Diverse Cymru was created in 2011 through a merger between Cardiff and Vale Coalition of Disabled People and Awetu. We were founded in recognition of the difficulties and discrimination faced by people experiencing inequality in Wales.
We are a unique charity committed to supporting people faced with inequality and discrimination because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Our service users often face barriers to accessing opportunities and support due to cultural issues that we are in existence to overcome.
Our service users and volunteers include individuals and communities that are often overlooked or discriminated against due to cultural misunderstanding or discrimination by bodies that should provide services to all.
We are here to empower individuals and provide a safe space for them to express their needs, challenge current service provision, access support and influence inclusive service delivery.
We also deliver a series of projects and services to help us to support equality and reduce in-equality:
* We provide Advice around welfare and benefits that helps people get the support they need.
* We deliver a national Direct Payments service, that lets people receiving social services care choose and manage the support that best suits their needs.
* We deliver Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Mental Health projects which improve understanding about mental health and the barriers that these communities face in accessing support and services.
We provide a series of opportunities for individuals facing in-equality to gain the confidence to become involved in influencing their own future, and also help influence current service provisions throughout Wales.
We also provide the cultural understanding support that services need to be able to service the whole population.
All of our services and support depends on the input of service users and volunteers, to enable us to understand the real issues that diverse communities face and then develop services that are fully inclusive.
We do this be delivering:
* Consultancy and Training that helps businesses, charities and the public sector, schools, universities and communities improve their diversity practice, increase knowledge and awareness of equality, mental health and well-being.
* Promoting stories and experiences from the lives of people facing inequality and advocating on their behalf, or connecting them with politicians and decision-makers at the local and national levels.
* Working closely with a network of organisations and partners, including local councils and Welsh Government, which are also committed to the promotion and equality of protected characteristics groups.
* Delivering a series of projects and services that support individuals with unique cultural needs.
* We support volunteering throughout Wales and actively support partner organisations who wish to increase the number and diversity of their volunteers.
