What’s new
Village CAB research on the Civil Partnerships Act
This research was commissioned by the Village CAB and it explores the impact of the Civil Partnership Act (2004) on the needs of potential advice service users, make recommendations for improving advice services for lesbian gay and bisexual clients with respect to forming civil partnerships and influence policy debate regarding the legal union of same sex couples.
Tackling the cost of inequality: advice prevents discrimination and reduces inequality
This new brochure explains how the Citizens Advice service has an important part to play in social change, by promoting a culture of equality and human rights, preventing discrimination, and resolving individual problems. It sets out key facts and figures, explains what the service is already doing, and looks at the opportunities presented by the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.
Our aim
The Citizens Advice service strategic plan and FAIR equality and diversity strategy 2004-2008 commit the service to becoming a first point of contact for discrimination advice, in partnership with others.
We believe the service has an obligation to provide high quality discrimination advice to our current clients, and to make sure traditionally excluded groups can exercise their right to get help from mainstream services like CAB. We believe that working in partnership is the most effective way to make the most of our various strengths and of limited resources.
The aim for the service is to become ‘a’ first point of contact, not ‘the’ first point of contact. It is not accurate or feasible for any organisation to claim to be the first single point of contact because people will seek initial help from a wide range of sources, including family, friends, community groups, bureaux and other advice agencies, the current equality commissions, the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights, and other public bodies. It is important that people have that choice and still get the help they need.
To a limited extent the Citizens Advice service already is a first point of contact for discrimination advice – we typically deal with 45,000 discrimination/intimidation enquiries a year. But we know that there is much to be done to improve the quantity and quality of discrimination advice and casework available from us and other agencies, to develop effective infrastructure, partnerships, and training.
A lot of work is going on to explore what needs to be done and to pilot models and methodologies.
Key initiatives and documents to date
Disability discrimination project
Newport CAB and Flintshire CAB are piloting advice and casework services for people in Wales who have experienced discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. This work is funded and supported by the Disability Rights Commission.
In England, the Citizens Advice service Disabled Workers’ Group are working with the Disability Rights Commission to provide training for bureaux on disability discrimination.
Discrimination advice and the Commission for Equality and Human Rights: how can we make sure people have access to advice and justice?
A report of a seminar series held in June 2006 for advice agencies, equality organisations and the Department for Communities and Local Government, organised by Citizens Advice England, Wales and Scotland, the Equality and Diversity Forum, and adviceUK.
Challenging discrimination: a challenge for the Citizens Advice service
New research highlights the challenges for the Citizens Advice Service to become a first point of contact for discrimination advice in partnership with others. Conducted by Barbara Cohen, the 1990 Trust and DeMontfort University.
Majority Matters programme
A national programme in partnership with the Muslim Council of Britain and the Village CAB (the lesbian, gay and bisexual advice service in NW England), and The Age Employment Network, funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government from 2005-2007 to:
- Build adviser skills at generalist and specialist level on employment discrimination, especially in relation to sexual orientation, religion and belief and age.
- Pilot casework and volunteering opportunities in six bureaux in England and Wales, and develop local partnerships with religion and belief, sexual orientation organisations.
- Develop national partnerships with religion and belief, sexual orientation and age organisations.
- Provide casework management tools and second-tier consultancy support.
Majority Matters evaluation
This report is an evaluation of two DTI-funded projects, known as the ‘Majority Matters’ programme within the Citizens Advice service.
Local partnerships
Lots of bureaux already work in partnership with local equality and community groups on a range of issues, but we don’t know how many do so in relation to discrimination, equality and/or human rights advice. If your bureau or organisation does have such a partnership or referral agreement, we’d love to hear about it. Please contact us with your contact details and a short description of the partnership/referral agreement.
Further information
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