Monthly Archives: April 2013

LGBT, Uncategorised

Award Winning Screenplay a Knockout

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A screenplay about a boxer’s fight against homophobia has landed two knockout blows for a University of Greenwich lecturer.

Dr Chris Brown’s script, Knock-Out, features a boxer who has to tackle the prejudice of the men at his sports club when they find out he is gay. It has won two awards in the last fortnight: Best Screenplay at the London Independent Film Festival, and the Cordelia Award for Best UK Script at the BlueCat screenplay competition. BlueCat is based in Hollywood, and run by writer-director Gordy Hoffman, brother of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.  More … http://www2.gre.ac.uk/about/news/articles/2012/a2611-boxing-film

Gender, Uncategorised

Supporting Mothers to Become Clinician Scientists

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Women in academic medicine face many practical difficulties when they have children.

The British Medical Journal have published findings based on a maternity survey carried out at Imperial College London. The aim of the survey was to assess the impact of maternity leave and being a mother on academic career progression.

Please find the link here: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=20011322

Gender, Uncategorised

Employers Scoop Prizes for Gender Diversity Work

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‘Opportunity Now’ has partnered with The Times to publish a ‘Top 50 Employers for Women’ list.

All organisations within the Top 50 “demonstrate that gender equality is an integral part of their business strategy, with consistent commitment to progressing women in the workplace that covers their entire organisation, not just isolated areas,” explained Opportunity Now.

Entries were marked against a framework of best practice and assessed anonymously by a team of gender diversity experts.

The alphabetical list features UK employers from a wide range of sectors, such as Ernst & Young, Google, HM Revenue & Customs, Marks & Spencer and Unilever.

Ernst & Young was recognised for its commitment to developing a female talent pipeline, and this year set a target that at least 30 per cent of all new UK partners are female. Liz Bingham, Ernst & Young’s managing partner for people in the UK and Ireland said: “Diversity is a business imperative. As well as being the right thing to do, we believe that by attracting and retaining the best talent and developing our people, we will ultimately deliver a better service to our clients.”

Read more about Opportunity Now here: http://opportunitynow.bitc.org.uk/node/59265.

Gender, Uncategorised

BBC Proms Appoints First Female Director for Last Night

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BBC’s The Last Night of The Proms is to be led by a female conductor for the first time in its 118 year history.

American Marin Alsop said she was “thrilled” to conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra and violinist Nigel Kennedy.

The festival, which begins on 12 July, includes 92 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and four across the UK.

More … http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22188201

LGBT, Uncategorised

New Zealand Legalises Same-Sex Marriage

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New Zealand’s parliament has legalised same-sex marriage, the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.

Lawmakers approved the bill, amending the 1955 marriage act, despite opposition from Christian lobby groups.

The bill was passed with a wide majority, with 77 votes in favour and 44 against.

Hundreds of jubilant gay-rights advocates celebrated outside parliament after the bill was passed, calling it a milestone for equality.

More … http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22184232

Disability, Diversity, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, Mental Health

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – April 2013

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April is Autism Awareness month and with this in mind we have chosen Luke Jackson as our Inspirational Diversity Champion.

Luke Christopher Jackson is a British author who rose to fame at the age of 13, when he wrote a book from first-hand experience about his life with Asperger syndrome. In the book, entitled ‘Freaks, Geeks, and Asperger Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence’, Luke writes about his younger autistic and ADHD brothers, providing amusing insights into the antics of his younger years and advice for parents, carers and teachers of children with Asperger’s.

Luke’s main reason for writing was because “so many books are written about us, but none are written directly to adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. I thought I would write one in the hope that we could all learn together”.  The book created a sensation and greatly increased general awareness of the condition.

Luke left school at the age of 14 “after completely having had enough”. He has since been singing and playing in a band, has written two further books and has appeared in documentaries about Autism.

Disability, Uncategorised

Who is Matt Gilbert? Why is he Different?

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Matt Gilbert is a professional rugby player. What makes him different is that he is deaf. He is the only british deaf professional rugby player and he currently plays for Bath.

Find out more about Matt and deaf rugby here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/9900808/Bath-flanker-Mat-Gilbert-I-may-be-deaf-but-I-know-how-to-survive-on-the-rugby-field.html

http://www.englanddeafrugby.com/home/

Gender, Uncategorised

Susie Wolff Targets Place in Young Driver Test with Williams

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Williams development driver Susie Wolff is targeting a spot in the next young driver test as she continues her bid to secure a Formula 1 race seat.

The Scot drove an F1 car for the first time last October and was the first person to test this year’s Williams.

“I’m on a fantastic path but I don’t look too far ahead,” Wolff, 30, told BBC Sport. “I look at each small step.

“Now it’s about doing the young drivers days and proving I’m quick enough – and then getting a super licence.”

More … http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22080278