April: We raised awareness of World Malaria Day with a display. The Lessons from Auschwitz Project continued and in addition Karen Everitt represented Long Road at Bergen-Belsen for the70

th

Anniversary of its Liberation by British Forces April 2015 see pages 7–8. May: A stall selling Fair Trade product was in Reception and publicised & created displays for World Fair Trade Day (see page 10) and International Day Against Homophobia &Transphobia, see pages 2-3. June: we marked World Refugee Day and celebrated Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month with a display on B corridor (see page 4). We marked Bring Back Our Girls on the anniversary of the abduction (see page 6) 2015 –16 Year Plan for E&D Celebration dates published in this edition, & included in the Student Planner See page 9 July: Student Equality Champions Training was completed and the Equality Champions set about planning events for the coming year. Watch out for their work, starting with the Equality & Diversity Induction stall at the Fresher’s Fayre followed by the promotion of International Peace Day on 21st September. In addition new E&D Student Advisors were recruited for 2015-16 See page 4-5 Also inside, a reminder of the Long Road Single Equality Scheme and where to find it. See page 4.

Equality Champions

Looking ahead to Autumn 2015

College Equality & Diversity Mission Statement In line with the 2010 Equality Act College acts

in accordance with the legal requirements of equality legislation regarding Disability, Race,

Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion and Belief, and Age to promote; understanding through

open dialogue, respect for diversity within college and in the wider community. celebration of

difference through familiarity with diversity.

EQUALITY MATTERS

The Equality and Diversity

Newsletter

Summer 2015

Editor: Heidi Gjertsen

E&D Induction: E&D Stalls in the Quad staffed by Student Equality Champions E&D Dates for your calendar—published in the new Student Planner World Peace Day 21st September Black History Month– October World Mental Health Day—10th October

Equality & Diversity — Summer Term

Page 2 EQUALITY MATTERS

LGBT ALLIES ARE YOU AN ALLY?

The 2015 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia campaign highlights the crucial role of allies in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people.

WHAT IS AN ALLY?

An ally is generally a heterosexual person who supports people of different sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions, with an eye to contributing to their well-being or to a greater acceptance of their realities. Allies can also include LGBT people who support one another or who take part in ally groups (Brooks and Edwards, 2009).

WHY BE AN ALLY?

WILL OTHERS THINK I’M GAY, LESBIAN OR BISEXUAL?

In certain settings, a person who becomes an ally may end up experiencing homophobia or transphobia by association. If this is your case, make it clear that you are an ally. Also, arm yourself with patience and understanding, and be confident about the long-term benefits of asserting yourself as an ally. It is possible that the heterosexual people around you need time to open up to certain realities that they were never made aware of. But the actions of allies will gradually bear fruit and have a big impact on the lives of LGBT people.

HOW TO BECOME AND ALLY?

Becoming an ally takes a fair amount of courage, because it means speaking up when others don’t. But it is possible to support LGBT people by actions, big or small, that correspond to your own reality and personality.

Here are a few ideas:

For example, an ally might be a heterosexual person who supports a gay or bisexual person or a lesbian who supports a trans person. An ally can be a father, a friend, a brother, a co-worker, a teacher or any other person who is in contact with an LGBT person. One commonality is that allies advocate for social justice and the well-being of LGBT people. To varying degrees, allies take action against homophobia and transphobia.

Contact the College Gay Straight Alliance Group for details of meetings times in the next

academic year: lgbt+@longroad.ac.uk

Page 3 EQUALITY MATTERS

As sexual and gender-identity minorities, LGBT people often feel alone in dealing with homophobia and transphobia. All too often, those who witness homophobic or transphobic acts or language don’t dare to intervene (Denis and Berthelot, 2014). But homophobia and transphobia affect everyone. In fact, these types of discrimination tend to: • discourage certain people from being friends with LGBT people; • erode cohesion within families, schools, work environments and sports teams; • encourage people to hide the LGBT reality from close friends and family members; • undermine the efforts of those who are committed to equality; • help sustain the culture of the “closet”, which discourages any admission of differences in sexual orientation or gender identity or expression; • reinforce stereotypes of masculinity and femininity; • encourage society to deny diversity. Allies play an indispensable role, as their support aims to counter discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes in different environments. In addition, on a personal level, becoming an ally can be an enriching experience which allows one to: • be open to people who are different from oneself; • engage in authentic relationships with others; • participate in enhancing cohesion within families, schools, workplaces & in sports

HOW TO BECOME AN ALLY? Becoming an ally takes a fair amount of courage, because it means speaking up when others don’t. But it is possible to support LGBT people by actions, big or small, that correspond to your own reality and personality. Here are a few ideas: EVERYDAY ACTIONS • Become informed about LGBT realities; • Take a critical look at your own opinions about LGBT realities; • Refrain from presuming the sexual orientation of a person; • Respect a person’s gender identity or expression; • Demonstrate openness and inclusion towards LGBT people through your language and actions; • Refrain from trivializing the use of words such as “fag”, “gay”, “butch” or “fairy” and from making tasteless jokes about LGBT people; • React when you witness discrimination against LGBT people; • Refrain from forcing LGBT individuals to “come out of the closet”; rather, listen to them and support them in their personal development. When her co-workers talk about their children during lunch break, Rachel doesn’t mention that her daughter is a lesbian, fearing that the topic will make them uncomfortable. One day, unable to contain her joy, she decides to announce that her daughter and her partner are getting married. The reactions are positive and she answers the questions of her fellow employees, who are not very familiar with this reality.

Equality Matters

What is Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month?

Look out for the display board on B Corridor with interesting facts and personal stories

1-30 June every year: Raising awareness of these communities in the UK. Gypsies, Roma and Travellers are the largest ethnic minority community in the European Union with over 12 million people across the EU and some 300,000 in the UK. They are very marginalised and suffer extreme levels of prejudice and discrimination. Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month was established in Britain in 2008 as a

LRSFC summer 2015

Update on new Student role….STUDENT ADVISORS to the EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STEERING GROUP Three students have volunteered to be E&D Student Advisors in 2015-16. Key aspects of their role are: · To advise EOSG on the development, implementation and monitoring of the College equal opportunities education provision through the “Move on Up” programme, Hub and curriculum delivery

· To explore ways of promoting equal opportunities with students

· To work towards achieving good equal opportunities practice across all areas of the College.

· To be involved in the active promotion of equality and celebration of diversity, and avoidance of stereotypes and discrimination.

· To report to and make recommendations to the EOSG on all of the above matters.

Long Road Single Equality Scheme ….a reminder….. Our Vision: Equal opportunity means that disadvantage and discrimination is reduced and eliminated by legislation and positive action. The college aims to ensure that no group receives less favourable treatment because of their race, ethnic origin, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation or religion and belief. This does not mean treating everyone the same. The Single Equality Scheme, which is a product of the 2010 Equality Act, draws together all previous Equality legislation into one. The Single Equality Scheme, and Implementation Plan, which describes the actions which will be taken to ensure that the scheme is implemented effectively, can be found on Moodle at; https://moodle.longroad.ac.uk/moodle/mod/folder/view.php?id=42311 The actions from the Single Equality Scheme Implementation Plan are reported in the Single Equality annual report which records and celebrates activities and actions taken during the previous academic year. This report is presented to the governors at the December meeting and is made available on the college web site and VLE.

What does an Equality Champion do? (continued from Page 1) They promote the Long Road ethos of respect, in a number of ways; Are visible during Induction of new students in September promoting our values of

respect and tolerance, such as helping out on the Induction stalls in the Quad Promote equality and celebrating diversity, by creating material such as power point or

display, holding stall, or events, for Days such as Holocaust Memorial Day or LGBT History Month

Organise events, such as raising money for World Aids Day, or inviting a visiting speaker

for World Refugee Day Support college events, such as Open Evening Expectations - students will…

have equality training

complete one successful event over a term, then train the next group of Equality Champions for the following term.

be presented with a college certificate to mark contributions to the life of the community, and to keep as a record of the training received.

enjoy a real group ethos of fun and friendship, plus the satisfaction of being involved in something worthwhile.

Equality Champions

Page 5

The Day of The African Child: 16th June: Bring Back Our Girls!

Around 270 girls between the ages of 15 to 18 were kidnapped at gunpoint at the end of April 2014 from their Chibok school in Nigeria by a group of Islamic extremists linked to Al Qaeda and known as the Boko Haram terrorist network. In April 2015, all but 40 are still missing. The group are against the education of women. At Long Road Sixth Form College, to show our support for both access to education for all, and for the abducted girls, staff and students assembled in the Quad to hold up ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ signs. The College Equal Opportunities Co-ordinator says: "In our small way we hope to help keep this story current and show that for us, education for all is paramount."

Equality Matters

LESSONS FROM AUSCHWITZ 2015 As you may know this year is the 70

th Anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration

camp Auschwitz. Long Road , led by Karen Everitt, continued its involvement in the commemorations through the Lessons from Auschwitz Project.

Through the Lessons from Auschwitz Project sixth form students take part in two afternoon seminars in London and a one day visit to the former Nazi extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. This Government funded Project is based on the premise that ‘hearing is not like seeing’. The aim is to increase the student’s knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust and highlight what can happen if prejudice and racism become acceptable. Two students from Long Road were chosen to represent the College (Year 1 and Year 2 students regardless of the subjects that are being studied). They were Jemma Jamin (studying History, English Literature, Maths.) and Leo Stewart (studying Philosophy, Politics, History) Students participated in all elements of the Project: Orientation Seminar (London) Sunday April 19

th 2015 1-5pm

Visit to Poland Thursday 23rd

April 2015 Follow-up Seminar Tuesday 28

th April 2015 3-6.30pm

Next Steps Project – Participants design and implement projects in their schools and communities aimed at sharing their experiences and lessons learnt. For extra information please visit www.het.org.uk/lessons-from-auschwitz

Staff in the LRC created the display pictured below to mark the death this year of Nicholas Winton

Page 7

Bergen-Belsen:70th

Anniversary of the Liberation by British Forces April 2015

The day went as smoothly as any of the participants could have asked. But the impact of the visit cannot be easily expressed. So many little things and incidences that remain in the memory.

Hearing Bernard Levy, one of the liberating soldiers describing the horror of what he saw in 1945, the images as fresh today as 70 years ago; the sight of survivors with their children and grandchildren, frail but determined to honour the memory of lost family and friends; the sheer size of the burial sites as far as the eye could see; the visitor centre with artefacts and photographs of the camp and its tragic detainees; the bagpipes and the last post at the grave site at the British barracks and the laying of the stones at the memorial which I found particularly moving. To share this experience with like-minded people was a joy and a privilege and one for which I am very grateful. The lament ‘Never again’ never seemed more appropriate. Karen Everitt LRC Manager and Holocaust Education Trust Co-ordinator

Equality Matters

Equality & Diversity– Celebration/Awareness Days Page 9

Month Date Celebration

September 21st International Day of Peace http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/

October Month 10th

Black History Month

http://www.black-history-month.co.uk/World Mental Health Day

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/world-mental-health-day/

November 15th – 21st 20

th

25th

Interfaith Week

http://interfaithweek.org/

Transgender Day of Remembrance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_Day_of_Remembrance

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Womenhttp://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/eliminate-violence-

against-women-day

December 3rd

10th

International Day of Persons with Disabilities http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/international-day-persons-

disabilities

International Human Rights Day http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Society/human-rights-day.php

January 27th

Holocaust Memorial Day http://hmd.org.uk/

February

12th

Red Hand Day: Child Soldiers Day

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/

LGBT History Monthhttp://lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/U:\.giteye

March 8th International Women’s Day

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/international-womens-day

April 2nd

25th

World Autism Awareness Day http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/world-autism-awareness-

day

World Malaria Day

http://www.malarianomore.org/pages/minute-to-end-malaria?

gclid=COezv5HQz7YCFXMctAoduy0Apw

May 17th 17th

World Fair Trade Day http://www.chicagofairtrade.org/component/content/article/273.html International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia http://www.homophobiaday.org/default.aspx?scheme=4073http://www.cute-calendar.com/event/international-day-against-

homophobia-and-transphobia/9013-world.html

June

20th

Month

World Refugee Day http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/world-refugee-day Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month

http://grthm.natt.org.uk/

World Fair Trade

Long Road Sixth Form College hosted a Fair Trade stall this month. Katie Knapton was on hand

to talk about and sell Fair Trade products perfect for a producer-friendly snack !