Equality Links

Equality Links

The Equality Act covers nine protected characteristics, which cannot be used as a reason to treat people unfairly.  Every person has one or more of the protected characteristics, so the act protects everyone against unfair treatment. 

Below are links to organisations and groups which support the protected characteristics.

Age

Age Positive 
Government campaign on age discrimination.

Age UK Information and advice on ageing issues

Disability

Cumbria Disability Network
Network which develops links between disability associations ensuring that they reflect all impairment groups.

DeafVisionA registered charity and the lead organisation for deaf issues and support in Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway.

Directgov
Information about disability rights.

Employers Forum on Disability Employers' Forum on Disability is the world's leading employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects business.

Nationwide Disabled Access Register Accessible venues in Cumbria

Gender

The Gender Trust The Gender Trust is a UK organisation supporting transsexuals and others suffering from Gender Identity Disorder by promoting public education about transgender issues and providing information to those affected.

Fawcett Society
Fawcett campaigns for gender equality in the UK, looking at women's rights in issues such as equal pay, pensions, poverty, justice and politics.

The Rights of Women
Rights of Women works to attain justice and equality by informing, educating and empowering women on their legal rights.

Gingerbread
National Charity which provides advice and practical support for single parents.

Marriage and Civil partnership

CivilPartnershipInfo.co.uk
Free guide for gay and lesbian couples in the UK considering a Civil Partnership.

Directgov
Information on getting married or forming a civil partnership, legal obligations, overseas marriages, forced marriages, cohabitation and civil partnerships : your rights

Cumbria Registration Service (Cumbria County Council)
The Cumbria Registration Services manages process of registering births and deaths, and the legal preliminaries and conducting of ceremonies for civil marriages and civil Partnership.

Pregnancy and Maternity

Directgov
Pregnancy and maternity rights in the workplace.

Race

Awaz
Organisation which develops links between Black and Minority Ethnic people of all backgrounds, and engages with faith groups.

Best Life Independent Advocacy  
Provides advocacy service for all adults.

Cumbria Multicultural Women's Network
Brings together women of diverse cultures now living in Cumbria.

The Runnymede Trust
The UK’s leading independent race equality thinktank which generates intelligence for a multi-ethnic Britain through research, network building, leading debate, and policy engagement.

Religion or belief

The Inter Faith Network
Founded in 1987 to promote good relations between people of different faiths in the UK.

British Humanist Association
The national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity.

Sex and sexual orientation

OutREACH Cumbria Develops links between Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender people.

PiNC
A youth group based in Carlisle for young people who identify as LGBT or questioning their sexuality

Stonewall
Group which promotes equal rights for gay men, lesbians and bisexuals.

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation
Contains information for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transvestite communities on sexual health, well being, groups and events.

Transgender

Gires
Information for trans people, their families and the professionals who care for them.

Young People

Equality and Human Rights Commission
Young people’s rights.

General Equality and Diversity Links

Equality and Diversity Forum
A network of national organisations committed to equal opportunities, social justice, good community relations, respect for human rights and an end to discrimination based on age, disability, gender and gender identity, race, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.

Equality and Human Rights Commission
Statutory body which promotes and monitors human rights; and to protect, enforce and promote equality across the nine "protected" grounds - age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

Home Office 
Leads on issues relating to women, sexual orientation and transgender equality matters and has responsibility across government for equality strategy and legislation.

External websites – In providing these links Cumbria County Council accepts no responsibility for their content.