Age

I'm still thinking about these nine protected characteristics. Today I'm thinking about age. How is age a protected characteristic? Everybody has an age. Most people get to be a range of ages in the lifetime. So it's about not discriminating on the basis of age.

This morning was brilliant! At church we had youth service. I think the idea of a youth service is quite funny. I know what it means. It means the youth run the service and everybody else just joins in. When I went to church as a young person that made a lot of sense because for the most part, it was old people who ran the service. So when we had a youth service, it meant something different was happening. Nowadays though, at our church, the youth are involved in every service. Josh plays the piano almost every week. Andy either plays the drums or the guitar. Our young people are involved in almost everything we do.

In work I guess we discriminate against old people, especially the over 65s. I mean, we basically make them retire. But socially, the over 65s are still reasonably acceptable. For Neil and I, one of our favourite activities is going out with an over 65… over 75… over 85 actually! Taking my Nan for afternoon tea is just about the most fun two people can have on a Sunday afternoon. In fact, it's one of the things we are missing now we have to scoot back for work after Sunday lunch.

No, I don't think I discriminate on the basis of age. I still go gooey over a newborn baby. I love being with our youth on a Friday evening. My little brother and sister, who are now both in their 30s, are still my best friends. So do other people discriminate? There was an old lady sat opposite me in church today. I thought she wouldn't like the music of the youth service, but after the service she went round telling everybody how much she'd enjoyed it, how amazing the youth were, etc.

No! Age is just a number. It doesn't really mean anything.

New Job

I haven't written for a while, as I've been adjusting to my new job. Because I'm working for a local authority, I'm pretty restricted in terms of what I can post about work. I can probably get away with revealing that my post is Area Manager for Employment, Education and Skills... but if I told you where, I'd have to kill you!

One of the things in education and life in general that is a big topic at the moment, is The 2010 Equality Act. I've got displays all over the place and I am constantly aware of the nine protected characteristics. What strikes me, is that some of them are really about a particular group of people, like disabled people or trans-gender people, whereas others include everybody, like gender and belief.

The one I've become acutely aware of in the last couple of years, is disability. I don't think there had ever been an easier time or place to be disabled than 21st century Britain. Of course, it's not perfect but for the most part, it's not bad. I can access most places and there's often help available. The only thing I would say, is that disabled 'helps' only ever seem to come in ones.

Toilets - usually one accessible loo and several ladies/gents. That's not a big deal. After all, we are in a minority. It comes down to the ability to share though. I can't share your facilities but you can decide to use mine. Most people get this and don't, but it gets frustrating when people use 'my' toilet because it's nearer or more private. I have noticed, it's usually men when they want a poo. Does that make me sexist? Maybe, but it's just an observation.