Author: W4MP Editor

Oxford University Press demonstration

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Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/

Wednesday 09 Feb 2022, 10:30 – 11:30
Online via MS Teams

Book in for a demonstration of two Oxford University Press reference services:
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography gives you access to biographies of people who have shaped British history and culture and who died in, or before, 2017.

Oxford English Dictionary is a guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over 600,000 words— past and present—from across the English-speaking world. As a historical dictionary, the OED is very different from dictionaries of current English, in which the focus is on present-day meanings. You’ll still find present-day meanings in the OED, but you’ll also find the history of individual words, and of the language—traced through 3 million quotations, from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books.

The session will be presented by a trainer from the Oxford University Press.

For further information and booking, please see here.

A short introduction to equality law – Commons Library Research Briefing

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This new briefing from the Commons Library provides an overview of equality law, summarising the main concepts and the role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

You can find the full briefing here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9448/

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 consolidates most equality law into one Act. It prohibits conduct and creates duties in relation to ‘protected characteristics’. There are nine protected characteristics, listed in section 4 of the Act, ranging from age through to sexual orientation.

The Act prohibits direct and indirect discrimination, and harassment and victimisation. It also prohibits discrimination in relation to something arising from a person’s disability, and creates a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.

The Act applies in various scenarios, including at work, in education and in relation to services and public functions.

Public authorities are subject to a Public Sector Equality Duty. The Duty means they must ‘have due regard’ to equality considerations when exercising public functions.

Except for in Northern Ireland, which has its own equality legislation, equality law is largely reserved to the the UK Parliament. The legal concepts in this briefing apply across England, Wales and Scotland.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission was established by the Equality Act 2006, with a duty to promote and encourage understanding of equality and human rights.

Individuals enforce their rights under the Equality Act 2010 before the courts. However, the Commission also has a range of powers at its disposal to enforce equality law at a more institutional level, and often strategically intervenes as a party to litigation if doing so could help develop equality law.

Nuffield Foundation POST Fellowship 2022

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Closing date for applications is 27 February 2022.

Applications are open for the 2022 Nuffield Foundation POST Fellowship scheme. Open to any PhD students in a scientific or quantitative social science field who are undertaking or have recently finished their PhD studies.

Please see the POST website for further information: https://post.parliament.uk/nuffield-foundation-post-fellowship-2022/

Time to Talk Day 2022

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To mark Time to Talk day this year, we will be running a series of events from Thursday 3 February. Over five days we will hear from colleagues across Parliament, who will share their experience of living with a mental health problem.

Join our Time to Talk Day campaign and let’s start talking about mental health:

  • Thursday 3: Anxiety. Online live session, 10.30-11am
  • Friday 4: Burnout. Blog Post
  • Monday 7: Depression. Online live session, 10.30-11am and Blog Post.
  • Tuesday 8: Bulimia. Online live session,10.30-11am
  • Wednesday 9: Having conversations about mental health. Online live session, 10.30-11am.

To sign-up email [email protected] or visit the H&W Learning Hub.

If you are on the Estate tomorrow (Thursday 3 February 2022), come and visit our Wellbeing Stall in Portcullis House Atrium to find out more about the wellbeing services available

Forthcoming training sessions from the Commons Learning and Development Team

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Please find below information on training courses from the Commons Learning and Development Team which will take place in the next two weeks. Please click the links if you are available to join.

W/C 31 January (this week)

W/C 7 February

W/C 14 February

Changes to fire evacuation procedure

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Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/

Changes have been made to the arrangements in place for fire evacuation of the Palace of Westminster.

Please familiarise yourself with the changes, details of which can be found on the Parliamentary intranet.

WWG – Talk from Hope Virgo on Eating Disorders

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Thursday 20th January at 2pm

Hope Virgo is an Author, Founder of #DumpThe Scales Campaign and a multi award winning international leading advocate for people with eating disorders as well as being a recognised media spokesperson, having appeared on various platforms including BBC Newsnight, Victoria Derbyshire, Good Morning Britain, Sky News and BBC News.

For four years, Hope managed to keep her eating disorder hidden, keeping dark secrets from friends and family. But then, on 17th November 2007, Hope’s world changed forever. She was admitted to a mental health hospital. Her skin was yellowing, her heart was failing, she was barely recognizable. Forced to leave her family and friends, the hospital became her home. Over the next year, at her lowest ebb, Hope faced the biggest challenge of her life. She had to find the courage to beat her anorexia.

In today’s session you will hear a harrowing but inspiring story of recovery, get practical advice on how to manage your wellbeing and know how to talk to those around you who may be impacted by eating disorders.  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopevirgo_/?hl=en

To register for this event, please email [email protected]

Vote Office: Training for Members’ Staff

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Members’ staff are invited to learn more about the Vote Office and the services it offers to support their work.

The Vote Office is hosting the following sessions for Members’ staff in the coming months:

  • Introduction to the Vote Office (Monday 21 February, 13:00-13:40)
  • Navigating Parliamentary Papers (Friday 20 May, 10:00-10:40)

To sign up for either or both sessions, please email [email protected]. Full details are below.

Introduction to the Vote Office

Monday 21 February 2022, 13:00 – 13:40

Virtual, MS Teams
Contact: x3631, [email protected]

This virtual session will provide an overview of the Vote Office and the services we offer to support Members’ staff and offices in their work.

Both Westminster and constituency-based staff are welcome. The session is suitable for anyone who has recently joined a Member’s office or would like a refresher on our services.

The session covers:

  • The role of the Vote Office
  • How we assist Members’ Staff with research, casework and understanding parliamentary business
  • The Vote Office’s digital services and delivery service for staff working remotely.

The session will last 30 minutes, with an additional 10-minute Q&A.

Navigating Parliamentary Papers

Friday 20 May 2022, 10:00 – 10:40

Virtual, MS Teams
Contact: x3631, [email protected]

This workshop will go into greater detail on a range of parliamentary papers available in the Vote Office, walk through their format, and explain their relevance to Chamber business.

Both Westminster and constituency-based staff are welcome.  The session is suitable for new staff who need an understanding of business papers in their role, or those who would like to enhance their knowledge.

The session includes:

  • A full walkthrough of the Order Paper and the Vote bundle
  • An explanation of Bills, amendment papers and other associated documents that the Vote Office provides
  • Details of other laid papers and publications that are available in the Vote Office.

The session will last 30 minutes, with an additional 10-minute Q&A.

For more information and to sign up to these sessions, please email [email protected].