COMMUNITY
RELATIONS STATEMENT
SCREENING
1. Introduction
1.1 NILGOSC
has drafted a Good Relations Policy in response to its commitment set out in
its Equality Scheme published in April 2001. The policy is in the form of a
statement designed to show the support of the most senior members of staff, the
Chairman and the Secretary. The statement is attached as Annex A.
1.2 This document sets out
the process for screening the Good Relations Statement ie the consideration as
to whether the Statement should be subject to an Equality Impact Assessment.
2. Objective
of the Policy
2.1 The objective of the
policy is to demonstrate that NILGOSC is committed to the
promotion of good relations as required by the Act between persons of different
religious beliefs, political opinions or racial groups.
3. Application
of the Policy
3.1 The policy applies to two main groups.
Firstly NILGOSC will promote good relations amongst its staff. This will be
implemented by senior management who will consult with the staff and trade
union. Secondly, all NILGOSC staff will recognise and respect the diversity and interdependence between other stakeholders such as members,
pensioners and suppliers.
3.2 The policy is applied to
all staff within NILGOSC.
4. Screening for Adverse
Impact
4.1 The policy promotes good relations amongst people of all nine groups referred to in the Northern Ireland Act :-
· between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
·
between men and women generally;
·
between persons with a disability and persons without;
and
·
between persons with dependants and persons without.
4.2 As all nine groups are included in the statement there is no differential impact on any one of the groups. There is therefore no requirement to subject the policy to an Equality Impact Assessment.
5. Monitoring
5.1 NILGOSC will monitor future training,
seminars and opportunities for discussion as outlined in the statement to
ensure that the content meets the objectives of the statement.
6. Consultation
on the Screening Process
6.1 This screening was subject to a formal consultation
exercise. Consultees included those individuals and organisations (see Annex B)
listed in Appendix I of the Committee’s Equality Scheme and amended through
experience. Public notices were also placed in the three local daily papers and
the document was published on the NILGOSC website.
6.2 The formal consultation exercise ended on 20th September 2002 after allowing
12 weeks for comments to be received.
6.3 Specific comments were received from two
consultees. The ICTU recommended that the policy was renamed from a ‘Community’
Relations Policy to a ‘Good’ Relations Policy. This recommendation has been
implemented.
6.4 The Community Relations Council offered
support in implementing the policy.
7. Policy Decision Following Consultation
Exercise
7.1 The Committee adopted the Good Relations
Statement at its meeting of 22nd October 2002.
8. Publication of Results
8.1 NILGOSC
will publish by the most appropriate method to those listed in Annex B and any
other organisation representing some or all of the stakeholders, the outcome of
this screening exercise.
8.2 This
material will also be available in printed form by contacting NILGOSC at
Templeton House, 411 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 2LP, telephone number 028
90768025. Alternative formats will be available on request. NILGOSC may inform the general public about
the availability of this material through press releases. It will also inform bodies listed at Annex B
when this material is available.
8.3 The
results of the screening will be posted on the NILGOSC website which is
http://www.nilgosc.org.uk/equality.htm.
Annex A
Good Relations
Statement
1. NILGOSC is committed to
the promotion of good relations within its workforce and between its
stakeholders.
2. NILGOSC supports the
three principles of Good Relations:-
·
Equity: providing
equality of opportunity to its employees and equal access to services for its
stakeholders.
·
Diversity: recognising,
understanding and tolerating difference
·
Interdependence: recognising
commonalties and obligations to others
3. NILGOSC wishes to meet the needs of a
diverse society which includes people of different gender, race, disability,
responsibility for dependants, sexuality, age, religious or political belief
and marital status.
4. NILGOSC has published an
Equality Scheme and an Equal Opportunities Policy which together set out the
Committee’s commitment to Equity. This commitment is extended to ensure that
the methods used to promote equality have positive effects on good relations.
5. Diversity and Interdependence within
the workforce will be recognised with the aim of making the most of everyone’s
potential. To assist this process:-
·
Management will provide positive leadership in encouraging greater
mutual understanding and respect for the different cultures and traditions in
NILGOSC
·
Seminars to explain the purpose of community relations and how it can be
encouraged will be provided
·
Opportunities will be made available for staff to discuss culturally
diverse issues in a neutral environment
6. Diversity and
Interdependence between stakeholders will be recognized, understood, tolerated
and respected by all employees of NILGOSC. NILGOSC will provide seminars for
employees to assist the understanding of diversity and interdependence.
This statement was adopted by the Committee at its meeting on 22nd
October 2002
Chairman Secretary
Annex B
List of Bodies to be Consulted
NILGOSC has compiled the following list of consultees
for all matters with a special emphasis on those who are affected by the
pension scheme policies.
This list was subject to consultation in 2000 and
amended as a result.
We will consult directly with Members and Pensioners
by way of a Members Panel and a Pensioners Panel. These panels will consist of
a representative sample of Members and Pensioners. We expect this form of
consultation to be the most effective in ensuring that all members, including
those categorised by Schedule 9 of the Act, have equality of opportunity for
pension scheme matters.
The list below is not exhaustive and may be amended in
the light of experience.
List of Organisations/Groups to Consult
Antrim Borough Council
Abode Housing Association Limited
Acorn Integrated Primary School
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland
Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School
Ards Borough Council
Ards Citizens' Advice Bureau
Ark Housing Association Northern Ireland Ltd
Armagh City & District Council
Armagh College of Further Education
Armagh Observatory
Armagh Planetarium
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Ballymena Academy
Ballymena Borough Council
Ballymoney Borough Council
Ballynafeigh Housing Association Limited
Banbridge District Council
Bangor Grammar School
Belfast Charitable Society
Belfast City Council
Belfast Community Housing Association Limited
Belfast Education & Library Board
Belfast High School
Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education
Belfast Print Workshop
Belfast Royal Academy
Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau
BIH Housing Association Limited
Bloomfield Collegiate School
Braidside Integrated Primary & Nursery School
Bridge Integrated Primary School
Campbell College
Carrickfergus Borough Council
Castlereagh Borough Council
Castlereagh College of Further and Higher Education
Causeway Institute of Further and Higher Education
Cedar Integrated Primary School
Choice Housing Association Limited
Christian Brothers Grammar School
Citybus Limited
Clothing and Industrial Training Services
Coleraine Academical Institution
Coleraine Borough Council
Coleraine Harbour Commissioners
Connswater Housing Association Ltd
Construction Industry Training Board
Convent Grammar School
Cookstown District Council
Council for Catholic Maintained Schools
Council for the Curriculum,Examinations
Countryside Recreation: Northern Ireland
Covenanter Residential Association Limited
Craigavon Borough Council
Dalriada School
Derry City Council
Derry Investment Initiative
Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau
Dominican College
Dominican College
Donacloney Housing Association Ltd
Down District Citizens' Advice Bureau
Down District Council
Drumragh Integrated College
Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council
East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education
East Down Institute of Further and Higher Education
East Tyrone College of Further Education
Engineering Training Council (NI) Limited
Enniskillen Integrated Primary School
Enterprise Ulster
Erne Integrated College
Fermanagh College of Further Education
Fermanagh District Council
Filor Housing Association Limited
Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
Flax Housing Association Limited
Fold Housing Association
Fold Housing Trust
Foyle and Londonderry College
Friends School
Glenmona Resource Centre
Gosford Housing Association
Grove Housing Association Limited
Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) Limited
Hazelwood College
Hazelwood Integrated Primary School
Hearth Housing Association Limited
Hunterhouse College
Integrated College Dungannon
Jordanstown Schools
Lagan College
Laganside Corporation
Larne Borough Council
Larne Grammar School
Law Society for Northern Ireland
Limavady Borough Council
Limavady College of Further and Higher Education
Linen Hall Library
Lisburn Borough Council
Lisburn Institute of Further and Higher Education
Lisnevin Juvenile Justice Board
Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland
Local Government Staff Commission
Loreto College
Loreto Grammar School
Loughview Integrated Primary School
Lumen Christi College
Magherafelt District Council
Malone College
Methodist College
Mill Strand Integrated Primary School
Millennium Forum
Millennium Integrated Primary School
Mount Lourdes Grammar School
Mourne Heritage Trust
Moyle District Council
New-Bridge Integrated College
Newington Housing Association (1975) Limited
Newry & Mourne District Council
Newry/Kilkeel College of Further Education
Newtownabbey Borough Council
North & West Housing Limited
North Coast Integrated College
North Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher
Education
North Down Borough Council
North East Institute of Further and Higher Education
North Eastern Education and Library Board
North West Institute of Further and Higher Education
Northern Ireland Association of Citizens' Advice
Bureaux
Northern Ireland Community Relations Council
Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing Association
Limited
Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education
Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations
Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority
Northern Ireland Hospice
Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Northern Ireland Local Government Association
Northern Ireland Local Government Officers'
Superannuation
Northern Ireland Railway Company Limited
Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company
Oakgrove Integrated College
Oakgrove Integrated Primary School
Oaklee Housing Association
Oakwood Integrated Primary School
Omagh College of Further Education
Omagh District Council
Ormeau Baths Gallery
Our Lady & St Patrick's College
Our Lady's Grammar School
Presbyterian Housing Association (NI) Limited
Probation Board for Northern Ireland
Rainey Endowed School
Rathgael Juvenile Justice Services
Rathmore Grammar School
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal College of Nursing
Royal School, Armagh
Royal School, Dungannon
Rural Development Council for Northern Ireland
Rural Housing Association
Sacred Heart Grammar School
Saints and Scholars Integrated Primary School
Shimna Integrated College
Slemish Integrated College
South Eastern Education and Library Board
South Ulster Housing Association Limited
Southern Education and Library Board
Spires Integrated Primary School
Sports Council for Northern Ireland
St Columb's College
St Dominic's High School
St Joseph's Adolescent Centre
St Joseph's Grammar School
St Louis Grammar School
St MacNissi's College
St Malachy's College
St Mary's Christian Brothers
St Mary's Grammar School
St Mary's University College
St Matthew's Housing Association Limited
St Michael's College
St Patrick's Boys Academy
St Patrick's Girls Academy
St Patricks Grammar School
Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards
Strabane District Council
Strangford College
Stranmillis University College
Strathearn School
Students Housing Association Co-Op Limited
Sullivan Upper School
Thornhill College
Ulidia Housing Association Limited
Ulidia Integrated College
Ulsterbus Limited
United Dairy Farmers
University of Ulster
Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education
Victoria College
Wallace High School
Western Education and Library Board
Windmill Integrated Primary School
Woodvale & Shankill Housing Association Limited
Youth Council for Northern Ireland
Youthnet
Equality Commission
Community Relations Council
Northern Ireland Committee ICTU
NIPSA
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Department of the Environment
NI Council for Ethnic Minorities
Child Care Northern Ireland
Help the Aged
Coalition on Sexual Orientation
Disability Action
NI Anti-Poverty Network
Gingerbread
Committee on the Administration of Justice
West Belfast Economic Forum
NI Association for the Care and Resettlement of
Offenders
RNID NI
NILGOSC Staff