Equality of Opportunity and Objective One
The vision of the Objective One Programme included the ambition
of "creating a community where all people have equality
of opportunity; a community in which everyone is encouraged
to raise, and seek to realise, their aspirations; a community
where the true capabilities of everyone are recognised and
utilised."
The vision for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is one where equality of opportunity is the norm, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or any other reason.
All projects seeking investment from the Objective One Programme had an important part to play in realising this vision. They could only do that by taking positive steps to deliver equality of opportunity.
The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly recognised that women, in particular, are under-represented in higher paid and higher skilled jobs. For example in 1999 only 8% of women held management positions, compared with 18% of men.
However equality of opportunity is not purely about opportunities for women. The Objective One Programme recognised that people with disabilities, ethnic minority groups and others who may be disadvantaged need help and support to gain and stay in work, whether that be paid employment or in the voluntary sector. Of particular importance within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is the inability of those living in rurally isolated areas to have equality of access to training and employment opportunities. The Objective One Programme aimed to seek positive ways to try to overcome some of those barriers.
To promote equality of opportunity throughout the Objective One Programme the following objectives were adopted:
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To enable equality of access to opportunities for all women, including to all levels of training and sustainable employment |
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To enable equality of access to opportunities for people with disabilities, including to all levels of training and sustainable employment |
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To support activities that increase the adoption of equal opportunities strategies and family friendly policies and/ or the awareness of the benefits of equal opportunities |
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To enable equality of access to opportunities, including all levels of training and sustainable employment, for people who are disadvantaged in the economy including by virtue of age, ethnicity, rural isolation etc. |
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Equal Opportunities Integration within the Objective One Programme
In late 2004 the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Objective One Partnership Office commissioned Atlantic Consultants to undertake a review of the experience of delivering the equal opportunities cross cutting theme within the four structural funds that made up the Objective One Programme. This study built on the observations of the Mid Term Evaluation of the Programme.
The study included:
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a review of the strategic drivers for equal opportunities and how they have been transferred to Programme delivery and activity |
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qualitative research with project applicants and managers to ascertain the experience of delivering integrated projects on the ground, including barriers to effective integration, additional support that might be needed to deliver integrated projects and the identification of examples of delivery of equal opportunities |
The conclusions and recommendations of the report were then used in taking forward the implementation of the equal opportunities cross cutting theme in the Programme.
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Equal Opportunities Integration within the Objective One Programme, Final Report, February 2005
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Equal Opportunities Guidance Pack
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