Monthly Archives: April 2013

LGBT, Uncategorised

LGBT Staff Network

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A short survey was opened to gauge interest in setting up a staff network group aimed towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans staff, and those interested in promoting LGBT equality at Greenwich.

We were delighted that 87% of respondents said they would like to see an LGBT Staff Network at Greenwich. We are now in the process of meeting up with respondents to discuss setting up the network; how they foresee it working and what sort of involvement they would like.

If you are interested in getting involved in the Network, please contact Karen Weaver, Equality and Diversity Champion k.weaver@gre.ac.uk, with any questions you may have. The survey is still open, so do go online and share your views.

Disability, Uncategorised

Recruiting local disabled people

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Greenwich Association of Disabled People are looking to recruit local disabled people for their trustee board.

This could be a good opportunity for volunteers with professional experience, such as business planning, marketing or finance, to maintain their experience, or for students to gain experience relevant to their degree.  There may be others who can contribute their perspective as disabled people, helping the organisation ensure its services remain true to its core principles.

GAD has a long history in the local area since 1975, with a reputation that extends nationally.  GAD is highly committed to remaining an organisation run by and for disabled people.  As well as providing advice, information and advocacy services, GAD runs a Personal Assistants agency, providing close support for 60 local people, and supports users to become involved in the organisation at different levels, including representing the organisation externally.  See www.gad.org.uk for further information.

GAD is based in Greenwich, near the University’s maritime campus, based at The Forum@Greenwich on Trafalgar Road.

If you are interested, please contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator:

Telephone:  020 8305 2221

Email:  volunteers@gad.org.uk

Mental Health, Uncategorised

Share your experiences of mental health difficulties

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ECU is currently running two surveys exploring how institutions can support staff and students experiencing mental health difficulties.

Respondents need to have experienced mental health issues personally, and be a member of staff or a student within higher education. The links to the two surveys can be found here:

http://www.ecu.ac.uk/news/survey-support-for-staff-and-students-experiencing-mental-health-difficulties

Disability, Uncategorised

Autism Awareness Day Today

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Today is World Autism Awareness Day. It was set up by the United Nations in 1989 to raise awareness of the condition.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language. More information can be found on the National Autistic Society website here: http://www.autism.org.uk/

There are over 500,000 people with autism in the UK – that’s 1 in 100. Together with their families, that’s over two million people whose lives are touched by autism every single day.

Find out more about World Autism Day and the signs and symptoms of the condition here: http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/world-autism-awareness-day