CEL to launch training resource to deliver sexual orientation equality

The Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) has launched Visible and valued, a training resource for providers of skills and further education to help them deliver sexual orientation equality.

CEL’s equality and diversity manager, Margaret Adjaye, said: "The Visible and valued training resource was created in response to the findings of our 2006 research report, Equality and sexual orientation – the leadership challenge for further education, which identified high levels of homophobia in the sector and called for the creation of high quality, sector-specific training materials to challenge it.

"Visible and valued is a DVD resource that gives a platform to the voices and experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual learners and staff. It includes extensive notes and other training resources, to help users ensure compliance with the law and work towards creating a truly inclusive, excellent and equality friendly organisation."

The resource, the first of its kind, will be launched at an event in London on 21 November 2008, and chaired by Learning and Skills Improvement Services (LSIS) board member Wally Brown CBE. LSIS is dedicated to supporting excellence and leadership development in the further education and skills sector. It was formed in 2008 after consultations with sector leaders identified a need for an organisation that would be sector-led.

CEL aims to demonstrate how homophobia affects the lives of staff and learners, and show how to ensure compliance with the law. It hopes to detail how Visible and valued can be utilised as part of an organisation-wide training programme. There will be a series of workshops throughout the day, and participants will be able to share and learn from effective practice, and discuss the points and views raised. They will also receive a free copy of the Visible and valued DVD.

CEL was launched in October 2003 with a remit to foster and support leadership improvement, reform and transformation throughout the sector. A key national agency within the Success for All initiative, it serves the existing and future leaders of all providers within the further education and skills system. More than 1,160 different organisations and around 38,000 individual participants have engaged with CEL to date.

Ms Adjaye added: "This resource is the first of its kind in the FE and skills sector, and we would like to thank DIUS, LLUK, the LSC, QIA and UCU for their support and for helping to fund this important project."