Understanding how to influence policy and decision making

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, we've 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 London boroughs. We 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.

Cornerstone's 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 people and organisations represented, including people who have been involved in EqIAs before. The workshop is open to all will be relaxed, informal and based around the principles of dialogue, learning and peer support.”

Host or Publisher Tower Hamlets CVS