Worcester City Council has achieved its ambition to become an excellent local leader in equality, diversity and inclusion, through a comprehensive Strategy which was built from the LGA framework for EDI. Councillors set officers the challenge to raise the council’s performance in this area and senior leaders have personally championed many initiatives throughout the three years of the Strategy’s delivery. We have been bold, positive and persistent. Inclusive practice is now demonstrably embedded at all levels in the council. We have earned the trust of local communities and partner organisations through our track record of delivery.
The challenge
The council’s existing culture was to adopt a helpful approach to customers with different needs and requirements, but there was no systematic approach to equality, diversity and inclusion or programme for improvement. Councillors set officers the challenge to raise our performance.
The challenge was also how to harness the best of the existing culture at the council while being open to improvement and learning, at all levels in the organisation.
The solution
We used the LGA framework for equality, diversity and inclusion to develop a self-assessment tool, comprehensively measuring our performance across the four measures of Communities, Leadership, Customers and Workforce. We set ourselves the objective to move from 'good' to 'excellent' in three years, through a wide ranging programme of activities. We made the Strategy practical and easy to understand.
We have now delivered the Strategy and met our objective. Very little budget was actually required but it has taken perseverance and dedication. The work of a small group of staff across the organisation has truly been championed, and challenged, by a larger group of councillors. It really has been a team effort.
We have used our resources to match the expertise and passion of local people. Combining the talents of our staff in community and heritage roles, with the splendour of our Guildhall on the High Street, we hosted new community events, including Black History Month, Euro-day and International Women’s Day. We have brought together people of all ages to celebrate their shared cultural heritages and show people how diverse and welcoming Worcester actually is. We have also used our annual Worcester Show to celebrate all of our city’s communities in one summer event.
We have used the census data to plan for a changing city and we have taken a stand against harassment and incivility in our city. We have responded to customer feedback and made real changes to our services and buildings. We have reviewed all of our workforce policies, delivered training and won external recognition for our inclusive employment practices.
We have met with other local partners in the city to ensure our activities complement and all work towards Worcester being an inclusive and welcoming city. We have now embedded these aims and successes in our new five-year city plan.
The impact
The council has now earned a strong reputation for putting inclusion at the heart of its own decision-making, and working to make the city safe and welcoming. Councillors and staff feel confident to suggest improvements and the Council actively engages with customers and communities to ensure they feel that positive changes can happen.
How is the new approach being sustained?:
After the three years of sustained delivery of the Strategy, lots of activities have become business as usual within the council.
Decision-making and dialogue, by Members and Officers, is more obviously influenced now by a genuine consideration of other perspectives and the needs of others, within the city and the workforce.
Some events, initially led by the Council, have resulted in the formation of new community groups. External fund-raising applications have been made on the strength of our successes to date.
Lessons learned
Inclusive leadership can come from all levels and some unexpected places. Find the people who have a real passion or experience and match their skills with structured support from the council.
Be brave and positive and learn from giving things a go. Everyone benefits if the city, and the Council that serves it, is safe, inclusive and welcoming. There is no room for complacency and always more to learn and do.
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Contact
Email: [email protected]