The Race Equality Scheme – going beyond compliance

The Race Equality Scheme (RES) and action plan, which were agreed by Cabinet on April 28 2009, set out the steps the Council will take over the next three years not only to meet our race equality duties but to address some key persistent race equality issues for the area.

The scheme includes information on how we will continue to meet our general and specific duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and sets out the work we will do with partners to deliver the seven priorities identified.   

In developing the scheme, local, regional and national evidence was considered as well as the issues presented by key local Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) organisations.

The Council’s aim is to move on from being a legally compliant authority on race equality to one recognised for its innovative approach with partners to deliver race-related outcomes against priorities.

The seven priorities fall under three broad themes and include:

Enterprise and employment

  • Addressing worklessness and the employment gap faced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people with a particular focus on South Asian, Caribbean and West African women for whom levels are particularly high
  • Provide access to business start-up and business support for BAME groups

Health and well-being

  • Addressing issues for disabled BAME children and in particular improving access to respite and short-break services
  • Identifying and meeting the needs of older BAME people in light of the projected rise in their numbers
  • Meeting the needs of BAME people experiencing mental health issues
  • In so far as practicable, to address clinically related health inequalities that fall within the Council’s and its partners’ sphere of influence, including addressing obesity in children and young people from BAME backgrounds

Life chances

Undertaking research to get a better understanding about the experiences and needs of mixed heritage communities'. Read the Race Equality Scheme 2009-2012 (78KB PDF file) and action plan (173KB Word file)

Following the introduction of the new Public Sector Equality Duty on 5 April 2011 there is no longer a requirement for the Council to produce Equality Schemes.  As a result the 2009 -2012 Race Equality Scheme is on hold and the being reviewed in light of the new duties.  A significant amount of the work in the action is still continuing and the Council’s current day to day work to meet the particular needs of black and ethnic minority people is not affected.  A progress report about the delivery of this scheme and the Council’s other statutory schemes will be published by the end of April 2011.  To support the Council’s on-going commitment to race equality and the strategic priorities we will develop and publish a new set of equality objectives by April 2012 in line with the Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance and the Government’s revised timetable.   

The following items also set out the Council’s approach in delivering and promoting race equality.

Top ranking for high earning minority staff

Waltham Forest is proud to be one of the leaders in the proportion of highest paid council officers who come from ethnic minorities, coming second to Hackney, in a ranking of 33 London boroughs.

» Read more about high earning minority staff

More information?

For more information please contact the Equalities Team on 020 8496 3000