A new equality, diversity and inclusion policy called Fairer Enfield has been approved by Enfield Council.
Fairer Enfield reiterates the Council’s commitment to improve outcomes for all who live, learn, work in or visit Enfield.
It outlines the behaviours and values that everyone working for the Council must demonstrate and the actions they must take in order to make this a reality.
Cllr Nneka Keazor, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion said “Too many people in Enfield do not have fair and equal opportunities and are struggling more than ever as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an urgent need to do things differently and we must act as a community leader to build back better. This new policy confirms our commitment to working with our communities to implement solutions and address entrenched discrimination, racism and injustice while ensuring equality of opportunity for all.”
Enfield is the 9th most deprived London borough and has the 11th highest rate of child poverty in the country. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in many communities.
Four core values have formed the framework of the policy: Respect, Equal Outcomes, Diversity and Inclusion. The policy then includes eight equality objectives, which demonstrate specific areas where Enfield Council is tackling inequality. These objectives were based on analysis of local data on experiences of different people in our communities, national research and staff and community engagement. More than 200 people took part in an Enfield Council led exercise.
Enfield Council will be sharing the progress on delivering the objectives and principles in the annual Equalities Report, scheduled to be published in January 2022.
The policy was approved at the full Council meeting on 2 March 2021.