Equality in discussion at St James' Park

Jul 17 2010 by John Hill, The Journal

DELEGATES from businesses and public sector organisations have gathered at St James’ Park to discuss the impact of wide-ranging equality legislation set for the UK.

Visitors to the stadium’s Bamburgh suite took part in a programme of speeches and workshops based around the impact of the Equality Act, which will be partly introduced in October.

The act consolidates a number of pieces of existing legislation and introduces new elements which could impact workplaces, such as a recognition of workers harassed due to their association with someone of a particular race, age, sex, religion or other characteristic.

The Act was created by the previous Labour administration, but was recently backed by new Home Secretary Theresa May. The St James’ Park event was hosted by Equality North East, which attempts to raise awareness of diversity and equality issues through a series of programmes, such as the 700-member ConNEcting for Change network.

Speakers included Government Equalities Office head of strategy Alison Pritchard, North East Chamber of Commerce head of policy and research Ross Smith and Equality and Diversity Forum chief executive Amanda Ariss.

Equality North East chief executive Liz Reay said: “We all acknowledge that public sector cuts and the economic crisis is a concern to everyone, and that equality can often be put on the backburner.

“However, more than ever before we should make sure we do not discriminate as in this climate there is a danger that all we’ve achieved with equality could take a backwards step.”