Equality & Diversity
Southampton City College is committed to the principles of Equality and Diversity for everyone. This commitment underpins and impacts on every area of activity and influences how the college works and what it does.
This means the college is a place where ALL students and staff, whatever their circumstances or background:
- Are fully respected
- Feel welcome
- Are treated in a friendly way
- Have equality of opportunity
- Have appropriate support
Becoming involved
Valuing Diversity in our Community
Southampton City College are revising and updating their Single Equality Scheme for 2010-13 (Draft Version). The scheme draws together the work we have done in the past on equalities and provides a single point of reference for equality and diversity at The College.
This broad approach to equality and diversity is essential if we are to meet the needs of College community, comply with current legal duties and be prepared for legislative changes that are under the Equality Act.
The Single Equality Scheme outlines the legal requirements we as a public authority are duty bound to meet as well as outlining the direction we want to take with regards to equality and diversity. The Single Equality Scheme action plan details how we propose to address equality and diversity issues in order to make a real difference to all that work or study at The College.
We would greatly appreciate your feedback on our Single Equality Scheme (draft version). It would be helpful if you could answer the following questions:
1. Is our Single Equality Scheme clear and easy to understand? If not, how would you make it clearer?
2. Do you think that our scheme adequately addresses all eight strands of equality: Disability, Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Gender Reassignment, Pregnancy & Maternity, Age and Religion & Belief
3. Are there elements of the Single Equality Scheme that you disagree with? What are they and why do you disagree with them?
4. Is there anything missing from the Scheme that you think should be included?
5. What, in your opinion, are the most important equality and diversity issues affecting people across Southampton?
6. Any other comments on equality and diversity?
Please email responses, suggestions and questions to Liz Thornhill, Equality and Diversity Adviser, liz.thornhill@southampton-city.ac.uk by Thursday 30th September. Thank you for your time. All the information that you provide us with will be held by Southampton City College and will only be used for the purposes of consultation and research in order to improve the services that we provide. The results of this consultation will feed directly into the final version of our Single Equality Scheme, which will be available on our website by Monday 4th October.
All information provided will not contain any personal details so you will not be able to be identified.
We fully support the spirit behind the Equality Act 2010 as supporting the College in tackling all types of discrimination in a practical way by introducing a scheme which actively promotes opportunities and prevent discrimination taking place.
Impact Assessment
As part of our commitment to Equality and Diversity we are reviewing and impact assessing our policies and procedures in line with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. We welcome this legislative change as equality impact assessments help us to identify hidden barriers and inequalities, and where these are identified, we will take appropriate action.
We are keen to involve people in the impact assessment process. In order to ensure that our consultation is representative, we would particularly welcome input from those with a disability, from minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBT and/or religious-faith groups.
If you would like to become involved or to find out more, please contact:
Liz Thornhill Equality - Diversity Adviser
liz.thornhill@southampton-city.ac.uk
(023) 8057 7308
Single Equality Scheme 2007-10
A copy of our Single Equality Scheme which includes our Duty to Promote is available here
The Single Equality Scheme is available on requests in other formats. If you require the scheme in an alternative format please contact Liz Thornhill
Action Plan Progress
Download the latest progress update on the Single Equality Scheme Action Plan.
