EQUAL Mainstreaming Policy Group:

1

• EQUAL Mainstreaming Policy Group
• Project Perspectives

2
What are we doing?

• Experimenting with demonstration models which
  will feed into the equality agenda.
• Identifying direct and indirect discrimination
  and working to address the impact of same.
• Intervening on the demand-side of the human
  resource / labour market equation.
• Not looking at people fitting in but what they
  being asked to fit into.
• Raising awareness amongst practitioners and
  policy makers.

3
How are we doing it?

• Innovatively.
• In partnership.
• In a highly structured and closely managed
  process.
• Through constructive criticism.
• Inclusively.
• In an empowering way.
• In a safe environment for participants.

4
Why you should buy in(1).

• Projects are working on potential problems your
  organisations will face and are dealing with them
  in a controlled, laboratory situation.
• The EQUAL process (partnership, dialogue etc.)
  tests ideas and practices, removing potential
  fear or anxiety of the unknown / unfamiliar.
• EQUAL process will offer integrated / joined- up
  solutions to issues arising.
• EQUAL solutions should help to avoid crisis
  management.

5
Why you should buy in(2).

• EQUAL solutions should
• Result in better targeting of interventions
• Result in improved outcomes and better value for
  money
• Sensitise service provision to the needs of all
  groups in our society
• Help your organisation to develop its responses
  to observe legal requirements.

6
Our Expectations

• An open mind.
• Pro-active and constructive engagement.
• Co-operation and collaboration opening of
  dialogue, advice, and connections.
• Integrated responses between EQUAL projects,
  other programmes, relevant departments.
• In particular for agency personnel to bring the
  learning back to their organisation.