Latest news

Linking UK policy agendas on violence against women and HIV

Helen is supporting the Sophia Forum - a small charity set up to promote human rights of women living with HIV in the UK, to develop evidence on HIV as a cause and consequence of violence against women. For more information go to www.sophiaforum.net

Independent diversity advice for criminal justice agencies

West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board recruited a Diversity Panel of local people to provide independent advice on diversity issues. Having been a member of this Panel for two years, Equal to the Occasion Director Helen Wollaston has recently co-authored a report on its impact. The findings and recommendations could be useful to other public sector agencies seeking to engage effectively with their local community. Read the report here

Equal support? Capacity building in the third sector

A groundbreaking research study on the capacity building needs of third sector organisations working on ethnicity and sexual orientation. Do identity-based groups need their own infrastructure? Equal to the Occasion led a research team for the Big Lottery Fund, working with human rights organisation brap and independent consultant Lorraine Roberts. Download the full report from the Big Lottery Fund's website here er_equals.

The case for getting more women into leadership roles

In the North West of England, Helen Wollaston worked with Infrastruct to investigate reasons for the lack of female leaders in the region and make practical recommendations for change. The report findings are now being used to lobby for female representation on the boards of Local Enterprise Partnerships. The report and further information about the campaign can be found here Women on boards report

Raising aspirations of Muslim girls

Showcasing positive role models of Muslim women in non-traditional jobs, Equal to the Occasion organised a roadshow for the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group which visited Rotherham, Dudley, Newham, Manchester, Cardiff and Middlesbrough during 2009 and 2010. This is precisely what we should be talking about with regards to Muslim women, rather than all these tiresome debates about burkhas.. Iqbal Wahhab, Chair, Ethnic Minority Advisory Group

For more information go to www.ourchoices.org.uk or download the Our Choices evaluation report