Promoting trans equality - the 7th equality strand (Newcastle)

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) working in partnership with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the Forum for Sexual Orientations and Gender Identity Equality in post-school education and with support from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS), have designed a series of trans-equality development workshops.  These interactive workshops are designed to inform, develop and build individual and organisational learning and to give you the skills to effectively promote and mainstream trans-equality.

Overview

The workshops have been designed and will be delivered by colleagues and learners from the trans community in further education, with input from the Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) and Laura Miles from the UCU.

Practical, interactive and engaging, these workshops use the 'lived experience', presentations from colleagues and learners from the trans community, case studies and small group discussions to develop your understanding, build knowlegde and the skills needed to meaningfully promote trans equality in your organisations.

The 7th strand familiarises participants with the law and uses existing guidance such and the 'Guidance on trans quality in post-school education', and 'Leading trans-equality: a toolkit for colleges' (Whittle and Turner - poub CEI/QIA) to help participants identify how the gender equality dity should be used in the context of trans equality.

Participants will be supported in identifying

• practical steps they and their organisations need to take to achieve trans equality
• opportunity to share effective practices from further education and from other sectors

Benefits

You will:

• have a greater understanding of the law and of the 7th equality strand
• hear from trans staff and learners, as they share their perspectives and bring they lived experiences to the discussions
• have access to real life and good practice examples
• explore how to develop a trans-positive/friendly environment and ethos
• learn approaches to embedding trans equality into the organisation
• be supported to develop and action plan

Who should attend?

• human resources staff
• equality and diversity staff/practitioners
• student services staff
• staff, student and trade union officers
• curriculum, teaching staff
• principals, vice principals, directors and department heads
• governors

The event will be support by a dedicated area on the Virtual Learning Envinronment (VLE).  The workshops will also inform the development of a trans equality online training resource.

Fee

Workshops cost £50.  A non-attendance fee of £85 will be charged to delegate organisations.

The events will take place in:

• Birmingham 22 January 2010
• Bristol 11 February 2010
• London 25 February 2010
• Manchester 4 March 2010
• Newcastle 25 March 2010