Equality Objectives Annual Report 2023

The focus of this objective is to develop a greater focus on promoting social inclusivity across all the Council’s services and fostering good community relations

Areas of activity

A) Supporting communities through the work of our frontline teams and in partnership with other relevant organisations

Community Development

The Council’s Community Development work covers five key localities across the borough, incorporating Horley, Merstham, Preston, Redhill, Woodhatch and Whitebushes, along with broader support for local areas. 

Community Development Workers seek to understand the needs of communities and residents and build on their strengths to help them address challenges and benefit the places around them. Doing this effectively requires consideration of equality, diversity and inclusivity and reflecting the needs and strengths of those with protected characteristics.

Reflecting our expanding collaboration with the health sector, there has been a focus this year on health and place based working. This approach seeks to improve the wider determinants of health in borough neighbourhoods through cohesive efforts with partners. By helping to prevent factors which can cause both health and social problems, we can do more to keep communities healthy and make sure that everyone’s needs are met.

Work of particular relevance to this report in the past year has included:

• Work with the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to create a Reigate and Banstead focussed ‘Safe and Well’ form, meaning that residents who receive a ‘Safe and Well’ visit from the service are signposted to local resources and support. This support can be particularly helpful for those with other vulnerabilities.
• Helping local residents to set up groups at our Community Centres, including a support group for the parents of children with special educational needs in Woodhatch, and an African Community Group in Horley.
• Securing funding to help make sure young people in Preston can afford to access the local leisure centre and support their physical wellbeing.
• Supporting the operation of five food clubs, providing low-cost food for local people. There are currently 310 people registered across the clubs, enabling them to access healthy food more affordably.

A core achievement this year has been setting up and administering a Creating Healthy Communities grant fund, supported by East Surrey Place, which provided resources for a range of projects supporting communities. Working together with local partners, this has included:

• Mental health support through befriending schemes and support groups for older people, those with health conditions, refugees and survivors of abuse.
• Community, drama and music groups for all ages, including those with special educational needs or physical disabilities.
• Sports and physical activity opportunities, to support physical wellbeing and staying active across different ages and communities.
• Counselling, support and advice for children, young people and families, and for those on low income.
• Other projects, such as resources to make life easier for carers, community transport, and IT support.

The combination of these efforts and more, the Council’s frontline teams and our partners have continued to provide invaluable support for communities, with particular benefits for the vulnerable, community cohesion, and equality of opportunity.

Money Support

The last couple of years have been particularly financially challenging for many, with the costs of food and energy rising sharply. This can often have a disproportionate effect on those with other vulnerabilities including protected characteristics, or can lead to knock-on effects for those who may find it more difficult to access support.

The Council has a number of services working to address such needs, including Family Support and Housing, but the Money Support Team is particularly well placed to address these concerns. The team is able to provide advice and signposting to residents to help them manage their finances, access available resources, and overcome the challenges they face. Referrals to the team have increased in the past year, indicating the additional demand for support, whilst feedback from those supported has consistently reported improvements to their situation and wellbeing.

B) Incorporating consideration of social inclusivity in service-level strategies, service design and delivery

To meet the Council’s equality obligations, the work of the organisation must incorporate consideration of equality matters and social inclusivity throughout its work. This forms part of the day-to-day work of the Council, as well as being included in development of strategies and longer terms plans.

As identified above, one route through which this is accomplished is consultations, which help to make sure the needs of all residents and communities are understood and reflected. In the past year, this has included questions around the Council’s budget, parking costs, community centre modernisation, and open spaces at Earlswood and Redhill Commons. Whilst it’s not always possible to deliver everything we’d like to, consultations and other engagement helps make sure that service planning takes as much account as possible of the wide range of needs and priorities across the borough, including those with protected characteristics.

Social inclusivity is also a baseline feature of service design, strategies and delivery. This is present both across frontline services and other parts of the organisation, and Equality Impact Assessments are a core component of service planning. Examples include our Housing work, where the service ensures temporary and emergency accommodation is suitable for those accessing it, support for refugees and asylum seekers and their varied needs, Council Tax Support measures to help those facing financial pressures, and the commitment to accessibility in the new Leisure and Culture strategy.

Community Centres

The Council’s Community centres have now successfully implemented a transformation programme, which has broadened and reach and appeal of the centres. As well as leading to increased visitor numbers, the programme has expanded the range of those within the community we can engage with, and who can benefit from the opportunities available.

The centres offer resources and activities for all ages. This ranges from a place to get a hot meal, to exercise classes, to children’s play sessions (including with parents and grandparents), to dementia support, to IT classes, to diverse community groups, and through to clubs for games, arts, crafts and music. The centres also provide venues for personal care and health provision, including chiropody, hairdressing, and audiology. These offers help to provide opportunities for all members of the community, and keep important services accessible locally.

This work has been supported by improved and expanded engagement and messaging to raise awareness of what’s on offer. This has included new signage, branding, and marketing to help information on the options and support available reach everyone who might benefit.

Refugee Support

Council services have been continuing to provide support for families displaced from Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan, as part of national programmes. This has included providing assistance for over 300 Ukrainian individuals, as well as those who have become sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Weekly support sessions have been available for those displaced and their sponsors, helping them to manage their transition to the UK.

Support for Syrian and Afghan families has also been ongoing, including guidance towards opportunities for employment, English language skills, and working together to ensure their independence. The Syrian feast has now become an annual event, with the recipe book and the feast itself remaining popular.

Future Focus

There will be a continued need to support communities and provide inclusive services in the coming year. This will need to encompass both maintaining our current approaches and offers, and looking for how we can make the best use of resources as circumstances develop. It will be important to address the impacts of financial challenges on residents and communities, and consider how these can affect those with protected characteristics or other vulnerabilities.

With the new Leisure and Culture Strategy agreed, this will begin to be implemented, and will include steps to improve both the physical and mental health of residents in the borough, with benefits provided through active sports and leisure, as well as cultural offers. It will also include reviewing delivery models to ensure that they are accessible to residents through understanding needs, removing barriers to entry, and creating a leisure and culture landscape that promotes and celebrate equality.

This is consistent with and complementary to the wider health and place based approach being implemented through our community work, and we look to continue to build on our collaboration with the health sector and other partners to further develop these benefits for all residents. Efforts at Community Centres will also progress, including background infrastructure improvements to help make the best use of resources, and increasing the breadth of available low-cost activities for residents.