Contents

5

Contents 5

Acknowledgements 7

Foreword 9

How to use this book 10

01 Se�ng the scene 11

02 Welcome: first steps 13

03 Agreed understandings 16

04 Principles 19

05 Inequality 22

06 Change 25

07 Stereotypes and prejudice 28

08 Why address inequality? 32

09 Vision and ethical commitment 35

10 Posi�ve and possible 39

11 Ac�on and learning 41

12 Tools for change 43

13 Leadership for good 46

14 Final thoughts 51

15 References 54

7

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

This book is a tribute to the rela�onships that made it possible. Like the old email goes:

“People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a life�me.” There are so many to

thank for happy days, shared conversa�ons and inspiring ideas. As I wrote I thought of

people I have listened to, those whose stories made new perspec�ves possible. Other

people’s contribu�on is clear in the reference sec�on, this has become is a list of old friends!

If you recognise your ideas in the meanderings that follow: I thank you!

Thank you to Helena Jones, Simon Green, Andrea Layzell, Stephen Bailey and Jackie Dearden

for your unique contribu�on to this joint effort. Thank you to Jill Mundy, my friend, for your

unflinching faith in my capabili�es and constant opportuni�es for a pleasant life – my

wellbeing would be at risk without the balance you bring. Thank you to Ian for living with

‘the writer’. Thank you to those of you who spent many hours reviewing our preview, you

helped us enormously with your candid and generous feedback.

Par�cular thanks go to the following people without whom there would be no book. Thank

you Julia Hayes, to whom I am indebted for turning a senseless muddle of words into clear

orchestrated phrases. Thank you to Mark Longbo�om for your art and colour, you made

plain words look a�rac�ve and beau�ful.

Finally, thank you to our clients who kept us busy, happy and fed. Thank you to all the

par�cipants without whom there would be no case studies or be�er prac�ce.

It’s all going on out there, go see for yourselves...

Mole – September 2010

Foreword

9

ForewordIn wri�ng this handbook Laura Chapman has developed a resource that is personally,

professionally and organisa�onally challenging. Her approach is detailed, systema�c and

very clearly and helpfully structured - and at the same �me remorseless in its focus on the

fundamental issues of equality and fairness. Defini�ons are detailed and comprehensive and

taken together they provide a rich and clear vocabulary to support meaningful dialogue on

the central issue of making organisa�ons work for all their members, not just the privileged

few.

What this handbook offers is a means of transla�ng principle into prac�ce, of moving beyond

the rhetoric into real and authen�c strategies that have the poten�al to really influence the

quality of life and well-being of all members of the community. Laura Chapman provides the

clearest possible route map for leaders who believe that any type of organisa�on has to act

as a model of best prac�ce and be demonstrably commi�ed to the highest ethical standards

in every dimension of its opera�ons.

This handbook is a resource that will help change culture, custom and prac�ce and help to

create a consistent approach to equality and equity.

Professor John West-Burnham

10

How to use this bookTo help you on your journey, I have presented ideas on the pages marked with a purple bar.

These ideas are a synthesis of current thinking from many sources: academic texts, popular

authors and current research. I hope that among the ideas gathered here some will be new

and challenging, to stretch the most knowledgeable reader. I have tried to write clearly and

directly so that all feel welcome to join in.

Pages with a green bar present a number of ques�ons, a scenario outlining the difficul�es an

organisa�on may have and examples of best prac�ce. The scenarios have been inspired by

our work with teams from many different organisa�ons. However, they are made up and I

would not expect to find any single organisa�on with such clearly defined problems.

How to use this book

01 Se�ng The Scene

11

01 Se�ng The Scene

Se�ng the sceneEveryone has something to give to his or her community. The ability to contribute is a

fundamental part of what it means to be alive. Every individual has a right to be heard: their

strength demands recogni�on, their experience must be valued, and their knowledge

deserves public apprecia�on. Democra�c ways of working are not a given, and it may take

�me and energy to encourage fairer par�cipa�on. Recognising the significance of

contribu�on is the first step to achieving greater equality. Sharing a sense of belonging,

par�cipa�ng in joint ac�vity and finding meaning in common purpose all adds up to a sense

of community life that enhances our wellbeing.

Through no fault of their own, many people in our communi�es live in less privileged

circumstances than others. In addi�on, other people’s views on gender, ability, background,

skin colour and sexual orienta�on can have an impact on their experience of community life.

The nega�ve treatment of certain groups imposes great pressure that can impair both

par�cipa�on and rela�onships. This does not mean that individuals from these groups do

not lead successful lives: many do, but the effort required to achieve may be significantly

higher. For many, this greater effort (along with the stress imposed on us all by escala�ng

inequality) may not only affect life quality but will ul�mately shorten lifespan1. The harsh

truth is that our society tends to give certain groups a bad press, hindering opportunity and

imposing nega�ve expecta�ons. While we cannot legislate for individual responses to

people’s different circumstances, we all share the responsibility for the nega�ve ideas that

fuel the growing divides. Ul�mately, as ethical professionals we each have a duty to address

the culture of our organisa�ons so that people from less privileged backgrounds have a fairer

chance of success.

This book presents a variety of ideas and ac�vi�es that will help you develop a greater

understanding of equality. Armed with that insight, we can work to develop the inclusive

prac�ce that secures greater fairness for all.

“Provides many valuable instruments for awareness raising, training and development towards a more civilised and civilising community. It is a highly significant and challenging contribu�on to thinking and prac�ce towards a be�er society and stronger communi�es in the interests of all of us. This is a thought provoking book from which we can and should all learn. It oozes integrity, authen�city and humanity.”

Tony Gelsthorpe, Secondary Headteacher

“This is an excellent handbook. As a whole it deals with the global and ins�tu�onal context of equality/inequality in an easy to understand and pro-ac�ve manner. I cannot recommend this resource highly enough and I hope that we will be using in our training events at Bradford University.”

Patrick Allen, Bradford Media School, University of Bradford

“The book’s got a lovely rhythm - Reflect, consider, get an idea … Reflect, consider, … I love the way the purple pages go to the heart of the reader, and the green pages to the head. I love the idea of all valuing human experience as learning” Linda Keys, Development Worker, Edinburgh Development Group

“Wri�en to encourage reflec�on, dialogue and change. A refreshing approach to equality with a strong focus on the individual, rela�onships and community. A prac�cal Handbook that will prove useful to all those striving for cultural change to ensure fairness for all.”

Tess White, Adviser, Warwickshire, Educa�onal Development Service

“What appealed to me most was the fact that you outline that if organisa�ons and individuals take simple, common sense steps and adjust their way of thinking, it can make a huge difference for a large number of people. The examples you give underline how easy it can be to ensure that people are treated equally as well as feeling equal and that they are making a contribu�on.”

Victoria Jones, PR Manager, Equal Approach Limited

”I think your book provides a �mely bridge between theory and prac�ce, it outlines clear prac�cal steps that illustrate that inclusion achievable, congratula�ons and well done!!”

Sam Smith, Execu�ve Director, C-Change for Inclusion

EQTraining Publishing 978-0-9567131-0-0

www.equalitytraining.co.uk