Key workers conference

Over 50 key voluntary, public and campaigning sector workers were part of a conference to review the spending cuts and look at ways to ensure equality and diversity remains a government priority.

The London Empowerment Partnership and HEAR (Humanity, Equality and Rights Network), ‘Ensuring Equality in a Changing London’ conference this week  focused on the government’s priorities change; how to make sure equality and diversity stay at the centre of work on engaging communities; and how to deliver work that matters with radically reduced budgets.

The Spending Review and the Prime Minister David Cameron's Big Society message figured prominently in the debate speaker, Ashok Viswanathan, OBV Deputy Director said of the conference.

He stated: "It is important that communities and stakeholders come together to face the twin challenges of fighting persistent inequality in London and also rise to the challenge of how we collectively pursue an equalities agenda in the face of cuts in funding for groups critical to this fight”.

Todaywas the first step in a piecing together a coherent strategy to ensure all Londoners have equality of opportunity in this great city."

Other speakers at the conference included Vivienne Hayes, Chief Executive, Women’s Resource Centre, Elizabeth Henry, Chief Executive, Race on the Agenda, and Sarah Crowther, Director, Refugees in Active and Effective Partnership.