I am trying to get feedback on A-boards and other street furniture - what do people think about these? My organisation is keen to start a campaign to highlight the problems disabled people face when dealing with street furniture. It’s been very difficult to get our clients to comment so I thought people on this site might have some comments instead.

The campaign would focus on disabled people mainly but obviously other people would benefit too: people who use walking sticks and frames, people with prams/ buggies, people with dogs - the list is endless.

We are based in Richmond upon Thames in London, so feedback from this area would be really useful but all comments are welcome.

We are delighted to announce that Andrew Heygate-Browne, President of the University of the West of England ’s (UWE) SU Badminton Club and his team, are going for a World Record attempt on 2nd and 3rd June 2007, and…raising funds for MS Research!

The current world record for the longest badminton doubles is 24 hours, 21 minutes and 19 seconds, held by Sylvia Campion, Aubrey Cox, Maureen Dunne and William Stevenson, of Ireland, set in December 2005.

The attempt is taking place at UWE’s recently opened Centre for Sports, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane , Bristol . If you can help at the event, please let us know! I’m sure you’ll join us in wishing them the very best of luck!

If you would like to be part of this event, in any of the above areas, or would like further information, please contact us on 0117 9286332 as soon as possible. If you would like to sponsor Andrew and the team at UWE, please contact the Fundraising Team for a sponsor form.

Contact Rosie! Telephone 0117 9286332 if you wish to raise funds for MS Research.

From an Irish politicians blog - Ireland’s charity regulation law delayed, or possibly worse.

Eric’s Campaign Diary: Election Scuppers Charities Bill:

Election Scuppers Charities Bill I must admit, I am sorry about one piece of legislation which has fallen now the election is called: the Charities Regulation Bill. The charity scamsters must have breathed a sigh of relief when Bertie set the date yesterday.

VolResource has a page listing various ‘charity awards’, from the general to the specific, and we mention them from time to time in the weekly email newsletter. However, personally I pretty much agree with the World Land Trust’s weekly column, talking about Charity Times annual awards:

“Is this really what supporters of a charity expect their money to be spent on? Is this really how they expect staff and Trustees to be spending their time?

“And of course only a few charities can afford the time and money to actually enter into a competition to become ‘Charity of the Year’ or be nominated the ‘Trustee Board of the Year’. And not everyone has the ego that needs to be the ‘Finance Director of the Year’. Clearly awards like these are going to be influenced by money and size — particularly when there is an award for the ‘Best Charity to Work for’ and it’s decided by internet voting.”

Anyone have views either way?

Sam Mercer, Director of The Employers Forum on Age, responds to the Equalities Review Report: Fairness & Freedom

The publication of the final report of the Equalities Review: Fairness and Freedom, generated headlines putting working mothers with young children, women of Bangladeshi origin and the disabled at the top of the tree for disadvantage and discrimination - specifically in accessing work.
But this report is about much more than simply providing a hierarchy of the disadvantaged. It examines the root causes of inequality and the societal and economic consequences of not tackling disadvantage and discrimination. For this reason this report should be required reading for all CEOs and Boards.
Our members have welcomed the recognition within the report that legislation can sometimes prevent organisations taking steps to address inequality. It makes a strong case for voluntary action which will support people within organisations who have been striving to embed equality and diversity and provides a business case for extending flexible working opportunities.
Demographic change is having a significant impact on inequality, and disadvantage while young (in education and employment) exacerbates disadvantage when older. As a society with an ageing population, we much tackle this; we can’t afford for people to be out of work and unable to save during their working lives, as this will increase pressure on the state to provide for an extended retirement. For UK plc as both employers and suppliers, this report makes a powerful argument for change.
The subtle challenges we face in promoting culture change on ageism are also explored. The report concludes that when groups are perceived as less ‘threatening’ a benevolent prejudice can develop. This translates into patronising and negative treatment which can affect people at either end of the age spectrum. For example, reluctance to performance manage older people, or the failure to promote younger people who may not be perceived as able to cope with the stress.
There are specific recommendations within the report which EFA members are broadly supportive of. The single equality act is promoted as one of the ways to tackle entrenched and multiple discrimination. And certainly, if it results in a simpler legal framework this would be a great advantage for employers. However, our members are concerned that regulations against age discrimination are in their infancy and it is vital to allow time for any problems with the legislation to be ironed out before there is an extension. Likewise, an integrated public sector duty to promote equality, or Single Equality Scheme, for the public sector which is focussed on outcome and not process, could have a significant impact in tackling long term inequality.
Our members are more sceptical of extending duties to report performance to the private sector. Statistics and workforce profiles can be misleading and do not always indicate discrimination is taking place. Age profiles, for example, can be distorted by factors totally unrelated to equality. We fear this type of duty could lead to ‘positive discrimination’, particularly in SMEs, and could inevitably lead to ‘quotas’ in the private sector - whether that was the original intention or not.
It has long been true that the highest profile employers attract the highest profile discrimination claims and this is one of the reasons we are concerned about the proposal to establishing a ‘Black List’. While we understand the frustration that lies at the heart of this proposal of a ‘black list’ of employers who have systematically ignored equality, there is a risk that many unknown smaller employers that ignore the law, continue to act without sanction.

The real St Valentine: alternative gifts to support Thailand’s orphans

Are you about to do a last minute dash to buy flowers, chocolates or a card on the 14th of February?

The Pattaya Orphanage Trust is asking people to follow the example of the real St Valentine and provide an alternative gift to support some of Thailand’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable children.

Saint Valentine was a physician living in Rome around 250 AD. He was also a Christian priest living in fear of persecution by the Roman authorities. He treated his patients by day and prayed for them by night, only accepting payment they could afford. His greatest miracle was healing the blind daughter of the man who would become his jailer. Valentine was martyred by the Roman Emperor Claudius II.

The Pattaya Orphanage Trust is offering as alternative St Valentine’s Day gifts:

• A talking watch for a blind child £14
• Swimming lessons at the blind school £27
• Life saving medicine for HIV+ child £37
• Sponsoring a blind child £15 a month

To order your special gift, by post or email, visit ‘Gifts from the Heart’ on the Pattaya Orphanage Trust website:
www.pattayaorphanage.org.uk/giftsfromtheheart
or telephone 020 7602 6203.

Your special loved one will receive a gift certificate, a card - including a personalised message from you - information about the vulnerable children you are generously supporting, and at least four updates throughout the year.

Visit www.pattayaorphanage.org.uk for more information.

So London, a new, upmarket, weekly newsstand magazine for the capital, covering arts and culture, is launching shortly. It will include stories relating to charities and philanthropy.

Nothing is set in concrete yet in terms of editorial but we are hoping to run a column each week written by a different celebrity or expert linked to a cause. The column has the working title of ‘My cause’ and will probably work a little like the Radio 4 Appeal with contact/donation details.

We will also be looking at events within the M25 that people can take part in to raise money for good causes. We are particularly interested in fund-raising events such as balls and dinners.

Could you please a) have us put on your mailing list and b) contact me if you have ideas or people to put forward for the column?

Although the magazine is for London readers it is not a ‘local rag’ and treats London as an international city and the heart of the country, and the stories we run will reflect this.

My contact details are:

Francis Pearce
Assistant editor
So London magazine

020 7025 5123
fpearce@solondon.co.uk

So London, London PPP, 32 Kingly St, W1B 5QQ

Thanks in advance,
Francis Pearce

Due to the increasing level of comment spam, I’m afraid comments have been switched off on some items.

Hi

I am Jacob, a group of like minded friends have started a Charitable, not for profit Trust to work among the ‘Dalits’ (untouchables) in India. Most of the Dalits in India are poors, uneducated having been oppressed by ‘purity’ - ‘pollution’ ideological myth. Due to this ideology, Dalits are socially, economically, educationally, culturally and politically marginalised. A hidden apartheid is still in practise on the Dalit community.

Through the Self-help programme of our trust, we are enabling poor Dalits families to stand on their own to earn and to live with dignity and respect. Recently we have started a centre called ‘Shalom Happy Home’. In this context, we are committed to educate the Dalit children. Educating these Dalit children is the top priority of our trust. At present we have 100 Dalit children (both boys and girls), we provide free - accomodation, food, uniforms, dress, books, stationaries and education.

We do not have regualr funds to support this work. We are seeking funds to run our Shalom Happy Home. We are seeking aid from interested individuals/businesses/Trusts and charities. If anyone interested please feel free to keep in touch.

Regards

Jacob

Here’s a link to the Kitchen Table Charities Trust, set up by John Humphrys. (See our earlier post on such charities.)