Equality and diversity

'It is our diversity that helps us serve you better.'

In January 2012 we have produced the first access guide to the city centre (pdf, 8.2 MB) and other areas of interest for disabled people. The guide was produced in partnership with the Bristol Physical Access Chain and the University of the West of England's widening participation internship programme. The main audience is for disabled tourists visiting the city, however the guide is also of value to disabled people and families with disabled children to help you to plan your days out.

We have updated our Environmental Access Standard 2011 (pdf, 1.9 MB) and would encourage developers and anyone planning changes to buildings, paths and open spaces in the city to use the guide to create an inclusive environment for everyone.

We are committed to improving our performance in the top 100 Stonewall Employers index and this is one of the council's key equalities objectives in our Single Equality Scheme 2010-13 (pdf, 460 KB). In 2012 we came 41stout of 363 leading employers in Britain, which is an improvement on 75th place in 2011.

We also subscribe to the Stonewall Education champions programme. In 2011 we were given 8th place in recognition of targeted work supported by local schools.

The council was awarded City of Sanctuary status in March 2011 by the City of Sanctuary National Network, an organisation that is made up of representatives from 10 cities. Our new status recognises that services to refugees here are among the best in Britain.

We are working in partnership with the British Deaf Association to review the BSL Charter as part of the council's ongoing commitment to the recognition of British Sign Language and to providing good quality services for Deaf people. See our British Sign Language page for more information.

Equality and Community Cohesion Annual Report 2011

We will publish our 2011 Annual report which meets our legal requirements under the Public Sector Equality Duty (Equality Act 2010 section 149) by Feb 10 2012. This report is supported by statistical analysis of equalities data on our services and for our workforce, by our equalities impact assessments, by our Equal Opportunities and Anti-Harrassment Policy, our Community Cohesion Strategy and our Single Equality Scheme 2010-13 (published on our website see right hand links).

In November 2011 we undertook a Peer Review with the Local Government Association, and were assessed as achieving an Excellent level in the Equality Framework for Local Government. Our self assessment and the peer assessors' report has also informed this annual report.