Category Archives: Equality

Diversity, Equality, Ethnicity, Inclusion, Race

Christian Cole: Oxford University’s first black student

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In a salute to a “remarkable” man, the University of Oxford has paid tribute to its first black student. But who was Christian Cole and what was life like for him at a time when being black at the university wasn’t merely unusual, but remarkable?

Cole was always likely to turn heads when he arrived in Oxford to read classics.

It was 1873 and he was a 21-year-old black man from Waterloo, Sierra Leone, studying alongside young men from the elite families of Victorian England (His arrival pre-dated the institution of the university’s first women’s college by six years.).  More

Equality, Gender

Female referees Joy Neville and Alhambra Nievas to officiate men’s internationals

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Alhambra Nievas and Joy Neville will both take charge of men’s international matches this year, becoming the first women referees in Europe to do so.

Spain’s Nievas will officiate Finland v Norway in the Conference 2 division on 14 October.

Neville will take charge of Norway’s match against Denmark two weeks later.

The former Ireland captain and Six Nations Grand Slam winner refereed the Women’s Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and England in the summer.  More

Equality, Gender

RSC chooses female directors for all plays in summer 2018 season

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For the first time in its history, all plays in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new season at its two main theatres will be directed by women.

On Tuesday the company announced its summer 2018 season, with a directorial lineup of Polly Findlay, Erica Whyman, Fiona Laird, Maria Aberg and Jo Davies.

The RSC’s artistic director, Gregory Doran, said it was not a deliberate act but part of a process whereby they had “reached a point where those women directors had been with us and had grown, developed”.

Equal representation for women in theatre is one of the liveliest debates in the sector and strides have been made in addressing what were often shocking imbalances. But many believe more changes are needed.  More

Diversity, Equality, LGBT

Glasgow Alphas: Why coach Adam ‘owes life’ to inclusive rugby

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Bullied for his weight and sexuality, Adam Harrison was spiralling into despair.

As a teenager, Adam loved rugby, but was unable to find a place within it. He didn’t think he’d ever fulfil his dream of playing in a team. Now he blazes a trail as a coach, player, inspiring a new generation of LGBTQ players.

He explains how rugby rescued him…

Rugby became the most important thing when it saved my life.

My depression had led me to have vivid images of self-harm. I began spiralling and flying through several dark emotions in spells that lasted minutes. More

Diversity, Equality, Gender

BBC 100 Women: Nine things you didn’t know were invented by women

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Asked to name important inventors and you might start with Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell or Leonardo da Vinci.

But what about Mary Anderson? Or Ann Tsukamoto?

You might not know their names, but they are just two of the female inventors behind everyday objects and scientific innovations.

BBC 100 Women, the season featuring stories of inspiring and influential women, is taking on a new challenge.

This year, women from around the world will be asked to come up with innovations to tackle some of the biggest problems they face.

Scroll down for more information about 100 Women – and, for more inspiration, here are nine inventions we wouldn’t have, if it weren’t for ground-breaking women.  More

Age, Disability, Diversity, Equality, Ethnicity, Gender, Inclusion, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, LGBT, Mental Health, Race, Religion, Transgender

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – August 2017

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International Youth Day is on 12 August and as 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) we have chosen them as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the month for their with the local community and programmes for young people.

The community programme was established in 1992 and became Charlton Athletic Community Trust in 2003. Known as CACT, it is famed for its work in its local communities and has scooped numerous prestigious industry awards over recent years.

The community initiative began when the football club returned to The Valley in 1992. It started with just one member of staff, a bag of footballs and a telephone and has now grown into an organisation that employs 100 permanent staff, has a pool of over 100 casual coaches and engages with thousands of people on a weekly basis.

CACT uses the power of football and sport to engage, empower and provide positive opportunities and activities for young people.

The trust delivers successful community programmes is the following areas:

  • Education
  • Social Action and Enterprise
  • Early Help And Prevention
  • Equality, Diversity And Inclusion
  • Football And Sports Development
  • Youth Services
  • Health Improvement

 As well as young people the trust has many other initiatives in the community, with their work on mental health in the over 65 age group, recently being nominated for a national award.

The university has strong connections with the football club and continue to be a patron following a three year period as the shirt sponsor.  Our LGBT+ staff network have continued links with Proud Valiants, Charlton’s LGBT+ fans’ group and the trust have often attended university events, particularly in relation to their stop smoking campaign.

To find out more about CACT and the excellent work that they do go to their website at http://www.cact.org.uk/

Follow them on twitter at https://twitter.com/CAFCTrust

Diversity, Equality, Ethnicity, Gender, Race

BBC Gender and BAME Pay Gap

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Chris Evans has topped the list of the BBC’s best-paid stars.

He made between £2.2m and £2.25m in 2016/2017, while Claudia Winkleman is the BBC’s highest-paid female celebrity, earning between £450,000 and £500,000.

Match of the Day’s Gary Lineker earned between £1.75m and £1.8m, the BBC annual report said.

Director general Tony Hall said there was “more to do” on gender and diversity.

The figures reveal large disparities between what men and woman are paid.

There is also disparity between what white stars and those from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background are paid.

George Alagiah, Jason Mohammad and Trevor Nelson are the highest paid BAME stars, each receiving between £250,000 and £300,000.  More

Equality, Gender

Andy Murray corrects journalist’s ‘casual sexism’

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Andy Murray has corrected a journalist after he said Sam Querrey, who knocked the British player out of Wimbledon earlier, was “the first US player to reach a major semi-final since 2009”.

The newly-deposed Wimbledon champion reminded the reporter he was only talking about male players, as there had, of course, been considerably more success for the US on the female side of the sport.

Since 2009, Serena Williams has won 12 Grand Slam tournaments.

On social media, Murray was praised for refusing to allow “casual sexism”, and his mother, Judy, tweeted proudly:“That’s my boy.”  More