NEWS
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION: Lighthouse Poole aims to be ‘ creating the right environment for change’ Lighthouse is ‘a very welcoming, professional place’ where staff ‘feel very supported by each other, almost like a family.’ That’s according to creative change maker consultant Nastasha Player who has recently submitted her draft final report after conducting an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) review to help Lighthouse reflect on its diversity and equality as an organisation and learn how it can become more inclusive. “I was invited in by the organisation to consider its approach to diversity, specifically ethnic diversity,” she explains. “What I found was based around very open conversations with external stakeholders as well as staff and the Board about the understanding and perception of diversity.” The review was triggered in response to Let’s Create, Arts Council England’s ten-year strategy to make sure everyone can access culture. Artistic programmes should reflect the national profile of ‘protected characteristics’ under the Equality Act that
cover age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity. Lighthouse is already committed to addressing its lack of ethnic diversity with training and positive recruitment and is seeking to embed the findings of the EDI review in future strategy. “What I’m interested in is creating the right environment for change to land most effectively,” says Natasha. “It’s not just Lighthouse, many organisations within the arts and cultural sector are looking at how they approach diversity. Issues around inclusion have been brought to the fore and discussions are happening around diversity in performances and programming, in engaging with audiences, and in the staffing of organisations. That Lighthouse is beginning to put structures in place at Board level to tackle this is very encouraging.”
AFC Bournemouth return to Dorset care homes to give residents some cheer As part of Care South’s partnership with AFC Bournemouth Community Trust, residents at many of the Group’s care homes were delighted to welcome the team back recently, with everyone keen to put their footballing skills to the test after all their Zoom practice sessions during lockdown. The team made their way around the homes, making sure everyone got involved, using specially designed seated football games to bring out the competitive streak in residents. The team then treated the residents to some expert demonstrations, talking everyone through the intense training and exercise regimes that the Cherries players must go through to reach the very highest level. After working up an appetite, everyone sat and swapped footballing stories over a cup of tea. The residents loved reminiscing about their sporting heroes from days gone by and their own exploits on the field and in the stands. The coaches
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really enjoyed hearing about the history of the game they love, and the residents were equally interested to learn how the game has changed since they last put their boots on. Care South’s CEO, Simon Bird, commented: “It’s great to welcome the team from AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust back to our homes. “The residents absolutely love interacting with the coaches and getting involved in the activities – many residents are lifelong Cherries fans so they are always delighted when the team visits. The football sessions that AFC Bournemouth run are an important part of our activities at the home, helping to keep our residents engaged with the local community.”
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