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Diversity and acceptance in rural communities was the topic of the day when more than 90 delegates from the voluntary, private and public sectors met to discuss how Herefordshire can become a more inclusive county.
The conference, organised by The Rural Media Company as part of the Same But Different film project, featured a diverse panel of speakers including British actor and equal rights activist Bette Bourne, Traveller journalist and Travellers’ Times magazine editor Damian le Bas, director of the Centre for Remote and Rural Studies Dr Philomena De Lima, Hereford Times editor Fiona Phillips and Equality and Diversity Manager at Herefordshire Council, Carol Trachonitis.
Elonka Soros, Head of Diversity at the BBC, chaired a Question Time style debate with delegates and panellists discussing the impact of government cuts on local services and ways in which communities could respond positively.
Following a screening of a selection of the Same But Different films many delegates felt that the powerful video testimonies could be used across the county to inform people about what it’s like to be a minority in a rural area. There was a call for more resources for use with children and young people, and for schools to continue to foster a strong sense of equality and diversity at all levels of education.
Nic Millington CEO of Rural Media said: “We were delighted at the interest in this conference, which demonstrated that there is a real interest among minority groups and communities to have their voices heard so that they can play their part in shaping the future of our county.”
Mr Millington went on to say: "These short films are not all bad news stories. On the contrary, many people from minority groups speak positively about life in Herefordshire. There is much to build upon; the trick is to keep up the momentum of working towards a fully inclusive county.”
The conference marked The Rural Media Company’s on-going commitment to diversity and saw the national launch of their rural equality and diversity video resource. The DVD pack, which is free to Herefordshire organisations, includes 23 personal testimonies from local people with accompanying facilitator’s notes and an accessible guide to the Equality Act 2010.
Contact Francesca Sandwell francescas@ruralmedia.co.uk or 01432 344039 for a copy.
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Same But Different Conference
