Mainstreaming equality

Our work to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations is not limited to the published objectives. We have a long standing approach of mainstreaming equalities.

This means that officers take responsibility for implementing the Public Sector Equality Duty as part of their core day to day role. The following are examples of this approach in practice.

Borough of Sanctuary

We are working towards becoming a Borough of Sanctuary which supports refugees and asylum seekers. To mark Refugee Week 2023, we launched a new three year Sanctuary Strategy. We have also launched a Borough of Sanctuary funding pot and established the Borough of Sanctuary Community Fund to support voluntary groups that support refugees and asylum seekers in Wandsworth.

Important projects for sanctuary seekers have been developed such as:

  • An arts therapy programme
  • English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes
  • Community integration support sessions
  • Free refurbished laptops
  • Digital skills classes
  • Music workshops
  • A dedicated team to support refugees is also being established

Other services that provide help to sanctuary seekers include:

  • Lifelong Learning - a service who provide a variety of courses to help sanctuary seekers gain language skills
  • Work Match - a service who help provide information to refugees and asylum seekers on employment opportunities
  • CV coaching and interview coaching
  • Children’s Services who support refugees and asylum seekers by helping with school applications, free school uniforms, and providing access to school holiday activities and food programmes

Homes for Ukraine

We also support the Homes for Ukraine resettlement scheme. Our staff visit newly arrived families to ensure they can access local services and support. We also support the White Eagle Club in Balham to hold weekly social and cultural sessions for Ukrainians to socialise, gain peer support and take part in wellbeing activities. Citizens Advice Wandsworth are also supported us to provide an advice service to help Ukrainians settle in Wandsworth.

Cost of Living

We recognise the impact the Cost of Living crisis is having on residents. In 2023, we extended free gym and swim sessions to help more residents who are struggling to access local leisure facilities. We created the Wandsworth ULEZ Sustainable Travel Financial Assistance scheme to help residents on lower incomes sell, replace, or dispose of their non-ULEZ compliant vehicles. 

We also continued the School Uniform Support Scheme which helps families on free school meals with the cost of school uniform.

Educational achievement for all pupils

We are committed to giving children in Wandsworth the best possible start in life. In June 2023, the School Food Strategy was agreed which ensures that all children and young people receive nutritional and sustainable school meals in the borough. Over the school holidays, we delivered the Wandsworth Connected programme which provides activities and meals to children from across the borough.

To tackle the discrimination faced by care-experienced people, in 2023 we approved the Leaving Care Finance Policy and the Leaving Care Savings Policy. Councillors also invited care experienced young people to join a Cabinet meeting at the Falcon Grove community hub to enable them to share their priorities and learn how the Council is run. This event also helped councillors to think about the care experience.

Celebrating diversity

Wandsworth is a borough rich in diversity and we are committed to making it a fairer and more compassionate place.

We have several staff equality groups that help to promote diversity and inclusion:

  • The Race Equality Network
  • The LGBT & Allies Group
  • The Staff Disability Action Group
  • The Women’s Network
  • The Black Workers’ Network

Black History Month

Black History Month (BHM) is a month-long celebration of the histories and cultures of people and communities of African origin. In 2023, we built upon our 2022 BHM programme with events held by the Libraries, Arts and Culture, Economic Development, Public Health, Children’s Services and Communications teams.

The focus of BHM 2023 was the contributions of black women to society with events including:

  • The launch of the Wandsworth Sheroes exhibition at Wandsworth Town Hall
  • The unveiling of a blue plaque to mark the former Battersea home of ground-breaking singer Evelyn Dove
  • An online talk with Deanna Lyncook on ‘Caribbean Women in Britain’.

View the full list of events for BHM 2023.

Internally, the Race Equality Network and the Black Workers’ Network arranged events for council staff to encourage learning and conversation. The Public Health team organised a ‘Sheroes’ event to showcase and celebrate the life and works of black women who have made significant contributions to public health.

Black History 365

We are not only committed to celebrating the achievements of black people during BHM but all year round. In 2022, we adopted our Black History 365 programme which in 2023 included a free Caribbean summer BBQ at the Doddington and Rollo Estate’s Community Roof Garden. It also included Hidden Treasures, a creative project that celebrated black heritage and lineage through workshops, art, jewellery and conversation.

Windrush Day

Windrush Day occurs every year on 22 June and marks the arrival of the ship Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in 1948. It brought people from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom at the invitation of the Government to work in vital industrial and public sector jobs, including the new National Health Service, to help repair the war-ravaged British economy.

In 2023, we organised events to mark Windrush Day including a story of John Archer exhibition, performances, Q&A and open-mic sessions at Battersea Arts Centre, and a show at the Royal Academy of Dance charting the journey of black British war veterans.

South Asian Heritage Month

Wandsworth has been greatly enriched by our residents of South Asian heritage and is proud to celebrate their history and culture.

In 2023, for the first time we funded a range of community events celebrating South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) including:

Pride Month

Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots and is a national event dedicated to celebrating and commemorating LGBTQ+ identities and equality. In 2023 we marked Pride by flying the Rainbow Flag throughout the whole month at Wandsworth Town Hall.

For the first time, we participated in the annual Pride march with councillors including Deputy Leader Kemi Akinola and members of Wandsworth Council staff attending to show support for LGBTQ+ members of the community.

We also launched the Ask for Clive scheme with local businesses, which encourages a welcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ+ residents.

Inter Faith Week

Inter Faith Week is a week dedicated to opening inter-faith activity up to a wider audience so that more people are made aware of its importance and can participate in it. It aims to strengthen good inter-faith relations, increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in our borough, and increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs.

For Inter Faith Week 2023, faith leaders from across Wandsworth came together at a roundtable event at Wandsworth Town Hall to share information on the challenges facing local communities. This included the rising demand for food banks and community kitchens across the borough and opportunities to cooperate on solutions. Council Leader Simon Hogg also attended the event and commented on the contributions of Wandsworth’s faith leaders to the borough and the pride Wandsworth has for its different communities.

Celebrating women in Wandsworth

International Women’s Day

On 8 March 2023, our Business team and Deputy Leader Councillor Kemi Akinola hosted a breakfast reception for local women business founders, discussing the challenges around being a woman in business and achieving a good work/life balance. Other celebrations were hosted by the SW15 Women’s Network and the Alton Regeneration Team. Local libraries had book displays, and our Youth Service held an event at Devas Youth Club.

White Ribbon Day

As a White Ribbon accredited organisation, we are also committed to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) by challenging the culture that can lead to harassment and violence, and by empowering our staff, residents, and the community to help end male violence.

To mark White Ribbon Day in November 2023, training events and White Ribbon walks were held throughout Wandsworth, Roehampton and Tooting, working closely with the SW15 Women’s Network and the Cassandra Centre. The walks were well-attended by members of our staff and the local community, and more are planned to take place throughout 2024.

Supporting people at all stages of life

We are committed to supporting people at all stages of life to achieve their potential. To celebrate Older People’s Day and Silver Sunday, we worked with organisations that provide care and support services to elderly residents in the borough to host more than 160 community Brighter Living events during October 2023.

Highlights included:

  • Intergenerational fun days
  • Painting workshops
  • A Silver Swans celebration at the Royal Academy of Dance
  • Walks
  • Advice on falls prevention
  • Wellness workshops
  • Singalongs
  • Yoga
  • Senior aqua fitness
  • Keep fit sessions

The popular Silver Sunday Tea Dance at the Wandsworth Civic Suite also returned and provided an opportunity for older residents to meet new people and enjoy refreshments, workshops, crafts, music and dance.

In September 2023, our Work Match service recruited for a ‘Room for Work’ programme designed to help skilled workers aged over 40 access employment opportunities. Work Match was set up by us to help match out of work local people with new jobs in the borough.

Equality Impact Needs Assessments (EINAs)

Equality Impact Needs Assessments (EINAs) are a process to ensure that members can take the Public Sector Equality Duty into account when making a decision and are able to identify where and how proposed policies or policy changes will affect protected groups. They are routinely submitted to committee and the Executive as part of the decision-making process.

You can view a list of EINAs submitted since 2020 or you can search for EINAs using the Committee Document search function.

Up to Equality and diversity

Updated: 27/02/2024