EQUALITY NETWORKS FORUM

The Equality Networks Forum (ENF) was set up by Glasgow City Council in 2000 to give four Glasgow-based equalities networks a direct channel to influence the City Council.

The ENF is chaired by Councillor Irfan Rabbani.

These networks are:

Glasgow Disability Alliance,

Glasgow Women’s Voluntary Sector Network

Glasgow Black and Minority Ethnic Voluntary Sector Network and

The West of Scotland LGBT Forum.

The role of the Equality Networks Forum

The Equality Networks Forum meets four times a year to request reports from relevant officers of Glasgow City Council, proactively raise issues of concern, and to advise the Council on relevant areas of policy, consultation and service delivery.

Over the past two years, the City Council has used ENF meetings to consult with the Equality Networks on several key aspects of policy and services including:

• The Council’s draft Equality Strategy;
• Equality-proofing the Council’s Best Value review process;
• Examining the workforce profile of the City Council;
• Community Planning; and
• Approaches to equality in the Social Work and Culture & Leisure Services Departments.

Support Staff for the Equality Networks

In 2001, ENF employed a Communications and Resource Worker, Kate Henderson, to produce the quarterly Equality Bulletin and the weekly Equality Updates e-newsletters.

Kate is also responsible for developing other ENF communications resources such as online forums and mailing lists and the ENF website.

Following an external consultant’s report on the future direction of the four Equality Networks and of the Equality Networks Forum, GCVS appointed an Equality Networks Development Worker. This worker's role was to support the Networks to increase their impact on City Council policy and on key strategic partnerships in the City, and to enable the ENF to work more effectively for the Networks. This post was held by Richard Brunner, and then by Ruth Forrest. The funding has now ceased for this post.

Contacts

You can access all ENF material from this website or by emailing Kate or calling her on 0141 332 2444.

For more information on the Equality Networks or on the development of the Equality Networks Forum, or for a copy of the consultation report, email Kate or call her on 0141 332 2444

Convener of the ENF: Councillor Irfan Rabbani, City Chambers, Glasgow Tel 0141 287 4541

Clerk to the ENF: Committee Services, City Chambers, Glasgow; Tel 0141 287 5352

Forthcoming ENF meetings for 2008

Monday 22nd September (venue to be confirmed)

All meetings will be held in Wheatley House, Cochrane Street unless otherwise noted, from 4pm - 6pm

Meeting rooms are booked from 3.30pm to allow for a Networks Meeting prior to the full ENF meeting at 4.30pm.

Equality Networks Forum Draft Schedule of Meetings 2007 (includes information on pre-agenda meetings, deadlines forsubmission of items etc)

Consultation Responses

Equality Networks: joint response to Glasgow City Council draft Equality Policy (January 2006)

Equality Networks Forum (ENF) Response to Glasgow Community Planning Partnership “Engaging Our Communities” (October 2005)

Minutes and Agendas

Minutes 22nd Sept 2008 (uncorrected)