CHAMPIONS IN THE EASTERN REGION
Billericay - David Pearce Unite
Unite National Disabled Members' Committee
Clacton on Sea - Paul Alexander CWU
I became a Champion To help fellow workers to be treated equal. I Didn't realise the amount of information and help that was out there.
Colchester - Peter Boulton CWU
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The TUC training officer at Colchester Institute offered to run the course if I could find 8 memebrs to train. I found the members and we all underwent the training during 2006. I have a number of members in my own office who suffer from a variety of disabilities, and I didn't know enough about how to help them!
This course and the members who are trained are now an essential and integral part of my area approach to the integration of members with disabilities.
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Colchester - Paul Brook CWU
Colchester - Mick Drury CWU
Colchester - John Eden Unite
Colchester - Mark Harris CWU
I want to assist my disabled colleagues / members; it's a good course.
Cranwell - Howard Crosse Unite
PCS Group Organiser - MoD Group
Felixstow - Alan Dunn PCS
I wish I had done this earlier. My own attitude is changing already, day 2 of course
Halstead - Terry Macavoy CWU
My CWU area representative told me about the course in December 2006 and he said that I would make a good representative for those members of the work force with disabilities. I have had problems with reading the printed words, and in my current roll as a postman had trouble convincing the management that I had dyslexia, as the process took over two years and a great expense to me personally. I started the course last week and finding the information that I have learned is going to be useful in my future roll as a Disability Champion. In the future I hope that there will be further courses that I may be able to attend.
Harwich - Mark Windred CWU
It is a sad indictment of work and society that champions are needed. I am a rep for c.w.u.and want to serve my members in their workplace on an equal basis. I want to know how to deal with any problem as they arise and not just pass the buck.
Hornchurch - Mick Cawston Unite
Huntingdon - Chris Ross NASUWT
Ipswich - Lynne Davis Unison
I hope to overcome the stereotyping and nagative images of disabled people.
This "campaign" is not well known yet
Ipswich - Sujata Gathani Unison
Ipswich - David Mullett CWU
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I found out about this through my union's web and wanted to get involved simply to help those that are misinformed. I have been doing this role for some time amongst other union duties. I needed the training to reinforce what I knew and indeed learn a lot of what I did not know? I intend to make a difference. |
Ipswich - Nikki Young Unison
I have worked for Suffolk Social Care since 1995 as a social worker and subsequently management role. Currently, I work half time as a Training Officer and half time as the Social Care Diversity Officer. I am actively engaged in raising diversity awareness, developing training, and monitoring and supporting the progress of EIA completion. I also provide direct support to practitioners and managers across the diversity agenda and at present I am in the process of re-launching a disabled workers network.
I was diagnosed with MS in 1991. For the first few years whilst studying and working, the disease remained dormant and hidden (mostly!) However, in 2000 it became more active and I became less active. I have been using a variety of wheelchairs since 2001 which I regard as my route to freedom, speed and active involvement in life. I live the social model of disability but on a daily basis get frustrated by the barriers operated by the medical model!!
As a trade union member I am committed to supporting and assisting colleagues to have unimpeded opportunities to engage fully in the work environment. That involvement needs on a continuing basis to be supported by education, the active promotion of disability rights and aspirations and a challenge to the long held attitudes of pity, assumptions and prejudices.
Leighton Buzzard - Barry Marks URTR
I’m Barry Marks, I am a member of the United Road Transport Union working at NYK Logistics UK Ltd. As a senior shop steward, senior safety rep, manual handling instructor, and trustee on United Road Transport Union national exec committee, I work well with people. I have not any disabilities only chronic psoriases. (skin) I have plenty of contact with disabilities i.e.: my wife is a wheelchair user and my son has a visual impairment and through my family and union work I know every one needs lots of help and support. Life is a short journey; we all have the need to be helped some people just need a little more support and help than others, this is why we need disability champions.
Sudbury - George Lincoln CWU
Mablethorpe - Michael Grant Chapman GMB
Newmarket - Miranda McCoy Unite
email me
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I currently work as the Communications and Events Officer for the
Eastern
Region office of the Big Lottery Fund. I have previously worked with
the
Police, the Home Office (in telecommunications) and the NHS.
I work with my employers to enable disabled workers and job seekers
realize
their full potential in the workplace.
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| I would encourage (and support)
anyone who wishes to become a Disability Champion in his or her region.
I am the H&S rep which compliments the role of Disability Champion. The
role
has been far from onerous and has involved me assisting in effective
improvements and reasonable adjustments for problems ranging from those
with
back problems, requiring better visual aids plus eye tests and
employees
returning to work after long term sick leave.
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Norwich - Glen Raynor POA
I became a Champion to enable me to provide support to the branch membership on all matters relating to Disability. The initial stages of the course have been a good thought provoking experience. I am looking forward to the rest of the course
Peterborough - Carole Griffiths PCS
Having been moderately to severely deaf from birth I have encountered discrimination first hand and being a co-ordinator for EDEN wanted to get an action plan we could get stuck into. The course was full of ideas. The first to register as a Champion on this site! Dave Smith has fired us with enthusiasm.
Peterborough - Mark Login Unite
email me
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I lost my hearing at the age of 6 and shortly afterwards encountered my first experience of the prejudice that exists against disabled people.
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| I was told by the Education authority that if I didn't go away to a school for the deaf I had little chance of achieving any exam passes and that English Language was an impossibility. The fact I achieved it passed, whilst attending a local comprehensive school without comment and I joined AMP (then Pearl) from school. I had a cochlear implant in 1990 (12 years after starting in work)and though I usually received good yearly reviews I was consistently overlooked for promotion. I knew I wasn't the only disabled person treated such but it wasn't until I heard of this initiative that I could see any way forward - any way I could actually put my views forward which is why I regard this idea by Unite as being so beneficial.
I look forward to attending the courses and to actually being able to try and help.
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Peterborough - Brigitte Launay PCS
I am part of the EDEN committee and we thought all members should attend as it would be beneficial. I am not a person with a disability but a member of my team had and I realised there was so much I did not know and I wanted to learn. I thought the course was brilliant.
Peterborough - Keith McClelland Unite
I have been employed by Royal Mail (Post Office) for 33 years and have been a member of the CMA for about 28 years during which time I have carried out many managerial duties (15 years as Buildings Maintenance Manager). I have always been heavily involved in the Peterborough Letters branch and have carried out a representative role for the last 20 years. I have been Treasurer, Administration Rep but currently I enjoy full time release as the Area Safety Rep. I also carry out the Branch Secretary role as well. I have been the H&S rep since April of this year and one area where I feel I could be of more help is to those members who have a disability. The cases I have been involved with so far, involve members with back problems who regularly use VDU's.
Peterborough - Des O'Connell Unite
Unite National Disabled Members' Committee
Romford - Hamilton Amachree UCU
I am delighted to be involved in the current effort to bring about genuine equality at work for disabled people. A member of the Black and Ethnic Minority commUnite, I am the Branch Secretary of the lecturers' Union (UCU) and a full time lecturer at Barking College, where I have been working with students with learning difficulties and disabilities (SLDD) for over ten years. I am also the Staff Member of the Corporation. I got involved in disability equality issues through serving as a member of the college Equal Opportunities Committee five years ago.
It has long been identified that the FE sector as a whole, has significant issues to address with regard to disability equality. The social model of disability has now replaced the defunct medical model. The language of special needs is giving way a new equality and diversity agenda. Disabled staff and students are now afforded many entitlements under the DDA, SENDA and the recently spelt out 'Duties'. I would like to work with my colleagues to map out the ways in which these entitlements can be utilized by individuals with disability, in my workplace.
Romford - Graham Marks Unite
email me
| I am a Health and Safety Representative, and a Local and Divisional Union
Representative, for the CMA, a section of Unite, and I work for Royal Mail as a
manager at Romford. As a Health and Safety Representative I have undertaken and passed the TUC
Health and Safety stage 1, 2, and 3.
I was part of the first TUC Health and Safety Certificate course and as a result
qualified with all 16 OCN credits at the level of Technician Safety Practitioner
(albeit that I have not applied to I.O.S.H. to become a member)
I have some minor disabilities which are not generally obvious / visible, but
which have been recognised as being covered by the Disability Discriminations
Act by my employer, Royal Mail, after I suggested that they should obtain some
advice from our occupational health service.
I have been a Health and Safety Representative for approximately 7 years and
negotiated my own full-time release for the role 3 years ago.
I have been a union representative for most of the 27 years that I have been
employed by Royal Mail, firstly for the CWU and subsequently for the CMA /
Unite.
My interest in disability is predominately because I want to be able to
successfully represent disabled members, and ensure that they are treated fairly
and equitably, and in accordance with the Law. I have already represented
members and had some success in ensuring their fair treatment, but feel that I
could do more if provided with additional information and guidance.
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Sheringham - John Furse NASUWT
I found out about Disability Champions when I received a leaflet from the union. I asked if I was eligible to apply and was recommended to do so. I did this because I have a disability and thought my experiences in coping with it might be useful to others. I think that a very good start has been made, but there is much still to be done in this field.
St Albans - Patrick McGeough Unison
I found out through a dissemination event through the Disability Rights Commission and the European Social fund. Through the equality work I do as the Disability Services Manager for Exemplas and with the work we do as a Business Link for small businesses I though this course would assist me in supporting my colleagues and clients in gaining a better understanding of disability and also support the company in its project work regionally, nationally and trans-nationally. This is a great course and will assist employers and individuals to gain a better insight into disability within employment and I would recommend the course to anyone.
Stanford-le-Hope - Barbara Hoare Unite
Watford - Jan Cannon USDAW
I found this project out from a friend. Having over 600 members of staff many could be covered under the Act. I feel it would benefit staff with our attendance management policy (SYA) where staff are through fear attending work where if they had a Disability Champion recognition and adjustments would be managed better than it is at the moment. As a Health & Safety rep I would like to become more familiar with the DDA. At the moment when I raise these issue on behalf of staff members the response I get is that the person is not covered under the act. I look forward to be fully trained to adequately represent this group of workers.
Watford - Tony Williams USDAW
Whittlesey - Colin Gale Unite
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The Union asking for champs, my partner is an MS sufferer and is in a wheelchair permanently.
All people are equal what ever problems |
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