Developing our strategy
To help guide our ongoing work and the development of this strategy, we have reviewed data and information that we hold about what it means to live and work in Somerset. This data come from a wide variety of sources including:
- What we know about Somerset – National and regional data about people living in Somerset and the services that we provide for them.
- What we know about our staff – Workforce data about the people who work for Somerset Council
When considering our equality objectives, we have also drawn on data that we know about.
- The differing, and sometimes marginalised communities here in Somerset.
- About where people live across the county.
- The differences in quality of life that are experienced in different areas (this is sometime referred to as ‘social mobility.
- Consulting with voluntary sector partners and networks. Engaging with the voices of the people who make up our community in Somerset is not a one-off exercise; it is something we have and will continue to keep on doing.
Our Equality Objectives
The equality objectives that we are working towards for the coming 4 years are:
- Work across council services and with external partners to deliver a minimum of 4 initiatives that will improve people’s access to information and services who are otherwise digitally excluded by December 2029
- Work towards being an Anti-Racist organisation, with a review of progress by December 2027
- A reduction of 15% in the number of cases of school-based peer-on-peer discrimination by April 2030
- Improve the support and understanding of disability to improve experience of disabled employees
- Improve how the Council demonstrates and actions leadership around equality in the community
Our Action Plan
These objectives will be supported by an overarching action plan created with all sections of the council.
The overall action plan is underpinned by several localised action plans to improve outcomes and experiences for our staff and the communities of Somerset. These action plans are used to support the council’s progress against equality objectives, improve the working life of our staff and support the council’s commitment and understanding of equality in everything we do.
We know that equality, diversity and inclusion is never static and there will always be work that we need to do and learning that we need to undertake. These action plans will provide a realistic way of improving the council’s collective knowledge and the action we will take.