Culture

The transport department's Community Rail Ambassador Project won the Understanding and Engaging with Communities award in the Diversity and Equality Awards for their work encouraging disadvantaged groups to make better use of rail travel. Civil Service World finds out more

The government wants us to have more choice in public services. But as David Boyle explains to Jess Bowie, in reality there are numerous obstacles stopping disadvantaged people from choosing their preferred service provider

While the overall story of women in the civil service is a positive one, the number of female permanent secretaries has fallen dramatically in the last two years. Should we be concerned? Suzannah Brecknell investigates.

Janet Williams is a personal adviser in the Department for Work and Pensions, and winner of the Head of the Civil Service's Award. CSW spoke with her to find out why she won.

The number of people volunteering in England has increased remarkably. The new Community Life Survey shows 30 per cent volunteered at least once a month in 2012, compared to 25 per cent in 2010-11. As well as this ‘formal’ volunteering (ie, with a group, club or organisation), 35 per cent were involved in ‘informal’ volunteering (ie, as an individual) at least once a month, compared to 29 per cent the previous year.

Organisations providing employment support through the Work Programme are failing to support people from the hardest-to-help groups, despite financial incentives set up to encourage contractors to focus on these claimants, according to a Public Account Committee (PAC) report published today.

Only Quentin Tarantino could start out making a film about slavery, and end up making a film about himself. In Django Unchained, the brutal reality of the ante-bellum South is used as a grotesque embellishment to a film with no real purpose other allowing the director to show off. At one point, he even swaggers on screen himself in one of the least convincing scenes of this abysmal film.

You know you’ve found a good restaurant when you leave thinking of excuses to return. If the restaurant is great you’ll probably be able to think of several excuses, since the best restaurants are chameleon-like, effortlessly matching whichever event you have in mind.

The government's outgoing equalities chief has expressed his disappointment at the Cabinet Office’s work to improve diversity in public appointments, and called for the publication of a new diversity strategy to reinvigorate efforts to increase the number of women, disabled people and ethnic minorities in top civil service jobs.

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There is a world of difference between an original piece of vintage furniture, and a modern copy of the same item. The former will be a reflection of its era but, since good workmanship stands the test of time, it should still look stylish and may even seem surprisingly modern. The latter, though it may be made from modern materials and nod to current fashion, runs the risk of looking merely old-fashioned and dated.​

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A set of new ‘masterclasses’ that aim to help the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to secure public sector contracts were announced by the Cabinet Office  last week.

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The Social Mobility Strategy is facing a gale-force headwind

The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) and the Institute for Government (IfG) are entering into a partnership to build links between civil servants and the frontline workers who deliver services to vulnerable people.

The prime minister’s plan to scrap Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) is “very worrying,” according to Mencap, the charity for people with learning disabilities.

Two new Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) and a Social Outcomes Fund were launched by the Cabinet Office on 23 November.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport last week appointed members of a steering group to oversee the government’s review of the Public Sector Equality Duty, which requires all public sector bodies to ensure that their policy delivery and internal processes do not discriminate against any groups.

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Arriving at Stockholm’s Cityterminalen bus station in November, the visitor’s initial impressions are that it seems a quiet, grey sort of a place, but that perhaps it holds a few hidden treasures.

Breaking the cycle of welfare dependence is a complex task. Approaching the issue in a more scientific manner can pay dividends, the Department for Work and Pensions’ social justice director explains to Joshua Chambers

The Big Lottery Fund gives away millions of pounds to boost good causes in the UK. Chief executive Peter Wanless tells Tim Fish why he wants to work more closely with Whitehall, and how the fund can help the public sector