What we do

Challenging discrimination

Reading Council for Racial Equality:

Support victims of racial discrimination and offer sign-posting advice to victims of other forms of discrimination.
Approach issues regarding Rights, Responsibilities and Respect as a complete package.
Oppose Segregation, bigotry and extremism because they have no place in a cohesive society.
Reach out to all sections of society to listen, inform, and encourage mutual respect and cooperation to eliminate prejudice and discrimination.
Support the empowerment of communities, self help and harmonious community relations.
Give encouragement and recognition to good practice and role models.
Develop our knowledge and experience to promote all strands of equality.
Support the establishment of a regional BME network.

Strategic Leadership on Equality Issues

Reading Council for Racial Equality:

Provides leadership on Equality and Diversity issues with local key public and Voluntary sector service providers.
Coordinate and advise on activities for the Reading community, such as the Reading Declaration, the Reading 2020 local Strategic Partnership and the Reading Community Cohesion Strategy.
Are key partners in ‘The FORUM (Reading Voluntary Sector Forum)’ and its infrastructure development functions, and the ‘Reading Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership’.
Provide much needed support for the Hate and Hidden Crime Delivery Group and lead the Berkshire West and Reading Racist Incidents Forum.

ALAFIA Disability Support

Alafia supports ethnic minority children and young adults with disabilities and their carers.
Alafia’s strategies are linked with the Children and Young People’s Plan and the Reading 2020 Partnership Local Area Agreement to inform policy and practice.
Alafia helps improve access to information and advice so that the parent carers are able to make informed decisions.
Alafia also works closely with the health and social care professionals to ensure that the service they provide is culturally appropriate and fair.

Community development and engagement

Building for Strength

We work with Voluntary and Community Sector partners to:

Iincrease the capacity of under represented and harder to reach groups to develop services to meet the needs of their communities.
Reduce isolation and marginalisation of underrepresented communities and mainstream their views.
Improve access and capacity of VCS facilities and to provide hot desking facilities for start-up / community groups.
Integrate and sustain infrastructure support.

If possible to insert either the BfS Partnership diagram or a link to it.

UNI Regional network

RCRE is a member of Uni Network, the regional BME network. RCRE is also Uni Network's accountable and host body. As a member of the Steering Group, RCRE plays a role in managing Uni Network's core programme of work. We hold a strategic lead role in directing the network to meet its core objectives:

Develop a pool of skilled and competent community representatives. Secure representation to enable the influence of stakeholders and policy.
Design and deliver training programmes in consultation with frontline groups. Establish a consultation framework across stakeholders and local networks.
Develop partnerships with the new regional diversity networks.

> For further information about this project, please visit the Uni Network website.

Training and consultancy

We can:

Deliver tailor-made training programmes on Race and Diversity awareness.
Advise on development and review of Equal Opportunity policies.
Offer consultancy on Equality Impact Assessments and review of Race Equality Schemes (See Further information above: TVP Consultation Document & Questionnaire).
Provide community ambassadors for consultation, at training programmes and community cohesion events.

Equal opportunities statement

The services provided by RCRE are available to all irrespective of colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, transgender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age or religion. Inform us of any physical, language or cultural needs before your first visit and we will try to meet the need. If you think there is any way in which we can improve our services, please inform the staff.