July 10th is Disability Awareness Day, and so I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the disabilities which people may not be aware of or even recognise in the community. Hidden Disabilities can be defined as a physical or mental health condition that limits a person’s movements, senses or activities, yet may not be immediately apparent or recognised. As a Housing Support Worker, I find myself providing a
We all get stressed. The question is: what do you do about it? It matters because if we don’t release stress, it can turn into something more serious. This year, one in four of us will develop a mental health problem. That is odds of 3 to 1; or about the same as France or Germany winning the Euro 2016 football. In other words, it’s likely to happen sooner or
ITV News presenter Charlene White took centre stage on 12th May to host the Excellence in Diversity Awards, celebrating inclusive employers and diversity champions. Companies and charities nationwide were honoured at the ceremony at The Queens Hotel in Leeds. Over a thousand nominations had been received showcasing incredible achievements in promoting equality. A panel of judges including Miranda Wayland (ITV), Sharon Pegg (The Co-operative Group) and Andy Woodfield (PwC) gathered earlier this
On International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, we look at the chequered history of the ongoing quest for equal rights and legal recognition. 1533 - During the reign of Henry VIII, all sexual intercourse between two men was made illegal, punishable by death. Between 1533 and 1558 the law was repealed and then reinstated twice. 1785 - Jeremy Bentham published an essay arguing for the decriminalisation of sex
Touchstone’s vision is to inspire communities and to transform lives. Over our 30 plus years of operating across West Yorkshire this aspiration has led us to focus on the hopes, experiences and outcomes of our most diverse communities, as experience shows that these communities are most often the most excluded, marginalised and overlooked. These reports will hopefully go some way to ensuring the rights and entitlements of Roma men and Black women born out
To mark Trans Day of Visibility (31st March) we profile the life of a pioneering trans activist. Sylvia Rivera, who was of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan descent, was born in New York City and named Ray Rivera by her parents. She became an orphan at 3 years old and was then raised by her Venezuelan grandmother, who disapproved of Rivera's effeminate behaviour, particularly after Rivera began to wear makeup. As
Diversity Champions and Inclusive Employers shortlisted for Pioneering Diversity Awards Throughout the year, there are some individuals who work tirelessly to remove barriers and put diversity at the very heart of everything they do. This year, on May 12th, The Excellence in Diversity Awards will once again celebrate those who go above and beyond the call of duty to improve the lives of others in their communities and workplaces around
[View the story "#LoveHasNoReligion" on Storify]
By Geraldine M Monday 8th February 2016 is the day many people will be saying ‟Gong xi fa cai” (pronounced, roughly, ‟gong she fars eye”) - the Chinese greeting for ‟Happy New Year” - meaning ‟Be happy, get rich”. …to which the response is often ‟Hong bao na lai” (‟hong bow na lie”) which means ‟Where’s my red envelope?” since a red envelope with money inside is a
To celebrate LGBT History Month in February 2016, Touchstone will profile a significant figure from LGBT history each week. Harvey Bernard Milk was an American politician who became the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Milk began his tenure by sponsoring a civil rights bill that outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation.