Equalities

The Inclusive Kingston (2021-2025) is split into four priority objectives for action. These objectives, aligned to the council’s current Corporate Plan and other key documents, will shape our focus for developing policy and guide our approach for delivering services. We will ensure that these objectives are integrated into organisational plans.

Our four objectives are:

Objective 1: Listen to, and learn from, the diverse communities we serve

We will do this by:

• Increasing engagement with and participation from minority, seldom heard, protected and vulnerable groups
• Talking to residents about how combinations of equality aspects influence their experiences of services and the borough
• Improving the quality of the data and information we collect and the way it is used to assess the impact of decisions

Objective 2: Celebrate the diversity of our borough and champion communities, making sure that Kingston is a safe borough for all

We will do this by:

• Encouraging mutual understanding between and across all communities
• Working with partners, residents, businesses and communities to challenge discrimination and tackle harassment and hate crime
• Working with communities to develop a clear shared vision of Kingston for all to take ownership of

Objective 3: Deliver accessible and inclusive policies and services that meet the diverse needs of communities

We will do this by:

• Strengthening equality analysis in service planning and decision making across the organisation
• Designing with, rather than for, communities, engaging effectively before services are developed
• Developing strong oversight and management to monitor progress and identify areas of further opportunity
• Improving the systems we use to identify who is using our services and how satisfied they are with these services

Objective 4: Be the best employer for people of all backgrounds

We will do this by:

• Being a representative workforce which promotes equalities 
• Reaching into the community to tap into our borough’s vast talent and potential
• Placing inclusivity and wellbeing being at the heart of service delivery and throughout the entire employee lifecycle 
• Valuing and respecting each other and challenging poor behaviour
• Listening to each other and encouraging everyone to be themselves at work
• Striving to follow equal opportunities best practice in both our policies and approaches 
• Ensuring an informed workforce who understand the importance of equality when making decisions 

You can read our full strategy and action plan here.