The MA is working to recognise and bring together magistrates who are also members of groups we believe to be underrepresented within both the MA and the magistracy, as a whole. We have formed Special Interest Groups (SIGs) which will allow these members to network and discuss issues specific to them. These are the only groups of this kind that exist for the magistracy.
They exist to:
Each group is governed by an elected executive comprising a Chair and two Deputy Chairs.
Please note that you must be an MA member to participate in an MA Special Interest Group. Click here to join us!
The first of these to be launched was the Young Magistrates Special Interest Group (YMSIG), which comprises members under the age of 40. It was launched in April 2019 and has undertaken a series of successful activities since then.
Please click here to learn more.
To contact the executive directly, please email YMSIG@magistrates-association.org.uk
The MA LGBT+ Group was launched in February 2020. It comprises all MA members who identify as members of the LGBT+ community. Over the next year, the executive is working to ensure:
Due to the events of 2020, many of the group’s planned activities for 2020 have been cancelled or postponed.
LGBT+ Group Executive
To contact the executive directly or request more information on the LGBT+ Group, please email LGBT@magistrates-association.org.uk
The MA Magistrates with Disabilities Special Interest Group (MWD SIG) was launched in August 2020. The executive was elected in September and is currently creating a programme of activities for the next two years.
MWD SIG Executive
To contact the executive directly or request more information on the MWD SIG, please email MWDSIG@magistrates-association.org.uk
The MA Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Special Interest Group (BAME SIG) was launched in November 2020. The executive was elected in December 2020 and is currently creating a programme of activities for the next two years.
BAME SIG Executive
To contact the executive directly or request more information on the BAME SIG, please email BAME@magistrates-association.org.uk .