Sandwell Council is inviting Expressions of Interest for an Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion representative to join the Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership Board.
Are you looking for a chance to make a difference in Wednesbury?
The Wednesbury Levelling up Partnership Board (WLUP Board) brings together a range of partners including elected Members, MPs, faith sector, public sector organisations, representatives of the business and voluntary community and young people. It is Chaired by an Independent Person.
The Board is overseeing the delivery of £20.4m investment in Wednesbury. Funding has already been allocated to projects. You can find out details of the programme here: Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership.
A vacancy has arisen on the Board for a representative of groups with equalities, diversity and inclusion (EDI) protected characteristics and different faiths.
EDI protected characteristics are set out in the Equality Act 2010 and include:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
About Levelling Up Partnerships
Wednesbury’s Levelling Up Partnership was announced in September 2023.
Project delivery is currently underway. The projects will enable new homes, improvements to greenspaces and the public realm, deterrents to crime and anti-social behaviour, and an extended community centre offer.
Levelling up Partnerships are about identifying practical, tangible actions to support priority places to ‘level up’ and to help government develop a more comprehensive understanding of place. Sandwell was one of 20 places selected to form a Levelling up Partnership with Government and this is because the Borough is one of the most deprived local authorities in England.
Information for Applicants for EDI vacancy on Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership Board
WLUP Board positions available
- 1x representative of Wednesbury residents with equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) protected characteristics and different faiths.
Practical Information about Board Meetings
Meetings of the Board take place every other month, currently on Thursdays 3:30-6pm. The meetings are held in person and alternate between Wednesbury Town Hall and the Friar Park Millennium Centre.
There are opportunities for Board Members to get involved in other work of the Board including, for example, site visits and sub-group meetings.
The Board is expected to be operational until mid 2025 and legacy arrangements are being considered.
The position is voluntary.
We recognise that people interested in board member positions may not have previous experience of participating in multi-agency boards. An induction and ongoing support will be offered.
Please see the WLUP Board Terms of Reference for further details.
About you
You will bring to the role:
- Your knowledge, experience and connections in relation to the EDI / faith community you represent
- An understanding and awareness of the issues, challenges and strengths of Wednesbury based on your work in Wednesbury
- An ability to work constructively with others from across sectors and provide critical friend challenge
- An ability to act as conduit between the Board and other organisations and/or residents in Wednesbury
- A commitment to equalities, diversity and inclusion
- A passion for making a difference in Wednesbury
What you can gain from being a Board Member
- Chance to influence projects in Wednesbury
- Chance to advise and support with getting more people involved in levelling up Wednesbury
- Chance to offer your opinion on how projects will / are impacting residents with EDI protected characteristics and different faiths
- Experience of being a Board Member
- Insight into governance and decision-making
- Understanding of how projects are delivered
- Understanding of issues, challenges and opportunities to regenerate Wednesbury
- Connections with a range of partners
Eligibility and Selection
We welcome applications from new and previous applicants.
Applicants for WLUP Board vacancies must not be Elected Members, Council Officers, or Co-opted or independent members of any current council committees.
Applicants will be selected by a panel based on the criteria set out in the ‘About you’ section of this information guide and considering the board’s overall composition.
Successful applicants will be required to sign the Board Code of Conduct which is based on the Seven Principles of Public Life (Nolan Principles) and will be required complete a register of interest setting out any private interests which may conflict, or may be perceived to conflict, with their board duties. Please see the WLUP Board Terms of Reference for further details.
How to apply
Please apply by submitting an Expressions of Interest (written statement, no more than 750 words) setting out your suitability for the role.
Your Expression of Interest should include:
- Name of group / organisation you represent
- Your role in the group / organisation
- Contact details (phone and email)
- Footfall / Average numbers of residents your organisation engages with per year
- Indication of the demographics (profile) of the residents you engage with
- What interests you about joining the Board? (please refer to the ‘about you’ section of the information for applicants)
- What skills, experience and knowledge you would bring to the Board? (please refer to the ‘about you’ section of the information for applicants)
- Any previous experience you have of representing groups with EDI protected characteristics / different faiths
- Any additional information you can provide about your organisation’s reach in relation to the following:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
Please attach confirmation from your group / organisation that they support your application (e.g. a brief statement provided from the Chief Officer / Chair of Board / Faith Leader setting out your suitability and their support to your application).
Please submit your expression of interest by the end of Friday 1st November 2024 to Wednesbury_LUP@sandwell.gov.uk
Your expression of interest will be shared with the selection panel and retained by the Council for 6 months after the conclusion of the selection process.
Further Information
For more information see:
- Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership Board Terms of Reference
- Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership Website
- Agendas and papers of the Board
For any queries, or an informal discussion about the Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership Board, please contact:
Rebecca Jenkins
Levelling Up Partnership Programme Manager rebecca_jenkins@sandwell.gov.uk
