News release 26 June 2008

As new legislation is announced to outlaw all forms of discrimination, South Derbyshire District Council is inviting local people to be involved in its work to ensure fairness throughout the District.

Says Cllr Mrs Julie Patten, the Council's Equalities and Fairness Champion, "South Derbyshire’s Values and Attitudes Forum is open to any individuals, groups or organisations that advise and support other people and who are interested in helping us develop our services.

"This week we have set out our targets when we launched our Equality and Fairness Corporate Scheme. All councils have legal duties when it comes to race, gender, disability, sexuality, religion and age equality. This means when we carry out our services we have to make sure we don’t discriminate against people because of who they are. We also have to promote equal opportunities and good relations between people of different racial groups, between men and women and between disabled people and people who are not disabled. When we set out our plans on how we are going to promote equalities it is important to us we discuss them with our service users and partners"

The Values and Attitudes group is made up of our partners and consists of organisations that provide advice and support to people and other public organisations such as advice and support to older people, disabled people, minority ethnic people and gay and lesbian people. The Values and Attitudes Group also has organisations such as the Council for Voluntary Services and the Police as members.

To find out more about the Values and Attitudes Group please contact Lakbir Basi by email lakbir.basi@south-derbys.gov.uk  or by telephoning 01283 595822.