“Equal, just and fair treatment is every person’s right”

​

Inequalities in our communities deprives people of opportunities and contributes to less favourable outcomes for some populations groups.  Some of these issues are deep-rooted in our society, especially through structural or systemic discrimination in institutions found in procedures, policies, programmes and health systems.  Making Voices Matter Differently has been designed to increase RES’s capacity to lead the way in upholding local communities shared values of justice, freedom and compassion through our outreach and casework.

 

The aims of Making Voices Matter Differently:

 

• deal with day-to-day queries and complex cases of inequality, injustice, discrimination, and racism

• champion the rights of the most disadvantaged by continuing to support individuals whose voices are seldom heard through outreach and case work support

• strengthen existing partnerships, build new partnerships, represent the community of Sandwell and issues important to them in strategic meetings calling for action,

​

In the current challenging times the pandemic highlighted major differences in the experiences of different ethnic groups in key areas such as health care, education, employment opportunities, housing and poverty, policing and the criminal justice system.  Inequality, injustice, discrimination and racism causes harm to people in many different ways.  It is also known that inequality is increasing mainly propagated by structures that embed this through policies, processes, access, and service delivery.  

 

Many people who face challenges are often passed off and come to RES for fair, just, reliable, and valid outcomes for their concerns.  As an independent and non-statutory organisation RES ensures that a fair and just process is implemented, and clear explanation is provided of the outcome so that individuals feel that their concerns mattered.

​

RES would awarded core funding for financial support to cover RES’s basic “core” organisational and administrative costs.  This has increased RES’s capacity to lead the way in upholding local communities shared values of justice, freedom and compassion through our outreach and casework.  Please see case studies of the people we have supported.

 

RES is the only organisations currently within the Borough of Sandwell providing support for victims of racial harassment, discrimination and inequality.  It is important to have an independent service that empowers and promotes inclusivity ensuring equal opportunity for all.  

There is also an increase in some population groups (Asylum Seekers, Refugees, Gypsies and the Traveller Community) moving into Sandwell Borough who are experiencing unfair treatment.  At present it is difficult to state roughly how many asylum seekers & refugees live in Sandwell, and an unknown figure for the gypsy and traveller residing within the borough of Sandwell, (this figure is difficult to ascertain due to their nomadic nature).  

 

Some people face a range of barriers; these include, the under reporting of racial harassment and discrimination crimes committed against these communities, due to their fear and distrust of the police and other such public bodies, the range of languages spoken in Sandwell (there are at present 44 different languages spoken in Sandwell).