Equality scheme and equality action plans

Equality of opportunities

As a public authority, we have a duty to promote equality of opportunities and good relations. Our equality scheme is our commitment to fulfil our Section 75 duties towards people who might experience inequality. We also have equality and diversity-related action plans to make equality central to our policy and decision-making processes.

Why we have an equality scheme

Our equality scheme outlines our arrangements for:

• assessing our compliance with Section 75 duties
• assessing and consulting people on the likely impact our policies have on promoting equality of opportunity
• monitoring any adverse impact of policies on the promoting equality of opportunity
• publishing the results of our assessments
• training staff
• assessing public access to information and services we provide

We have in place necessary resources such as people, time and money, to make sure:

• we can comply with our statutory duties
• we implement the equality scheme effectively, and on time

You can read a summary of our equality scheme.

How to get copies of our equality scheme

Our equality scheme is published in full, in summary and in Easy Read. You can read these online.
You can ask for the publication in print, as an email copy, in an accessible format such as Braille, audio, large print, Easy Read or in other languages.
 

Equality Action Plan 2021-2024

As part of our Equality Scheme we have developed an Equality Action Plan, which runs from 2021 until 2024. This outlines how we will promote equality and diversity in our ambitions to create a city in which people love to live, learn, invest, work and visit. It also contributes to our compliance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The Equality Action Plan is developed from some of the information in an Audit of Inequalities, which is a systematic approach to identify inequalities, across the nine Section 75 categories (religious belief, political opinion, race, age, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, people with dependants or without), which are relevant to a public authority’s functions.

The Equality Action Plan contains some of the key priorities from our Corporate Plan, which will have the biggest impact on inequalities. Our Corporate Plan is a reflection of what people in Belfast have told us they want and the type of leadership they feel the city needs. It takes the priorities of the Belfast Agenda, the Community Plan, and sets out the ways in which the council will deliver these to grow a sustainable, inclusive economy and equitable society. To fulfil our responsibilities, our Corporate Plan not only ensures we deliver the day-to-day services which the people of Belfast rely upon; we stretch ourselves through a series of strategic priorities to ensure we positively affect the lives of everyone in Belfast.

To ask for a copy of our Equality Scheme or Equality Action Plan, contact the Equality and Diversity Unit by email: equality@belfastcity.gov.uk