Asian Fire Service Association, a National group which provides:

• support and networking for Asian employees across the Fire Service nationally;
• information, guidance and training for Brigades; and
• support for good employment and service delivery practice.

Contact details: Nina Kang, General Secretary, AFSA, c/o Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service,
Ascot Drive, Derby DE24 8GZ, Email: nkang [at] derbys-fire [dot] gov [dot] uk Website: www.afsa.co.uk

The Equality and Human Rights Commission are a statutory body that has the responsibility to protect, enforce and promote equality across the seven "protected" grounds - age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

But the heart of the Commission's mission, our integrated mandate, means that they will act across all the areas for which they are responsible, promoting fairness through structural change that benefits the 60 million people in Britain. They are always be ready to tackle the specific issues of discrimination, inequality and human rights failings that matter to each of the protected groups they are concerned with.

Contact details: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com

The FBU represents over 85% of the uniformed staff of the UK fire and service. Our members are frontline public services workers – covering the roles of Firefighter to Area Manager, including emergency fIre control staff and Firefighters working the retained duty system.

Contact details: http://www.fbu.org.uk

The trade union movement represents ALL working people, regardless of their sex, race, religious belief, sexuality or disability.

The group was set up by gay and lesbian firefighters who are 'out' in the workplace and felt they were in a position to help others within the UK fire service. Within the group's ten year existence, they have achieved official recognition with the FBU, as well as representing the FBU in forums which were once untouched. They also have an extensive network to support and advise (LGBT) lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual members (firefighters, officers and control staff) who may feel isolated or harassed.

The group is run on a strictly confidential basis and accepts the rules, constitution and democracy of the Fire Brigades Union.

Contact details: http://www.fbulgbt.org.uk

The Fire Officers Association is an independent voice for Fire and Rescue Service Managers. The success and direction of an organisation must originate from its members. They will consult you to ensure they reflect and represent your views. If confrontation is at the forefront of an agenda, real progress and benefits will not materialise. To provide the best representation for its members an organisation must provide help, assistance and guidance for them, whatever their problem or difficulty. They do not select the issues they will represent you on: you do. The membership is open to all United Kingdom Fire and Rescue Service employees.

Contact Details: http://www.fireofficers.org.uk

In 1993, the NWFS was established as a self-help group for women in the Fire and Rescue Service. Over the past 13 years, NWFS has sought to influence the equality agenda, engaging with the major players in order to have the voice of all women in the Fire and Rescue Service heard.

NWFS is an independent voluntary group of people who aim to contribute to making the Fire and Rescue Service a place where women and men can work together harmoniously and professionally.

Contact details: http://nwfs.net

The Retained Firefighters Union (RFU) represents serving personnel within the Retained Duty System (RDS). The RFU was formed in 1976 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. We have one aim and that is to serve our members, manage their expectations, and provide national and local representation, general support and advice on any issue relating to their fire service duties including primary employment.

The RFU is an independent trade union under the Trade Union & Labour Relations Act 1992. We have no political affiliation and therefore all monies from union subscriptions are ploughed back into maintaining a first class value for money service which protects our members 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Contact details: http://www.rfuonline.co.uk

It was formed in May 2008 to provide a friendly and supportive network for people with disabilities, their families and carers throughout Shropshire (including Telford and Wrekin). SDN has some ambitious aspirations, but recognize that it will take time and patience to achieve them all. To work with people and organisations throughout the UK, to achieve maximum benefit for individuals with disability their families and carers throughout Shropshire.

Contact details: Geoff Forgie, Chair, Shropshire Disability Network, 01691 830662, Email: geoffforgie [at] talktalk [dot] net

Shropshire Council is actively supporting the development of a group for staff who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender. The LGB Network gives access to a network of LGB people who work in local authorities and the public sector. They have a wide range of members, and can provide social support and signposting to support and advice when needed.

Contact details: http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/equalopps.nsf/open/A8F3682F3D0572E6802574C0...

The Shropshire Partnership Equality Forum is a voice on Equality and Diversity issues in Shropshire. The Forum works through a network of Partnerships, to eliminate unfair treatment and discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations in Shropshire. It has representatives from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.

The Forum addresses all the nine protected characteristics:

• Race Gender
• Disability Age
• Pregnancy Transgender
• Sexuality Religion/Belief
• Marriage & Civil Partnership

The Forum is a voice for its members, and for issues related to their communities, groups and organisations. Forum members will work together to identify and join together representation from all the diversity and equality communities in Shropshire. It will seek to increase membership by a series of network meetings.

The Forum meets four times a year

Contact details:
Shrewsbury College coordinates the Equalities Forum and can be contacted at: Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology, London Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6PR.
Tel: 01743 342 443
http://www.shropshirepartnership.org.uk

Unison is Britain's biggest trade union with more than 1.3 million members. UNISON is a powerful voice for working people in Britain. In the workplace, through our campaigning work and in our in input to decision-making inside the Labour Party, the union expresses the democratically agreed views of members.

Contact Details: http://unison.org.uk