Date: Monday 30 November 2020, 4 pm to 5.30 pm

Hosted by: Brian Carr - Chief Executive, BVSC
Guest speaker: Cllr John Cotton, Birmingham City Council
Guest Panellist: Faeeza Vaid MBE, Executive Director Muslim Women's Network UK

Background

Events over recent months – including the unprecedented socio-economic crisis created by Covid-19 – have shown the extent to which inequalities and discrimination impact our city and society.  A light has been shone on institutions and organisations that discriminate against or limit opportunities for too many of our citizens because of their race, disability, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation or class – or a combination of these characteristics.

Birmingham City Council has responded to these challenges by accelerating their efforts, putting equality and inclusion at the very centre of their work as a council and collaborating with the city’s communities and partners to ensure that the whole city is championing these values.

In September 2020 Cllr John Cotton presented a report, Everyone’s Business, Everyone’s Battle: Tackling Inequalities in Birmingham, to the Council’s Cabinet which started a conversation with communities about how to build a more equal and inclusive city.

Statement of Intent

Birmingham City Council has produced a Statement of Intent on tackling inequality which makes proposals to promote equity and inclusion in three key areas to drive out inequality.

The three key areas are:

1. To lead by example as an employer

• To ensure that the workforce reflects the communities they serve
• To become a beacon for equal opportunities employment
• To address imbalance in gender and black, Asian and minority ethnic representation across the authority.

2. As civic leaders, to challenge inequalities in every community

• All communities should have the opportunity to be fully represented and their voices heard, especially those that often struggle to get a hearing, to address inequalities.

3. To celebrate and share the City's stories of diversity and dynamism

• To ensure that the stories of all our communities are shared, explored and commemorated appropriately.
  
  

The Consultation

The consultation: Tackling Inequalities – Everyone’s Battle Everyone’s Business is publicly available on the Be Heard consultation website until 14 December 2020.

 

Links and downloads

Blog post: Why tackling inequalities is everyone’s business and everyone’s battle in Birmingham, Cllr John Cotton, Birmingham City Council (BVSC Update Brum Blog)

Consultation: Tackling Inequalities – Everyone’s Battle Everyone’s Business (Be Heard)

Tackling Inequalities Cabinet Report

Tackling Inequalities Statement of Intent