Somerset Equality Officers Group
The partnership will provide the lead for working together to coordinate a rolling programme of Equalities and Diversity work in Somerset.
The aims of the group are:
- Work collectively to develop a countywide approach to the equality agenda and therefore reduce duplication and increase efficiency
- Promote equality of opportunity and develop actions that improve the quality of life for all people living in Somerset through our partnership working
- Improving equality of access to services by identifying and removing barriers
- Work towards eliminating discrimination and harassment and other prohibited conduct under the equality duty
- Promote good relations and positive attitudes between the people of Somerset
SEOG Meeting Notes
SEOG Newsletter
The Somerset Equalities Officers Group produces a newsletter looking at the work that is being done collectively by the group, highlighting individual pieces of work we are doing. It is sent to a host of groups county wide. Previous editions can be read below:
Working with Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations
Somerset Council works closely with our Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations either independently or in Partnership. We aim to build lasting relationships with these organisations and communities. We will aim to work in partnership to reduce the burden on our equality Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations.
Somerset Equality Partnership
The Somerset Equality Partnership will be a collaborative partnership between the public bodies in Somerset and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations that support people from the protected characteristics, where we learn, understand and work together to face the challenges that our communities are facing, by using lived experiences, knowledge of current issues and the work that the group is doing in local communities, to see how we can overcome, collectively, the problems faced.
Working with the Diversity Trust
SEOG commissioned the Diversity Trust to undertake the following research, using contacts in Somerset, talk to gay men, specifically men over the age of 25 to understand
- The support systems that they currently use
- What they know about what is going on across the county to support them
- What they think needs to be done and how this can be achieved
The Somerset Gay and Bisexual Men research report identified a number of recommendations. We have identified the work that is being done at local level and identified the work that is still to be done. The feedback sets out the actions that will be undertaken.
We will keep in contact with the community through the use of The Diversity Trust newsletter. Future articles and additions will be added when published.