Equality and Human Rights Coalition

The VCS Equality and Human Rights Framework

Amanda ArissEquality and Diversity Forum

What I’ll cover • Equality and Diversity Forum• Background to the Framework• Where’s the fire?• How it works• What’s next

Equality and Diversity ForumWho we are• Network of NGOs committed to progress on equality and

human rights, founded in 2002Aim to • Promote dialogue and trust, enable joint action and

support better practiceStrategic goals1. Build greater support for values of equality and human

rights2. Influence and inform policy and practice3. Build capacity of NGOs to be more effective on equality

and human rights

Background to EHR Framework

• Third sector practitioners, mostly equality leads in big charities, looking for tool to facilitate systematic progress

• Couldn’t find a tool right for our sector – so they decided to develop one themselves

• Desk research and events to scope need• Raised some money• Commissioned Glasgow Council for Voluntary Sector

and Coalition on Racial Equality and Rights to draft• Pilot with 16 organisations• Revised framework now up and running

Where’s the fire?• Third Sector’s heart in right place but …• Practice very varied and tends to lag• Fewer external drivers than in public sector

– Public sector equality duty and human rights act affect some but not all in sector

– In England, umbrella bodies have given E&HR little priority

• Pressure on capacity and agendas across Third Sector• Relative lack of training and investment in good E&HR

practice/skills in Third Sector

Organisations need to … • Reach all their intended beneficiaries • Strengthen advocacy • Expand opportunity by opening up volunteering to new

groups • Draw on the widest pool of talent • Support productivity, creativity and innovation, often with

fewer resources• Use resources even more efficiently and effectively• Avoid costly and damaging litigation• Show they do all of this

How the Framework Works• Free online tool• Designed for all and any Third Sector organisation

How the Framework Works• Free online tool• Designed for all and any Third Sector organisation• Eight modules, usable in any order, covering all main

Third Sector areas of action• Integrated approach to equality and human rights

How the Framework Works• Free online tool• Designed for all and any Third Sector organisation• Eight modules, usable in any order, covering all main

Third Sector areas of action• Integrated approach to equality and human rights• Each module has suggested goals, actions and progress

indicators, plus links for further information• Users have their own account

How the Framework Works• Free online tool• Designed for all and any Third Sector organisation• Eight modules, usable in any order, covering all main

Third Sector areas of action• Integrated approach to equality and human rights• Each module has suggested goals, actions and progress

indicators, plus links for further information• Users have their own account• Accounts used to plan and track progress, set target

dates, automatic reminders etc• Hope to build in capacity for users interaction

What’s next• Launched in Scotland in spring 2014• Rolling out the framework area by area• Secured funding for support programme in London• Looking for funding for other areas• Exploring best options for long term sustainability• Living tool, hope to develop & refine it further from user

feedback• Please help share this new tool designed for our sector

by our sector

www.ehrf.org.uk