Citizens Advice Bureaux receive new EHRC funding to tackle discrimination
Twenty Citizens Advice Bureaux across England and Wales have been awarded grants by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to provide advice on discrimination problems and to build people’s awareness of human rights and access to justice.
The total amount awarded is £750,000 and comes from the first round of the EHRC’s £10 million funding programs across the United Kingdom to promote the values of fairness, promoting equality and human rights and supporting the development of legal casework. The bureaux won the funding to appoint new posts such as outreach discrimination advisors and employment rights officers and deliver specific projects including awareness raising programmes.
David Harker, chief executive of Citizens Advice said: “I am thrilled for all the bureaux. This money will allow them to extend their work with some of the most disadvantaged people in local communities. It will allow them to work even more with community and local partners to support and mentor volunteers and build people’s awareness of their human rights.”
Nicola Brewer, Chief Executive of EHRC said: “This is about helping those organisations that make a real difference at a local level. Citizens Advice Bureaux have both the local knowledge and expertise to bring real benefits to their local communities. Support for these organisations is critical if we are to succeed in extending equality and fairness to all people in Britain.”
Citizens Advice has also received a grant of £40,000 from the Commission to develop tools and training for the service to raise human rights and discrimination issues with public bodies. Last year (2006/7) Citizens Advice Bureaux helped more than 26,000 people with discrimination problems.
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