✨ Understanding Your Rights Under the Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 is a powerful law designed to protect you from discrimination. Whether you're at work, school, dealing with public services, or simply going about daily life, this Act defends your right to be treated fairly and with dignity.

🌍 What Does the Equality Act Do?

It makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of certain characteristics and ensures everyone has fair access to:

• Jobs and training

• Education

• Healthcare and public services

• Shops, housing, and transport

🔒 The Nine Protected Characteristics

You are safeguarded against discrimination based on the following characteristics:

• Age: Protection applies regardless of whether you are young or older.

• Disability: This includes both mental and physical conditions that impact daily life.

• Gender Reassignment: Protection is offered to transgender individuals, including those who are undergoing transition

• Marriage/Civil Partnership: This covers individuals who are married or in a civil partnership.

• Pregnancy and Maternity: Protection is in place during pregnancy and for new parents.

• Race: This includes your color, ethnicity, nationality, or heritage.

• Religion or Belief: Protection encompasses any religion, spiritual belief, or even the absence of belief.

• Sex: This refers to whether you are male or female.

• Sexual Orientation: Protection is provided for whom you are attracted to, whether gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, queer, or any other identity.

⚖️ What Is Discrimination?

Discrimination can take many forms:

• Direct: Treating someone unfairly because of who they are e.g. refusing to employ someone because they’re Muslim

• Indirect: Rules or policies that affect certain groups more e.g. a “no headgear” rule that discriminates against Sikhs or Muslims

• Harassment: Bullying or intimidating someone

• Victimisation: Punishing someone for speaking up or supporting a complaint

🔍 Real-Life Examples of Discrimination

🔴 Racial Discrimination

• A Black employee gets overlooked for promotion despite glowing reviews

• Police stop and search a South Asian man without clear reason

👩 Sexism

• A woman is grilled about her family plans in an interview

• Male and female staff doing the same role receive unequal pay

♿ Disability Discrimination

• A business fails to offer wheelchair access

• A neurodivergent student is excluded for behaviours related to their condition

🕌 Religious Discrimination

• A Jewish staff member is denied time off for religious holidays

• A Muslim woman is told to remove her hijab in school

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Discrimination

• A gay couple is refused service in a restaurant

• A trans employee is repeatedly misgendered

🧠 Neurodiversity

• Someone with ADHD is penalised at work for needing extra time or breaks

• A child with autism is disciplined for avoiding eye contact

🏛️ What Is the Public Sector Equality Duty?

Public bodies (like councils, police, schools, NHS) must actively promote equality.

Under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, they must:

1. Eliminate unlawful discrimination

2. Advance equality of opportunity

3. Foster good relations between different groups

📌 What This Looks Like:

• Workplace: Local authority ensures recruitment panels are diverse and accessible

• Education: A school adapts its curriculum to reflect cultural diversity

• Policing: A force monitors data on stop and search to address racial disparities

⚠️ Examples of Discrimination in Various Contexts

• Workplace: A disabled employee is not provided with necessary accommodations.

• Education: A neurodivergent student is excluded from participation without proper assessment or support.

• Policing: A Black teenager is subjected to a search without justifiable cause.

• Healthcare: A transgender patient’s identity is not acknowledged in hospital records.

🧭 What Can You Do?

If you’ve been treated unfairly:

• Keep a record: Note dates, times, and details

• Raise the issue: With your employer, school, or public body

• Seek advice: Legal clinics, trade unions, and charities like Citizens Advice or Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)

• Take legal action: Through a court or employment tribunal

📞 Key Support Services for Discrimination and Human Rights

🟣 Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)

Provides free advice on discrimination and human rights issues under the Equality Act 2010.

• Phone: 0808 800 0082 (Freephone)

• Text Relay: 0808 800 0084

• Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat 10am–2pm

• Website: Equality Advisory Support Service

• Online Contact Form: www.equalityadvisoryservice.com

• Post: FREEPOST EASS Helpline FPN6521

🟢 Citizens Advice

Offers practical guidance on discrimination at work, in education, and public services.

• Website: Citizens Advice – Discrimination Help

• Find your local branch: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

🟡 Liberty

Provides legal information and advocacy on civil liberties and human rights, including discrimination.

• Website: Liberty – What to Do If You're Discriminated Against

🔵 Disability Law Service

Specialist advice for disabled people facing discrimination.

• Website: www.dls.org.uk

• Phone: 020 7791 9800

• Email: advice@dls.org.uk

🧡 ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)

Supports people facing discrimination at work, including early conciliation before tribunal claims.

• Website: ACAS – Discrimination and the Law

• Helpline: 0300 123 1100

⚖️ LawWorks (The Solicitors Pro Bono Group)

LawWorks connects individuals and not-for-profit organisations with free legal advice from volunteer solicitors across England and Wales.

💡 What they offer:

• Free legal clinics for those who can’t afford a lawyer

• Help with employment, housing, benefits, discrimination, and more

• Support for small charities and community groups

🌐 Website: www.lawworks.org.uk

📬 General enquiries: info@lawworks.org.uk

👩‍⚖️ Advocate (The Bar Pro Bono Unit)

Advocate is a charity that helps people in England and Wales who cannot afford legal representation and do not qualify for legal aid. They match individuals with volunteer barristers who can offer free legal advice, drafting, or representation in court or tribunal.

💡 What They Offer:

• Free legal support across areas like housing, employment, discrimination, and family law.

• Volunteer barristers who can advise, draft legal documents, or represent you in court.

• A carefully reviewed process to ensure you meet eligibility criteria.

📋 Eligibility:

You must:

• Not be eligible for legal aid.

• Be unable to afford a lawyer.

• Have at least three weeks before your court date or deadline (exceptions made in urgent cases like risk of imprisonment, deportation, or homelessness).

📝 How to Apply:

• Apply online with the Advocate Application Form

• Upload documents and give as much detail as possible.

• If you're not confident using the form, Support Through Court may be able to help.

🔍 Need help organising your documents?

Check out Advocate’s Guide to Uploading and Organising Documents

📬 Contact:

• Email: enquiries@weareadvocate.org.uk

• Website: weareadvocate.org.uk

• Post (no in-person visits): Advocate, International Dispute Resolution Centre, 1 Paternoster Lane, St. Paul’s, London, EC4M 7BQ

🧭 Law Centres Network

Law Centres offer free, expert legal advice and representation to people who can't afford a solicitor—especially when dealing with life-changing problems like housing, work, or discrimination.

💡 What They Help With:

• Housing and homelessness

• Employment rights and unfair dismissal

• Immigration and asylum

• Benefits and welfare issues

• Discrimination (including race, gender, disability, religion, and more)

• School exclusions and care needs

🛑 What They Don't Usually Cover:

• Wills or probate

• Personal injury claims

• Parking or traffic offences

> 📌 Please note: Services vary by location due to funding. Always contact your nearest centre to check what they offer.

📍 How to Access Help:

• Use their postcode search tool: Find Your Local Law Centre

• Contact by phone, email, or online—some require appointments

• You may need to live within a specific catchment area

• Some services require legal aid eligibility

⏰ Demand is high, so response times may vary. If they can’t help, they’ll guide you to other support.

📬 Contact & Information:

• 🌐 Website: www.lawcentres.org.uk

• 🧭 Find Legal Help: Search by postcode

• 📨 General Enquiries: info@lawcentres.org.uk

• 📍 Registered Office: 1 Lady Hale Gate, Gray’s Inn, London WC1X 8BS