Equality and diversity report

What we have achieved in 2024-25

Make Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) a shared responsibility and priority for everyone, at all levels of the Council: leaders, councillors, managers and employees. 

New EDI approach 

We have implemented a new approach to deliver against our agreed corporate EDI policy commitments. This includes establishing a new EDI board to lead on internal decision-making with senior leaders from across the council and a new Corporate EDI network to support developing a cross-council work programme involving all services within the council. 

Women and Girls committee 

Council passed a motion in September 2024 to agree to establish a new member-led Women and Girls formal advisory committee to the Cabinet. The committee met for the first time in February 2025 and is developing its work programme based on the 4 identified priority areas of; 

• Tackling Violence against women and girls

• Addressing the gender pay gap 

• Ensuring equal access to education and training 

• Supporting Women and girls from marginalised communities

Care experience as a protected characteristic 

Council agreed a motion on support for care experienced people, adopting Care experience as if it were a protected characteristic in Gateshead. We are now working with council services to develop an action plan to deliver support to people who are care experienced. 

Embed EDI in all our policies, procedures and ways of working so it is visible in our everyday work

Health in all policies approach 

We have introduced a 'Health in All Policies' approach, including learning for all our staff.   This approach recognises that health and wellbeing is much more than not being ill or having good health services and that our health is shaped by the world around us. To be healthy we need the right building blocks in place like good jobs, safe homes and neighbourhoods, good quality and easy-to-access services, supportive friends and families and more. As a council, we can have a huge influence on these building blocks. The Health in All Policies approach is about considering the (positive and negative) health impacts of policies, programmes, or decisions. It also aims to tackle health inequalities (unfair and avoidable differences in health) in everything we do. 

Public Health Needs Assessments: 

We created a Sexual Health network in response to recommendations from the recent Sexual Health Needs Assessment, attended by health organisations and the voluntary sector. The Network will address system-based issues, provide a space for information sharing, and work together on opportunities for comprehensive care.  The Network has a specific commitment to tackling health inequalities in sexual and reproductive health, with a particular focus on the following more vulnerable groups:  

• Sex workers, LGBTQ+ community, substance misuse service users, Care experienced young people, Older people and Ethnic minority groups. 

Our recent Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment provided an overview of the nature, levels and impact of domestic abuse in Gateshead. This helped the Domestic Abuse Partnership to identify need and demand, emerging trends and gaps in data and service provision. We have agreed a new Domestic Abuse Strategy and Action Plan, which will work to prevent domestic abuse and improve support for the victims

Embed EDI in our decision-making processes, using our Integrated Impact Assessments approach

We have refreshed our approach to analysing equality impact with a new integrated impact assessment tool to support services to consider the potential impact of council activity on equality (people), health and wellbeing, environment and the socio-economic duty (aim to reduce social and economic disadvantage). This will better inform councillors of potential impact and mitigation that can be applied in our decision-making processes.

Implement the voluntary Socio-Economic Duty within the Equality Act, so that we pro-actively consider socio-economic impact to inform our council decisions

As part of our work on new Integrated Impact Assessments, we developed questions and guidance with a focus on understanding socio-economic impact. This will ensure that impacts on residents facing socio-economic disadvantage will be assessed and considered in service design, delivery and in our decision making. 

Prioritise Inclusivity as pledged in our Corporate Plan 

Pride in Gateshead 

We were proud to support the first Pride in Gateshead month-long programme of activities celebrating our diverse communities in August 2024. Organised by Gateshead-based charity Out North East, and supported by partners including Gateshead College, Metrocentre and Lumo. A report published by organiser Out North East has revealed the positive effect on businesses and the lasting legacy of engagement.  A commitment to support Pride in Gateshead 2025 has been made by the Council.