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<<Final Report.pdf>> <<Flyer for Event.doc>> Dear Colleagues, I am sending out the invitation to an LSC sponsored event on 10 September. I have attended some meetings of the working group on this project, however, I do not feel in a position, at this stage, to support the ideas that the project seems to be working towards with regard to a professional association for E&D practitioners, and a competency based qualification. The event mentioned below is a "consultation event" and you may want to go along and express your views. The consultancy report was based on only 210 responses from E&D practitioners nationally across all sectors public, private and voluntary and therefore not a very representative sample when you consider the thousands of people in the public sector alone working in the E&D field. I don't want to influence the debate too much as I may be wrong about this. Perhaps if you can you will go along yourself and make up your own minds. I attach the final report/feasibility study from the Focus consultants and the event flyer. Best wishes, Syd. Dear Colleagues, We would like to invite you to a consultation event in Birmingham on Monday 10 September to move the equality and diversity agenda forward. The LSC is leading an EQUAL-funded project to develop a professional association for people working wholly or partly towards equality and diversity across all sectors, including public, private, voluntary and education, and recently published a feasibility study (pdf document attached). Alongside developing an association, the project aims to: * develop and consult on a set of nationally agreed competences and standards for equality and diversity practitioners * identify existing equality and diversity training resources * examine the fit between nationally agreed competences for equality and diversity and the range of E&D products and services which are currently available Some key findings from the feasibility study (which is also available in alternative formats) include that: * Overall, nearly eighty percent of respondents are in favour of the development of an association * A significant minority (twenty-three percent) believe that they currently lack the training required to carry out their roles effectively * Few respondents are aware of suitable training courses, and those who are highly experienced are frustrated by the lack of advanced courses The consultation event will explore and develop on the feasibility study findings, and allow you to have your say about professionalising the equality and diversity field. It is taking place on Monday 10th September 2007, 10am-4pm in Birmingham (see flyer attached for further details). Please advise me via e-mail, telephone or post if you wish to attend the event (which will be on a first come first serve basis) by Monday 13th August. Not able to attend? - still have your say! Let me have your thoughts by post, e-mail or telephone. Special Requirements - If there any access or dietary requirements that I need to be aware of to allow you to attend the event, then please advise me prior to the event so that I can ensure your requirements are catered for in advance of the event. For further details on the project please visit http://www.lsc.gov.uk/aboutus/equality-diversity/ Look forward to seeing you at the event. Many thanks Natasha ______________________________________ Natasha Groocock EQUAL Project Co-ordinator Learning and Skills Council Learning Group Cheylesmore House Quinton Road Coventry CV1 2WT T: 02476823845 M: 07803746631 Syd Kent mailto:[log in to unmask] Equality and Diversity Officer University of Essex Wivenhoe park Colchester Essex CO4 3SQ Phone: 01206 872390 Fax: 01206 873396