Addressing structural inequalities

THCVS is working with the Tower Hamlets Cornerstone Project to offer a workshop for staff and volunteers working at community and voluntary organisations focused on understanding and influencing Equality Impact Assessments.Equality Impact Assessments (EqIA) are a commonly used tool in local policy making. Government bodies such as councils and NHS Trusts use them to gather data on how a policy or decision will impact communities in local areas, and policies are then often changed as a result of that data. At The Cornerstone Project, has been working over the last 2 years to find ways that local residents and community and voluntary groups can be more influential in this data gathering, ensuring that EqIA processes account for more experiences of different forms of inequality in Tower Hamlets. The cornerstone partners believe these are central to ensuring progress on tackling inequality and should be more accessible for those with expertise and experience of working with marginalised, vulnerable or minority groups.

The Cornerstone projects overarching aim for the workshop is for those tackling inequalities to be better prepared to influence and challenge Equality Impact Assessments in local areas.

The workshop will cover three key themes:1

. EqIAs - their process, role and history - with examples

2. Opportunities for influence - how can organisations get involved, be taken seriously and support change?

3. Involving residents - how can residents be brought into these processes in powerful, sensitive and appropriate ways?We would love to have a wide range of organisations represented, including people who have been involved in EqIAs before. The workshop will be relaxed, informal and based around the principles of dialogue, learning and peer support.

Addressing structural inequalities and strengthening public involvement in local decision-making is a major opportunity to ensure a lasting impact of the Cornerstone project in the borough. We want resident and community & voluntary sector organisation voices leading the conversation and to make sure that the approach to addressing structural inequalities is effective and inclusive. To help residents get involved in decsion making and contribute to conversations with the borough. This workshop is designed to equip you with the skills and confidence needed to take part in, facilitate and guide these conversations.

Host or Publisher Tower Hamlets CVS