PCS National Black Members Seminar
23–25 October 2009
The annual residential Seminar organised for African, Asian, Chinese, Caribbean, etc, PCS black members will be held from Friday 23 October to Sunday 25 October in the Jurys Inn hotel, Birmingham. The seminar will commence approximately at 1.30 pm on the Friday, ending no later than 1 p.m. on Sunday 23 October 2009.
Please note that at national level PCS uses the term ‘black’ in the political context to encompass people who have the potential to experience discrimination based on skin colour and share a history of colonization and/or slavery.
Theme
‘Ten Years Later’ is the theme of this year’s PCS national Black Members’ Seminar. A decade has elapsed since the Macpherson recommendations, following the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Participants will have the opportunity to explore some aspects of the recommendations, eg, stop and search and the collection of DNA samples to assess how far they have positively improved the way the police service provides a service to black communities and how it treats its black staff in the sphere of employment.
Doreen Lawrence will attend as guest speaker. Contributions will help to inform ongoing work being undertaken by Doctor Richard Stone who was one of the original Macpherson panel members.
Target Audience
The primary target groups include black members who hold any of the following positions:
- Branch Secretaries
- Branch Organisers
- Departmental Trade Union reps
- Regional Network Co-ordinators
- GEC members
- Group Black Members sub/advisory committee/Network Co-coordinators/Chairs
- Branch/workplace reps.
- Equality reps
- Branch Women’s reps
Applicants are also invited from:
- Members who have not attended a previous seminar
- New members who would like to become active.
- Members with experience of community campaigns
Under- represented Groups
Applicants are particularly welcomed from young members [i.e. people aged 27 or under], disabled people, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.
Confidentiality
PCS fully appreciates there are special sensitivities pertaining to disability, sexuality and trans issues and gives an assurance that all applications will be treated confidentially.
Participant Numbers
Although the Seminar is organized on a residential basis, members who can travel daily will be expected to do so. The Seminar will be limited to 150 residential participants.
Selection Criteria
Members matching the criteria set out in paragraphs above are invited to self nominate. There is no need to seek endorsement from any branch official.
This seminar is always over subscribed. It is strongly recommended that all members provide a supporting statement with application/s.
Child/Youth Care Facilities
Childcare facilities will be provided at the seminar for children aged between 6 months and 14 years of age. However, places are limited to 40 places and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Delegates are encouraged to make alternative care arrangements for children. PCS will provide financial assistance to meet the reasonable costs of additional childcare claims on production of a receipt from a carer.
Travel & Subsistence
The union will meet all reasonable travel, subsistence claims. The hotel accommodation expenses will be paid from central union funds. All participants (including non residential) will be provided with refreshments during the day and lunch on Saturday/Sunday.
Anyone staying on residential basis will be provided with an evening meal on the Friday evening; breakfast, lunch and an evening meal on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. All participants will be expected to attend for the duration of the Seminar.
Application Forms
An application form can be found here.
Copies may also be obtained by emailing equality@pcs.org.uk or contacting the Equality Health & Safety Department on 020 7801 2683 if you cannot download the forms. Please also ensure that you complete and return the ethnicity monitoring form found here.
Application Deadline
The deadline for receipt of applications by the Equality Health and Safety Department is Thursday 24th September 2009 (First post). Faxes will be accepted (up to 12 Noon) on 020 7223 8363. Successful applicants will be notified by Monday 5th October 2009.
Special Leave/Time Off
The seminar is a training event organised by the union. Applicants are advised to make early applications for special leave to attend the Seminar as it will be easier to cancel leave arrangements rather than apply for special leave at short notice.
Further Information
Queries or requests for further information about the seminar should be made directly to Lorna Campbell or Eunice Lewis on 020 7801 2683 or equality@pcs.org.uk.
