LSIS Beacon Conference

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• LSIS Beacon Conference
• Friday 6 November 2009
• Exemplifying Equality
• Helen Sexton, CE/Principal, NSC
• Emma Fullerton and Frema Agyeman
• Lambeth College,
• Seconded through the Network for Black
  Professionals

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A continuous journey.

• Raising awareness
• Ensuring compliance
• Embedding practice
• Raising ambitions
• Exemplifying equality

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Strategic Plan 2010 2013
Reaching Beyond All Expectations EXEMPLIFYING
EQUALITY Promoting equality and tackling
discrimination. Enriching our own
organisation, other businesses, the community
and the lives of individuals. A place
where everyones talents and voices
shine through.
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Being proactive

• Flexible and collaborative provision eg Lambeth,
  Glos Coll
• Disability Equality Commitment in Lifelong
  Learning
• http//www.lluk.org/disability-equality-commitme
  nt.htm
• Learner Involvement and Advocacy eg NSC S?eak
  Advocacy Service
• NUS Disabled Students Campaign
• http//www.nus.org.uk/Campaigns/Disability/
• Project with Network for Black Professionals
  secondment programme http//www.nbm.org.uk/

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Aim of the project
To research and identify the potential barriers
to disabled young people from black minority and
ethnic (BME) backgrounds accessing further
education and BME staff in accessing work
opportunities at National Star College. Two
strands Internal Frema
External Emma
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Internal Focus
Frema Agyeman Lambeth College Network for
Black Professionals secondment programme
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What we have achieved with the students

• Created ED post boxes to enable students to post
  their suggestions on improving ED within the
  college and also to post their views and
  experiences of ED in general.
• Created Equality Diversity student champions to
  ensure that all students are being treated
  fairly/ equally and to give a voice to BME
  students

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What has been achieved with the staff

• Ascertained some potential barriers preventing
  staff from accessing work opportunities (still
  work in progress)
• Discussed with BME staff and agreed in principle
  to create a forum/association for BME staff to
  look at promoting staff progression
• Provide training for staff on BME students
  personal care/ also cultural awareness training
  in general

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External Focus
Emma Fullerton Lambeth College Network for
Black Professionals secondment programme
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Initial focus of the project
Access external BME community to identify the
potential barriers preventing them from accessing
educational programmes and employment
opportunities at National Star College. Link
with external providers to develop and enhance
innovative working links. These partnerships also
served to increase my understanding of the local
BME community and enabled easier access to BME
groups.
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What has been achieved

• Identified key personnel for community focus
  group
• Established links with groups/individuals to work
  in partnership with NSC to engage the BME
  community
• Identified work experience opportunities
• Identified potential board members
• Key links into the community
• Feedback from former BME students
• Set up visit to key members/venues in the
  community to gain a better first hand
  understanding of the community they are serving

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What has been achieved

• Publicity/increased awareness of National Star
• Located an office base in local community
• Setting up possible joint staff training
• Identified possible local venues for advertising
  job vacancies
• Identified a number of barriers (see separate
  slide)
• Found out number of BME people with special needs
  in the community and where they are located
• Held the Caribbean Big Lunch

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Identified barriers

• Knowledge/identification re LLDD within the
  family
• Negative attitude to LLDD shame, people mustnt
  know
• People with LLDD not an active contributor to
  family income therefore not a high priority
• Looking after their own
• BME groups mistrust of understanding of customs
  eg diet
• Mistrust of commitment to follow through, safer
  to not engage

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Identified barriers

• Asian community prefer to have family (especially
  women) remain within their community
• Community unaware of National Star
• Need to build up presence, trust, sustained over
  a long period
• Need a success story to give proof that
  relationship can work
• Some groups within cultures choose not to engage
  with those other than like minded people within
  their own culture.

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What next Phase Two

• Links with Afro Caribbean and Eastern European
  communities
• Widen enquiries beyond Gloucester settled
  travelling community, Cheltenham, Cotswolds,
  Bristol etc
• Joint clinic/workshops in the community to help
  understanding and identification of LLDD
• Team to support in assessment process for
  individual needs
• Speak with BME carers to find out individual
  barriers and identify accessible, sustainable and
  affordable solutions

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What next Phase Two

• Continue to establish work experience links 2 way
  
• Establish joint NSC/Community focus group to look
  at changes that could be made within the college
  to make the college more accessible to BME groups
• Set up joint staff training package, improve
  internal NSC training
• customs, cultures and values
• personal care/food - external trainer
• effective partnerships with families
• working with BME groups within the community
  etc
• Need to identify someone to take project onwards

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Exemplifying Equality

• Ofsted limiting grade
• How effectively a provider is narrowing any
  achievement gap between groups of learners
• How effectively a provider actively promotes
  equality and diversity and tackles discrimination
• Equality and Diversity in Self-assessment
  Guidance for Colleges and
  Providers, LSC, October 2009
• What are you doing to make a
  real difference and to demonstrate
  you are exemplifying equality?