Our Equality Objective
Dealing with significant inequalities
The Public Sector Equality Duty requires the council to commit to one or more equality objectives at least every four years. We should consider the greatest disparities in the borough, and deal with the most significant equality issues shown by the evidence.
The most significant issue in Kensington and Chelsea is the level of deprivation present within some areas of the borough. The two main driving factors for this are income and employment.
Residents' feedback
Our residents also pointed to education and employment being key to tackling inequality. Residents want to see:
- an increase in opportunities for education and training
- support to be employment ready
- equitable access and distribution of services
The next four years
Our objective is:
"Take targeted action to tackle the causes of inequality and deprivation, focusing on areas such as health inequalities, employment and education where the council can make the biggest difference."
Several factors contribute to deprivation including employment, education and health. We want to make a difference and improve life chances for people, including:
- targeting support to those who need it the most
- considering the broader benefits that the council can bring to communities
Achievements to date
We are making significant progress to achieve this objective, but we also acknowledge there is still a lot more work to be done. We:
- provided a one-off cash payment to residents in greatest need
- provided free school meals during school holidays for all eligible children
- launched a healthy lifestyles service, to work with the groups we know experience the greatest health inequalities, including:
- ethnically diverse communities
- individuals with mental health needs
- those with disabilities
- expanded our Public Health Voluntary Community Sector investment to better tackle health inequalities and reduce the life-expectancy gap
- implemented the Community Works employment and skills programme in North Kensington. The programme, developed with the community, provides:
- one to one advice and support
- a range of confidence building activities with local community organisations aimed to enhance skills, employment, and education opportunities for residents
- extended the holiday activity and food scheme, with 22% of the scheme aimed at children with special education needs and disabilities
We are:
- leading on the North Kensington Inclusion Pilot, supporting students at risk of exclusion and permanent exclusion from school
- using tools to better identify and support residents living in our social housing, at risk of financial difficulties, before they reach crisis point. This has allowed delivery of targeted campaigns, including helping pensioners claim unclaimed Pension Credit
Our targeted actions
Our actions reflect the feedback from residents and the borough data to deliver a more targeted approach to tackling the causes of inequality and deprivation, going further to help address key issues to deliver change.
Action 1
Introduce a new programme of bursaries for low-income households, with a particular focus on social housing, supporting them into employment and training programmes.
Progress measure
Reporting the number of young people entering employment and training from our most deprived communities.
Action 2
Continue to use our Household Support Fund allocation to provide direct support for residents to relieve financial pressures for as long as we can.
Progress measure
Track and report:
- the number of residents who have directly benefited from the funding
-
that the support is targeted at those residents with the greatest need and that it is easy for them to obtain
Action 3
Use the council’s Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) to increase the impact of council activity on residents with the greatest need, and develop interventions to better tackle deprivation.
Progress measures
An increase in the number of council's initiatives and interventions offered to those on the LIFT tracker
Review the LIFT Tracker to identify how the number and position of residents on the tracker changes due to successful interventions
Action 4
Deliver targeted employment support interventions in wards with high levels of deprivation.
Progress measures
An increase in the number of residents supported into employment and/or training opportunities.
Tracking changes in employment rates, particularly in deprived areas.
Monitor average income levels and income inequality.
Action 5
Commission community-led research working with residents to understand more about:
- the drivers of deprivation, such as employment
- how they experience them
- what the council can do to help
Progress measures
Increasing community participation during the research and implementation of initiatives.
Develop indicators to track how resulting programmes support those in need.