Taskforce Partners and useful links

Fawcett Society – http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/
Campaigns for equality between women and men in the UK on pay, pensions, poverty, justice and politics

Improvement and Development Agency for local government http://www.idea.gov.uk/
National adviser to councils on equality and cohesion

Electoral Reform Society – http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/
Campaigns for electoral reform to deliver a fairer, more responsive political system for women in the UK.

London Councils – "Be a Councillor Campaign" http://www.beacouncillor.org.uk/ 
Working with Capital Ambition and the Leadership Centre for Local Government on the 'Be a Councillor' campaign, which is about making people more aware of the work of their local council, and councillors, with a view to encouraging more people to consider standing in the 2010 elections.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/
Working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.

Local Government Association (LGA) http://www.lga.gov.uk/
The LGA exists to promote better local government, working with and our member authorities to realise a shared vision of local government that enables local people to shape a distinctive and better future for their locality and its communities.

Centre for Women and Democracy (cfwd).  http://www.cfwd.org.uk/
The Centre for Women & Democracy is an independent, non-partisan organisation working to increase the representation of women at all levels of public life.

National Association of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Councillors (NABAEMC) - http://www.nabaemc.org.uk/
A Cross-Party-Association for BAME Local Councillors throughout the UK; supports members with training, seminars, national conferences and networking opportunities.

Operation Black Vote - http://www.obv.org.uk/
The home of black politics

RADAR (the disability network) www.radar.org.uk/radarwebsite/

National organisation run by disabled people. Bookshop, mailing list and email chat service. Links to other disability sites.

Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) Enterprises  www.solaceenterprises.com/

SOLACE Enterprises delivers a comprehensive range of tailored and integrated consulting and resourcing services to the public sector.

National Black Women’s Network   http://www.nbwn.org/
The NBWN is a non-profit organisation dedicated to raising the status and position of black women in all walks of life.

Women’s National Commission – http://www.thewnc.org.uk/ 
An independent, advisory body that aims to ensure that women’s views are taken into account by the Government and are heard in public.

 USEFUL LINKS

The National Muslim Women's Advisory Group, set up by the Department of Communities and Local Government, is running a civic participation project targeting those already involved in civic society as well as those considering it. More information can be found at: http://www.localleadership.gov.uk/.

Appointments Commission – http://www.appointments.org.uk/
Specialise in the recruitment, training and appraisal of people for board level public appointments to NHS bodies, ministerial advisory bodies and other arm's length bodies in England.

Connecting Communities Plus - http://www.cdf.org.uk/
The £18m Connecting Communities Plus grants programme (running from April 2006 - March 2009), is an integral part of the Government’s funding for activities which encourage and promote race equality and foster strong community relations. 

Councillors Commission - http://www.communities.gov.uk/councillorscommission/                               Independent Commission on the role of local councillors, looking at the incentives and barriers to serving on councils

DirectGov - http://www.direct.gov.uk/
Provides guidance on taking up public appointments and becoming a schoolgovernor

One Stop Shop for School Governors – http://www.sgoss.org.uk/
A small, highly successful charity, which recruits volunteers to become governors in schools across England

Public Appointment Vacancies http://www.publicappts-vacs.gov.uk/

Public appointments are open to everyone, from all backgrounds and every walk of life. This website provides details of vacancies in England and for public bodies that operate throughout the UK.

Women Take Part (Changes) sue.gorbing@changesuk.net

Research to establish practical ways in which grass roots women can become engaged in governance and decision making, in both community and public life