched the results of its ‘Intersections’ research.

As a network of mostly specialist equalities organisations, HEAR does not seek to work on single equalities issues, because its members are the experts, but HEAR works across all equalities strands on issues that impact on all groups and populations in London that may experience marginalisation, discrimination or denial of human rights

HEAR and its member organisations wanted to create a resource that would:

• -showcase the work of London voluntary organisations and community groups large and small that seeks to support Londoners with intersecting aspects to their identity or experience
• -Examine both the more theoretical and policy based aspects of intersectionality and the everyday real lives of Londoners and the organisations that work with and support them
  • -Generate more debate and action around intersectional issues and promote an intersectional approach across both the voluntary and public sector
• To read all the outputs from the project including case studies, executive summary and more go to:

http://www.lvsc.org/londonforall/launch-of-hear-intersectionality-research-report/