Awards for North equality champions

Sep 25 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal

EXECUTIVES from across the North East have been recognised for their dedication in ensuring equality in their communities.

The 2008 North East Equality Awards ceremony was addressed by deputy chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Baroness Margaret Prosser, who said she was heartened at the positive work going on in the region to help combat discrimination caused by prejudice and stereotyping.

Now in its fifth year, the awards were given to 10 organisations in the region, including fair trade group Traidcraft for its efforts to help rehabilitate prisoners, the North East Chamber of Commerce for its policies concerning flexible working hours and location and Tyneside Cyrenians for its working providing housing support for the homeless.

Other winners included community centre organisation GVOC, training provider ETEC (Sunderland) Limited, Bishop Auckland College, Sunderland-based housing group Gentoo, Northumbria University and workforce development company Carol Barwick Associates Limited.

The winner of the individual award was Tom Keogan of Gateshead-based North Regional Association for Sensory Support – an organisation that works to increase the participation of people who are deaf, hearing impaired or deaf-blind. Mr Keogan was credited for obtaining vital funding to help keep the organisation going, while carrying out his work supporting prisoners who are deaf.

Liz Reay, chief executive of Equality North East, said: “This is the fifth year of the Equality Awards and yet again we have had a record breaking number of applications. Employers in the region are recognising that implementing good practice is not just a legislative requirement but also provides real business benefits.”