Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
At Citizens Advice North Somerset we value diversity, promote equity and challenge discrimination. Our service is available to everyone living, working, or travelling through North Somerset, regardless of race or nationality, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or marital status. We want to make sure that everyone can access our services and we are constantly reviewing and extending our facilities.
If you feel that the way our service is organised excludes you and others like you from accessing it, or you feel that we are not living up to our principles, please contact our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Campaigner:
Bridie Collier
Bridie.collier@nscab.org.uk
Citizens Advice North Somerset
Unit 27, The Sovereign Shopping Centre, High St,
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1HL
Equity vs Equality
Equality means giving everyone the same resources or opportunities. Whilst this sounds fair in principle, in practice it often leads to unfair outcomes because it assumes that everyone starts from the same place and needs the same level of support when in reality we all face different barriers. Equity, on the other hand, recognises the different challenges that people and communities face and adjusts the support accordingly.
You can learn more about the difference between equity and equality here:
https://breaking-down-barriers.org.uk/the-difference-between-equity-and-equality/
At Citizens Advice North Somerset, we recognise that it isn’t as easy for some people as others to access the advice they need. Please see some resources below that we hope are useful and go a little way to help close the gap in accessing advice and work towards equity.
Something missing from this page? Let us know!
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is when one person, within an intimate or family relationship, uses threatening behaviour or violence to control another against their wishes.
Safer and Stronger North Somerset has set up a Domestic Abuse webpage which contains information and advice. Go to Domestic Abuse page.
Mobile Apps that can provide support:
- Bright Sky is a safe, easy to use app and website that provides practical support and information on how to respond to domestic abuse. It is for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or who is worried about someone else.
- Help protect yourself, a friend or a family member with HollieGuard. Every 5 seconds the platform will update your precise location based on your speed and movement activity to identify where you are once an alert has been raised. HollieGuard is a personal alarm, deterent, evidence catcher and more.
Deaf or hard of hearing?
At Citizens Advice North Somerset we are ready to help you with advice on debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing and much more:
- induction loops available on reception and interview rooms
- we can book a BSL Interpreter / Lip speaker or note taker for you
- all our advisers are deaf aware
- we will give you the time you need.
Hate Crime
What is a Hate Crime?
Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice toward that person’s:
- disability
- race or ethnicity
- religion or belief
- sexual orientation
- transgender identity
- age
- gender
A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted. In fact, anyone could be a victim of the hate crime.
We can help you make sure you get the support you need. Please tell us about it.
Whether you live on a site, in “bricks and mortar” or are just passing through North Somerset, we can help you.
We don’t charge
We don’t judge
We don’t tell
You can contact us in various ways including speaking to someone face to face.
Helpful Information
Vaccinations for Children
To learn more about vaccinations for children, you can watch these short films in Romanian Romanes with English subtitles:
