IPSWICH & SUFFOLK COUNCIL FOR RACIAL EQUALITY

My name is Nisha Patel and I am a seventeen year old A-Level student, hoping to study Law at University. I volunteered at ISCRE for one week in the summer of 2010, but I wish I could have stayed longer, and I would definitely love to go back!

I really admire the work ISCRE does for individuals and the community as a whole. Being at their offices was inspiring; I realised how their work is so important in challenging discrimination and prejudice, and promoting equal opportunities for all as well as providing advice and support for victims.

I was given a number of assignments at ISCRE, some of which were challenging, but always rewarding once I had completed them. Everyone was so friendly, and took time out of their day to help me if I asked, yet there was lot of individual responsibility. Work I produced was actually used; for example, I designed a draft version of the company’s leaflet which will now be sent off to the main designers for final touches. I also produced a questionnaire for a case which was going to the employment tribunal, and after some reviewing I was allowed to serve it.

I also really enjoyed the chance to watch a film at an event called ‘The Mask of Discrimination’. It was an event highlighting the discrimination that the Gypsy and Traveller communities experience in everyday life, and it was a real eye-opener. Talking to Travellers and hearing their experiences first hand really brought their problems to life, and made me realize the emotional distress and pain that discrimination can bring.

The hands-on experience enabled me to develop skills which will no doubt help me in my future career, as well as proving invaluable in everyday life. It was great to be able to do real work; I was able to gain a greater understanding of how employment and discrimination laws work, and seeing as I have never studied law it made me realize how much I will enjoy it at University.

Overall, volunteering at ISCRE proved to be an educational, fulfilling and thought provoking week. The tasks were challenging and diverse, the people helpful and friendly, and I would definitely recommend getting involved with ISCRE. I plan to attend the AGM later in September, and hope to keep close links with this inspirational and valuable charity.

Nisha Patel
27 August 2010.

My Name is Joe Underwood and I was a volunteer at ISCRE for a two week period during August 2010. I am planning on taking my Legal Practice Course this time next year, however, this year it is my goal to gain as much experience in the legal field as I possibly can.

I was interested in gaining work experience at ISCRE because it is a charity which focuses on discrimination law. Its main objective is to promote peoples’ rights and ensure their equal treatment in law.

The work at ISCRE has been fun and varied, the people I have worked alongside have been extremely helpful and the overall experience has been very rewarding. Through working on an assortment of cases relating to several aspects of discrimination, I have gained knowledge of an area of law which I knew little about prior to my work with ISCRE. During my time here I have had the opportunity to take part in one-on-one meetings with clients. These meetings had the affect of bringing the cases that I was working on to life, I was able to witness firsthand the emotional distress and anxiety caused by discrimination. In addition to these meetings I was asked to engage in direct correspondence with clients through email, telephone conversations and via post.

When I wasn’t contacting a client directly about their case, I was researching documentation to evaluate whether their potential claim would be successful under discrimination law. This research and analysis coupled with the direct interaction with clients has proved to be an invaluable experience for an aspiring solicitor such as myself.

The time I have spent at ISCRE has vastly extended my knowledge in discrimination law and has proved to be an enjoyable and thought provoking process. In addition to being extremely appreciative for the opportunity that ISCRE has given me to further my skills as a solicitor, I have great admiration for the work being done at ISCRE and the positive effects it has had on the diverse community of Suffolk since it’s foundation in 1977.

Joe Underwood

26/08/2010

I am an LL.B. graduate from the University of Essex. In the summer holiday of my graduating year, I spent two weeks at ISCRE to work as a law volunteer.

I have always believed that becoming a volunteer is very meaningful to the society and important for personal development. Being able to utilise the skills that I have learnt over the past three years, as a volunteer, was an opportunity that I had always wanted.

ISCRE is a charitable organisation which combats six forms of discriminations. When I came across the volunteering scheme at ISCRE, it was immediately clear that I was at the right place.
My time at ISCRE was challenging, yet enjoyable. I was given interesting assignments and was able to deal with real clients. This hands-on experience has allowed me to learn and develop a number of my skills, which will help shape me into a better.

There were a number of assignments given during my time at ISCRE. The focus of my work was to draft a piece of legal advice for an education and discrimination case. It involved closely analysing witness statements, picking out key details which may be of evidential value. It was real work that allowed me to have a better understanding of how the education and discrimination laws operate in practice. This is also interesting because unlike any assignments set by the university, the work was not based on theoretical situations.

As well as the legal work on paper, I was invited to the meeting with a client in a discrimination case and to another meeting with Mr. John Wotton, the Deputy Vice President of the Law Society. I felt very privileged to take part in the meeting where we concentrated on discussing about pro bono work.
The combination of exciting assignments and a friendly environment has definitely made ISCRE my first choice for legal working experience.

Burnston Fan
9 July 2010

My name is Rebecca and I volunteered at ISCRE for a two week summer placement in 2010. In August 2010 I will be studying the Legal Practice Course, continuing to quality as a solicitor.

ISCRE is a charity which provides advice and promotes peoples’ rights to equal treatment in law and in practice. It challenges injustice and discrimination and promotes fairness and inclusion.

The work of ISCRE is challenging, rewarding and diverse. While volunteering for the advocacy service I worked on a number of cases relating to various aspects of discrimination. The opportunity to have hands on experience enabled me to learn about discrimination law, an area of law I was not very familiar with. During my time at ISCRE I undertook a number of tasks including researching all possible options for a client claiming racial discrimination and harassment. For this client I wrote a letter outlining their options and possible actions. I communicated with clients by phone and email. As an aspiring solicitor this experience has enabled me to develop skills and insights that will be invaluable for my future career.

While at ISCRE I had the opportunity to be involved with an education appeal. For this I wrote a number of witness statements and researched into a claim for direct racial discrimination. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to sit in on client appointments. This contact made their problems seem more real and raw and enabled me to gain a greater understanding of the emotional distress and strain discrimination has on an individual.

Whilst volunteering I became aware of ISCREs stop and search reference group with Suffolk Constabulary. As a volunteer for the police I was particularly interested to hear ISCREs insights and opinions on the police stop and search policy and the community’s experiences.

A combination of the work I have undertaken and the people I have met has made this placement an enjoyable, valuable, thought provoking and educational experience. I admire the work that ISCRE does for the community and am grateful for the experience and opportunities they have given me during this summer placement. I hope to attend their Annual General Meeting later in the year to hear the speeches and try some great food. The work undertaken by ISCRE is important and delivered in a friendly, dedicated and approachable manner. This approach encourages involvement and commitment to the charity.

Rebecca Funnell, 23rd July 2010