Hearing from our communities
We understood any plan that delivers our ambition to be a fairer borough for all, needs to be a collaborative effort with our communities. Our conversations with our communities and partners were crucial in developing a meaningful plan that delivers on what matters the most to them.
Consulting our residents
Our consultation and engagement was done in two phases. The first, in summer and autumn 2023, was an open conversation with our residents and colleagues on equalities issues. We worked in partnership with local voluntary and community sector partners and holding workshops for colleagues at the council. Feedback we were given informed the initial development of our objective, aims and actions.
The second phase focused on ensuring the objective, aims and actions we had developed were supported by residents. This involved discussion events with residents and a formal consultation which took place between August and November 2024. This period included the lead up to and after the publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report. This gave residents the opportunity to reflect and comment on issues of fairness, equality, diversity and inclusion that were drawn out in the report.
"I want a formal commitment by the council to uphold the Equality Act 2010."
Positive response
Around 765 residents gave us their views on our draft objective, aims and actions for the plan. We asked residents:
- if they supported the work that had been developed so far
- how we can further develop it to meet their needs
Resident feedback was very positive, with 75% of respondents to the online consultation strongly agreeing or agreeing with the draft objective, aims and actions. This was mirrored across the 23 engagement activities that supported the online consultation.
Resident feedback included:
- supporting a plan for a fairer borough
- wanting to see more about education
- supporting the need to do more for older people and those with a disability in our borough
- the organisation doing more to ensure that its staff understand the local community better to help them in their work
- wanting to see a stronger commitment from our leadership on these issues
"Education helps people into work, not enough is mentioned about this in the plan."
"It is important to focus on isolation and loneliness amongst older residents."
"There need to be more opportunities for those with learning disabilities and physical disabilities."
"Greater training and familiarisation of new staff with the diverse nature of the borough, including using residents as trainers."
Our plan will outline how those views have been translated into the actions in the plan.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to our residents, colleagues and partners that have helped to bring this plan to life by giving their time and views. Your voices are at the heart of our work.
Special thanks to the following organisations who contributed and shaped this action plan:
- Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea
- Al-Hasaniya
- BME Health Forum
- Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
- Chelsea Theatre
- Citizens Panel
- Cost-of-Living Partnership
- Dalgarno Trust
- Earls Court Community Champions
- Faith Partnership
- Full of Life
- Grenfell Black Lives Matters steering group
- Kensington and Chelsea Foodbank
- K&C Foundation
- Kensington and Chelsea Volunteer Centre
- Kensington and Chelsea Social Council
- Mencap
- North Kensington Health Forum
- Open Age
- Over 50s Forum
- RBKC Youth Council
- SMART Café
- The Advocacy Project
- The Local Account Group
- The Mobility Forum The Tenants Consultative Committee
- Tree of Life Group
- Worlds End Community Champions
- Young K&C