New research shows that half of us are more likely to discuss our personal finances with others than we were just a year ago, given the current economic climate.

ECDP has been contacted by the Citizens Advice Bureau in Basildon, who are offering the chance for you to talk to someone about your finances, or gain advice on making ends meet during the credit crunch.

As well as this, they are running a free workshop, open to all service users, which will cover the following areas:

• How to create a balanced budget
• Understand how to maximize income
• Understand difference between priority and non-priority debt
• Understand debt advice process and its benefits
• Look at Credit Unions
• Know what bank account works for you
• Look at range of credit options  available
• Make informed decisions about best credit available

Free training can be provided for the unemployed and the economically inactive.

If you would be interested in attending the workshop, please contact:

Mary Hennessey at Basildon District CAB, on 01268 465683 or mary@bascab.org.uk

Disability LIB is working on a project to look at future issues facing DPOs.  This is to understand what issues lay ahead and how to respond to them.  We are working in partnership with NCVO’s 3^rd Sector Foresight project www.3s4.org.uk.

On Friday 19th February Disability Lib is hosting a one day interactive event to carry out DPO strategic analysis, to look at social, political and other external ‘drivers’ or ‘trends’ that will impact on DPOs. This will make sure that DPOs are aware of the ‘trends’ that will affect them, such as changes to government, policy, the climate, economy and other issues. The event is for people involved in DPOs who have an interest in understanding the future.  

For more information or to book yourself a place see the flyers below or contact Stephen Lee Hodgkins via email, phone: 0844 800 4331 or SMS/Mobile: 07967 185 752.

What's the Future for Disabled People's Organisations - Flyer (Word document 38KB)

DPO Strategic Analysis Event - Agenda (Word document 34KB)

Essex County Council's adult social care services are due to receive a full Care Quality Commission (CQC) service inspection, at the end of March 2010.

To help with the investigation the CQC would like to meet with service users and hold two open forums. ECC are currently developing this programme over the next few weeks.

If you would like more details about the inspection and the possibility to take part, see the cover letter below or contact Claire Hardy on 01245 435541 or email.

Care Quality Commission Inspection - covering letter (PDF 24kb)

Voluntary Sector Training (VTS) are running a detailed programme of skills training across Essex. These sessions are completely free if you are  

• 19-65 years old
• Under level 2 qualifications (lower than 5 GCSEs A-C Grade)
• Unemployed
• UK or EU citizen

If you are interested in this great opportunity please email admin@voluntarysectortraining.org.uk, phone 01371 876747 or visit the VTS website.

View a full skills training programme here:

VTS Free Skills Training Programme (Word document 119KB)

And for more detail about specific events, see the flyers below:

VTS Basic IT Training (Word document 104KB)

VTS CV Writing Training (Word document 104KB)

VTS First Aid Training (Word document 106KB)

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has appointed Michael Smith, known as Mike, as the new chair of its Disability Committee. Mike replaces acting chair Alun Davies who stepped down at the end of 2009. 

This appointment follows Mike’s engagement as a Commissioner on 3 December 2009. As well as chairing the Disability Committee, Mike is also lead champion for disability matters on the Commission's board.

The Commission’s Disability Committee is a statutory, decision-making Committee with wide-ranging powers and responsibilities set out in the Equality Act 2006 by Parliament. These include duties to promote equality, human rights and good relations in respect of ‘disability matters’. 

Mike was one of the first appointees to the Disability Committee (2007 to date) where he has led on legal matters, including the Equality Bill, and social care reform. Mike has previously chaired the Oral Evidence Panel for the Commission’s formal inquiry into sex discrimination and the gender pay gap in the financial services sector.

Commenting on his appointment, Mike said:

“The Commission has done a lot of work over the last few years in relation to disability, but there is much more to do. We want to work and communicate with our stakeholders much more effectively to make sure we do our job as well as we can, and that we address disabled people's concerns as best we can.

“We are making good headway on the Disability Committee's current work plan, which is available on our website, and will soon start planning for our 2010/11 programme of work.

“A key aspect of this work will be our formal Inquiry into disability-related harassment. Far too many people are subjected to abuse and sometimes they are not taken seriously or supported by the public authorities who are meant to help them. We hope as many people as possible will contribute to the Inquiry, starting with commenting on the terms of reference which will be published shortly.”

In addition to his work for the Commission, Mike is currently a freelance consultant focusing on equality and board governance issues working with private, charity and third sector organisations. Mike has been involved in equality and diversity organisations for the last 10 years, starting off with his involvement in the disability movement in Tower Hamlets, London.

Mike is Chair of the National Centre for Independent Living (2005 to date). The Centre is a national umbrella organisation that works with government and other stakeholders to help realise independent living for all disabled people. He is also a member of the board of Stonewall (2006 to date), the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity.

Prior to this he worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers for 19 years, qualifying as a chartered accountant and specialising in company tax advice. After working in risk management his most recent role was Director of Policy, Compliance.

For more press information contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission media office on 020 3117 0255, out of hours 07767 272 818.

For general enquiries please contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s national helpline: England 0845 604 6610 / Scotland 0845 604 5510 / Wales 0845 604 8810