Equality and Diversity report reveals progress in creating an inclusive borough

Next week, Barnsley Council’s annual Equality and Diversity report for 2021-2022 will be discussed by cabinet, highlighting how we’re meeting the requirements set out in the Equality Act 2010 and associated Public Sector Equality Duties (PSED). 

The report shows our progress towards achieving our equality-related objectives, aligned to our Council Plan, demonstrating our commitment to challenging inequality while promoting an inclusive Barnsley and workforce.

We made great progress in achieving our objectives:  

  • We’ve increased the number of places to sit in public areas across the borough to encourage people to get out and about more by providing stopping places to rest and socialise.
  • More people are accessing our Reablement Service in 2021-22 - 62.8% compared to the previous year. This means more people are getting the support they need in their daily lives helping them to stay safe and independent at home for longer.
  • We’re working with schools to make sure more young people are getting the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support they need by identifying their needs earlier. In 2022, we’ve also seen more positive year-one phonics outcomes in young people with SEND compared to 2019.
  • We’ve created 13 new access guides providing information on different venues and sites across the borough.
  • Our Household Waste Recycling Centres have increased accessibility, allowing disabled people to bring larger vehicles onto the sites.

The areas that we need to focus on will form part of our equality and diversity action plan. This includes:

  • Improving the quality, consistency and types of equality monitoring data we collect from people. For example, we’re working with services to capture more data, fill missing gaps and improve data recording.
  • Increasing the quality of our employee data to gain a full demographic profile across all equality areas. We’re updating our HR management system to support this. 
  • Using the insight from our recent employee survey to improve inclusivity such as improved training, the development of employee networks and a review of good practice recruitment processes. 

Cllr Robert Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, said: “We’re committed to empowering equality across our borough and our employees. 

“This report is an important step to making sure everyone has the support, opportunities and inclusive culture needed to thrive. 

 “There is good work happening all across Barnsley to challenge inequality and promote an inclusive Barnsley and workforce, and we must work together as a borough to do more of that."

“There are changes and improvements that need to be made, and we’re working on these with a solid action plan in place to achieve our equality-related objectives.”

The cabinet report and annual Equality and Diversity report for 2021-2022 can be found on our website.  

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