DORSET BUSINESS FOCUS / NEWS
Dorset to host National Schools’ Conference on Sexism, Misogyny and Sexual Harassment The Me Too movement, Everyone’s Invited and the shocking murder of Sarah Everard are just some of the events which have highlighted just how much sexual harassment and misogyny pervades society. The disparity between men and women is baked into our systems and consciousness and results in women and girls everywhere continuing to be treated as ‘The Second Sex’. Now is an unprecedented time to address this issue and Dorset is leading the conversation in schools nationally. Free & Equal? run by Dorset-based education provider Beyond This, is a growing initiative highlighting the need for effective human rights education in schools and beyond. The conference is streamed LIVE and last year’s conference on racism reached 88 schools nationally and internationally: an approximate audience of 5000 young people. This year’s conference will address Ofsted’s findings last year that 92% of girls, and 74% of boys, said sexist name-calling happens a lot or sometimes to them or their peers.[i] Add to this the discovery that 56% of university students have been the recipients of unwanted sexual behaviour[ii], the startlingly low rape conviction rate in the UK of just 1.6%[iii] and the fact that one in three UK women will be beaten or sexually assaulted at some point in their lives[iv] (usually by a family member) and we see an alarming picture that betrays the prevalence of misogyny and ‘rape culture’ in our society. “This year we are aiming to reach at least 200 schools and expect an audience of around 20,000 young people,” says conference director and founder of Beyond This Peter Radford. “Growing awareness in schools around this issue has to be the first priority if we are to establish long term cultural change and
create a fairer society in which all people of all genders are treated with respect and dignity.” The conference held in September 2022, features a host of inspirational speakers including Felicity Aston, the first and only woman to ski across Antarctica alone and Seyi Akiwiwo the founder of Giltch charity and advisor to governments and NGOs on online abuse. The conference organised in liaison with Unicef UK and Amnesty and sponsored so far by The Young People Index and African Adventures is seeking sponsorship from Dorset-based businesses ahead of its national campaign. www.beyondthis.co.uk/standup2
FOCUS ON
finance with Peter Harding
The advantages of Inheritance Tax Planning As Dorset financial expert Peter Harding explains, there comes a point in life when thoughts turn to what happens after we’re gone, with this likely to include considering how best to pass on any assets we may have. The importance of planning often begins with Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning. While few estates actually pay IHT, the 40% tax charged on assets above the nil-rate band and the Residence Nil Rate Band makes it a risk not worth taking. When you’re trying to come up with a plan for passing on wealth, traditionally it’s about trusts, property and so on but people are increasingly using their pension pots. A pension has long been one of the most tax-efficient ways to pass on wealth. For example, if you die before you turn 75 and you haven’t accessed your pension, your beneficiaries can receive all of it tax free, provided they claim it within two years of your death. It’s important to get to grips with the pension rules and ensure you’re using them to your advantage. You could also consider gifting. This is money you can give away while still alive to reduce the IHT bill, so it should be part of your tax planning. For example, you can give away a total of £3,000 worth of gifts each tax year without them being added to the value of your estate (and you can use the previous year’s allowance, too, if you haven’t already). Retirement continues to change, with implications for how inheritance planning works. Advice is especially crucial here to balance your own needs and those of your loved ones. To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or inheritance tax planning, contact Peter Harding Wealth Management on 01202 830730 or email peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk. Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd. www.peterhardingwm.co.uk
[i] www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges/ review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges [ii] www.theguardian.com/education/2019/feb/26/more-than-half-of-uk-students-say-theyhave-faced-unwanted-sexual-behaviour [iii] www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/23/fewer-than-one-in-60-cases-lead-to-chargein-england-and-wales [iv] www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-56337819#:~:text=One%20in%20three%20women%20 globally,World%20Health%20Organization%20(WHO). more news online - www.dorsetchamber.co.uk/news
33
