The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is commissioning a new Equality Advisory and Support service. The service is intended to replace the helpline currently run by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

A Review was carried out by GEO between August to October in 2010. The Review asked two fundamental questions: firstly, should government continue to fund information, advice and support for potential victims of discrimination and secondly, should the EHRC continue to be responsible for delivering this service.

The Review concluded that Government should continue to fund information and advice to potential victims of discrimination and human rights breaches. This was because of Government’s commitment to ensuring access to justice and, in particular, to helping people to resolve their problems informally (i.e. before the point a claim is made and even before it is necessary to access formal alternative dispute resolution). The Review also concluded that the Government should not fund the EHRC to deliver this service. Therefore, Government has decided that it will commission a new service from a private sector or civil society organisation or a combination of both.

The specification for the new service can be downloaded here:-

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/government-equality/new-service-specification?view=Binary

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