Help shape an Independent Equality Forum

Invitation to voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations. Positive work is happening across our communities every day. We want to celebrate that work and explore how a stronger collective voice could help advance equality across our area.

We are inviting voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations, community groups and interested individuals to an exploratory online discussion about developing an independent equality forum. Action Hampshire previously hosted the Hampshire Independent Equality Forum (HIEF) and some groups are telling us they would like something similar again. This is because many feel we are stronger working together as a collective voice for equality and advocating for individuals and communities. We welcome individuals and organisations from across Hampshire & the Solent, including the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.

The online session will be held on Thursday 10 December — Human Rights Day. It will be an opportunity to share views, identify priorities and consider what an independent forum could look like. We want to hear from you about what would be most helpful to you and your community or organisation going forward, and so we have no firm agenda yet for this session.

Topics for discussion could include:

· the purpose and priorities of a forum

· how it could be independent, inclusive and representative

· how organisations and communities could work together

· what support and next steps would be needed

· Ideas for how an independent equality forum may be funded

We are currently gathering expressions of interest

And would also like to know whether this initial discussion is of interest and if so, whether a daytime or evening session would be more convenient. To take part, please complete the short form Independent Equality Forum Initial Interest form.

Fill in form or email Claire Vincent at claire.vincent@actionhampshire.org or telephone 01962 674919.

The session time and joining details will be confirmed once we have heard from interested participants. This will then be circulated via the Action Hampshire newsletter and social media to invite participants to register to attend the initial online session.