Working to end discrimination (From Barry And District News)

Working to end discrimination

REPRESENTATIVES from the Vale of Glamorgan Council were among the guests at the recent launch of a new project promoting race equality.

The organisation Race Equality First, which works to eliminate racial discrimination and promote equal opportunities, was celebrating the start of its new Access to Race Equality First (ATREF) project.

Established thanks to a £189,000 grant from the Community Fund, ATREF will help people living in the Vale of Glamorgan to gain easier access to its services by establishing a three-year outreach programme.

ATREF is the result of a successful pilot project supported by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the Cardiff Gypsy and Traveller Project, the Vale's Citizens Advice Bureau and South Wales Police, funded by Awards For All Wales and the Lloyds TSB Foundation.

The project is designed to make Race Equality First services more accessible to the community, with local officers Lynsey Shakespeare, Victoria Gregory and Simon Pathe holding monthly drop-in sessions to offer help to victims of racial discrimination and harassment.

The outreach officers will work closely with the Vale Council, reporting problems and issues and giving assistance with various race equality projects.

Lynsey has already assisted the council in writing a paper on how to promote better relationships between taxi drivers of different ethnic backgrounds.

At the launch of the ATREF project, held at Barry YMCA, there were presentations from guests including Race Equality First chairman Mian Majeed, Lynsey Shakespeare and Vale of Glamorgan councillor Gordon Kemp.

Guests were entertained with world music, a display by members of India Dance Wales and songs from around the world performed by the choir from Jenner Park Primary School, Barry.

Race Equality First Advice sessions are held on the first Monday of each month at the Citizen's Advice Bureau, 119 Broad Street, Barry from 1.30pm to 4pm.

There are also sessions on the first Wednesday of each month, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, at the Muslim Education and Welfare Association, 332 Holton Road, Barry.

To make an appointment, contact race Equality First on 029 2022 4097, fax 029 2022 9339 or email outreach@raceequalityfirst.org