The West Midlands is a region of contrasts. It includes the second largest urban area in the country, covering Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country, as well as some of the most remote countryside in areas like the Welsh Marches.
It contains areas of high deprivation, particularly in Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Stoke- on- Trent, but also very prosperous areas like Solihull, South Warwickshire and the Vale of Evesham.
In 2006, the population of the region was estimated to be 5.367 million - around 10.6% of the English population. Of these, 43% lived in the main West Midlands conurbation, covering Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.
Regional Action West Midlands (RAWM) has been tasked by the Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM) to establish a Race Equality Policy Group to be chaired by WMREAB.
The policy group will be supported by Simon Hackett as RAWM’s policy officer. WMREAB will commission 2 reports by 31st March 2009. The first report will be on the ‘State of the Region’, which will outline the current context and position of race and equality in the region. The second report will look at how to ‘move forward’ which will identify good practice and outline recommendations to address gaps. These will be presented at the Race Equality Policy Group.
Objectives of the Race Equality Policy Group Group
a) To provide a cohesive voice for the VCS on race and equality at a Regional level and seek to influence regional policy and strategy
b) To provide a point of contact for statutory partners
c) To compile the current context and position of race and equality in the region
d) Undertake research to identify gaps in issues relating to race equality
e) Make recommendations on how current gaps in race equality provision may be filled
f) Identify good practice on issues of race equality
The Race Equality Policy Group had its inaugural meeting on 11th November 2008. There were over 25 representatives from organisations across the west midlands.
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This post was written by admin on November 30, 2008