Herefordshire Equality Partnership (HEP)

The Herefordshire Race Equality Partnership (now the HEP) was formed in 1999 to promote race equality in all areas of Herefordshire. The Board of the Partnership includes representatives of West Mercia Constabulary, Herefordshire Council, Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Learning & Skills Council Herefordshire & Worcestershire, and Herefordshire Citizens Advice Bureau.

The Partnership is committed to "the elimination of racial discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and promoting good relations between people of different races".

In 2005 it changed its name to the Herefordshire Equality Partnership, broadening its remit to challenge all issues of inequality, including disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion and belief.

The Role of the Race Equality Development Officer
The Race Equality Development Officer has county-wide responsibility to promote and develop racial equality and help develop good relations between people of different race, religion, colour and nationality. He can also be contacted to assist in other equality issues such as disability, sexual orientation and age.

His role also includes complaint aid work and representing members of the BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) community of Herefordshire at a national and local level. He considers working with the community a priority.

The Race Equality Development Officer can be contacted in the following ways:

Tel: 01432 267307
E-mail: equality@herefordshire.gov.uk
Post: Race Equality Office, PO Box 4, Plough Lane, Hereford, HR4 0XH

Past Initiatives
The HEP has organised or been involved in the following initiatives:

• Commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day each year since 2003, including the Anne Frank Exhibition at Hereford Cathedral (2003), the Auschwitz-Birkenau Exhibition at All Saints Church, Hereford (2005) and a guest speaker, debate and small exhibition at All Saints Church (2008)
• Regular race equality awareness sessions delivered to Council employees and community representatives
• Anti Racism Week of Action in football - October 2003 and October 2004
• Information Exchange event for seasonal and non-UK workers - May 2005
• Commitment to the Heartstone project (a schools project which seeks to challenge racism, xenophobia and intolerance) - commencing 2005
• Out in the Sticks festival to mark LGBT History Month - February 2008
• Support and advice at West Mercia Police training in Herefordshire
• Working with Centrex - National Police training organisation for training diversity police officers