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“All of Us” Equality Scheme 2012-16Bracknell Forest – the borough of opportunity for everyone

Making a difference: assessing the scheme’s impact 2012-13

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1. Introduction This report summarises the progress made during 2012-13 in implementing Bracknell Forest Council’s “All of Us” Equality Scheme 2012-16.

The scheme is a result of extensive consultation with our partners and communities and highlights the key inequality issues that Bracknell Forest is facing over the period 2012-16. The scheme has a set of objectives which sets out our priorities. Its action plan describes in detail how we intend to deliver these objectives in practice – and how we will know and show we have done so. The action plan has been monitored and the monitoring report is attached at Appendix One. Both the Equality Scheme and the action plan can be accessed via the following link:

http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/bracknellforestequalityscheme201216

Growing together Bracknell Forest is a thriving, welcoming and inclusive community. As our community grows and changes, Bracknell Forest Council is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind, isolated or disadvantaged. We take great pride in our support for vulnerable groups and individuals: we want to make sure that Bracknell Forest is a borough of opportunity for everyone.

Our vision, our commitmentBracknell Forest Council’s vision is simple: to make Bracknell Forest a place where all people can thrive - living, learning and working in a clean, safe and healthy environment. At Bracknell Forest Council, we believe that:

• reducing inequalities benefits everyone in the borough

• strengthening community unity makes for a better borough

• understanding and promoting diversity improves people’s lives

Bracknell Forest borough is home to people and communities with varied and distinct needs, wants and aspirations. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are determined to make sure that our work - the services and support we offer - is fair, appropriate, accessible and tailored to all our residents and communities.

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Our Equality Objectives 2012-16 are set out below:

1. Support our older and vulnerable residents by further developing our approach to ensure that people are safeguarded against abuse. Including through maintaining low levels of hate crime (racist, homophobic, transphobic, faith and disablist).

2. Work with partners to improve the life chances of children, young people and their families who are living in poverty.

3. Reduce the number of young people (16-18 year old) who are not in education, training or employment.

4. Maintain high levels of community cohesion in Bracknell Forest. Including through:

• Supporting the integration of our diverse communities

• Working with partners to maintain the provision of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes.

• Supporting children and young people with English as an additional language in schools

• Closing the attainment gap in schools with a particular focus on gaps in relation to deprivation, gender and ethnicity.

5. Reduce overall repeat incidents of domestic abuse and increase the detection rate for domestic abuse assaults with injury.

6. Empower communities and partners to address identity-specific bullying of children and young people.

7. Reduce fuel poverty through helping people improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

8. Enable older people, people with a disability, mental health issue, autistic spectrum disorder or long term condition to have a choice of support to meet their needs.

9. Improve recruitment, development and progression, employment and settled housing opportunities for members of the community with disabilities.

10. Support groups and organisations run by and that work with people from our diverse communities.

11. Influence the provision of public transport to ensure it is physically accessible for people with disabilities.

12. Ensuring Bracknell Forest Council is an ‘Employer of Choice’ where diversity is respected and valued. Including through:

• Ensuring all Council employees and potential employees have fair and equal access to available opportunities and enjoy fair treatment.

• Continuing to take steps to make the Council’s workforce more representative of the community it serves

• Addressing the Council’s gender pay gap.

13. Review equality monitoring information annually in order to develop actions, where needed, to increase levels of satisfaction or take up of specific services by under represented groups.

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2. “All of Us” Equality Scheme 2012-16 – Our Successes

Tackling Hate Crime

Equality Objective 1: Support our older and vulnerable residents by further developing our approach to ensure that people are safeguarded against abuse. Including through maintaining low levels of hate crime (racist, homophobic, transphobic, faith and disablist).

Hate crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by hostility towards someone based on their disability, race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation.

A Borough–wide hate crime campaign was launched in September 2012 called “One Community: stop hate crime now” and a new third party 24/7 hate crime reporting phone line. The Equality and Cohesion Forum has been supported through the provision of bi-monthly meetings reporting to the community on the outcome of reported hate crimes.

Work has been undertaken to engage with the Nepali community and encourage hate crime reporting with information published in Nepalese. The “Safe Places” scheme has also been relaunched, supported by Bracknell Pubwatch, with a number of new businesses signing up to the scheme.

The number of reported hate crimes in Bracknell Forest has fallen consistently over the last three years and is the lowest of the 6 Local Police Areas in Berkshire. The figures show a continuing decrease in the number of incident reports. Racist incidents in Bracknell Forest are the lowest in Berkshire as well as the Thames Valley Police area.

Trends in Hate Crime - 2009 to 20132009/10 2010/11 2011/12 212/13

April-March

73 74 46 33

Source: Thames Valley Police website

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Closing the Attainment Gap Between Young Children with the Highest and Lowest Abilities in Schools

Equality Objective 2: Work with partners to improve the life chances of children, young people and their families who are living in poverty.

Work done nationally shows that if there is a gap in the achievement levels of pre-school children and children of an infant age then the gap only gets bigger as children get older. Schools in Bracknell Forest already do well in closing this gap but the Council wants to make the gap even smaller.

Six schools were identified to undertake additional training to improve writing and two schools were targeted to undertake a reading and writing project. The pre-schools and nurseries which feed children into the target schools have also had additional support and guidance to encourage early reading and writing skills. Children’s Centres’ advisory boards also receive and analyse data to enable them to provide other services to meet needs in their particular area.

Children needing support are being identified earlier and are having plans put in place within 12 weeks of starting in their pre-school, nursery or school. The percentage of children identified at risk of delay continues to decrease. Drop-in support sessions offered by the Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) service have seen a similar decrease in activity.

• In Bracknell Forest the attainment gap 2013 is 27.3% compared with a national figure of 36.6%.

• Only 3 out of 19 authorities in the south east have smaller gaps and the Council is ranked 12th out of 155 authorities nationally.

• 25 providers and all Children’s Centres are now engaged in the ‘Every Child a Talker’ programme

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Increasing the Participation of School Leavers in Employment, Education or Training

Equality Objective 3: Reduce the number of young people (16-18 year old) who are not in education, training or employment.

A multi-agency group comprising representatives of training providers, Council departments and other public services continues to focus its efforts on providing opportunities for young people to progress into employment through extended work placements, work pairing or apprenticeships. This has included schools attending the annual Bracknell Forest careers event as well as an apprenticeship event held at Legoland Windsor. The group works with education providers to ensure that their curriculum offer meets the needs of young people and that progression opportunities are clearly identified.

• Bracknell Forest Council has 3.7% of 16 year olds Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), and a 16-18 NEET figure of 5.4%.

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Community Integration

Equality Objective 4: Maintain high levels of community cohesion in Bracknell Forest. Including through:• Supporting the integration of our diverse communities• Working with partners to maintain the provision of English for Speakers of

Other Languages (ESOL) classes.

The ‘Healthy Voices’ project was devised by Berkshire East Primary Care Trust and Bracknell Forest Council. The primary aim of the project is to enable newly arrived Nepalis into Bracknell Forest to integrate and access appropriate support and services through the delivery of a learning and health and welfare programme. In 2010 a bid to the European Integration Fund was successful in securing funding for the project for a three year period from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2013.

The project provided first steps conversational ESOL classes to women, the over65’s and people with disabilities within the Nepali community, as well as migrants from other non EU countries. The project also provided health checks and healthy living information. Participants are taught about public health topics including healthy eating, physical activity, emotional well being, fire safety and safety around the home. Participants are also given the skills and information to be able to go to their G.P, make hospital appointments and, if necessary, make an emergency 999 call.

In addition to the ESOL provided through the Healthy Voices project, a variety of ESOL provision is available in the borough from accredited courses at Bracknell and Wokingham College to community provision delivered by the Council’s Adult and Community Learning team. A successful bid for funding was made to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Community Covenant Fund in 2012-13 to provide community based first steps and family ESOL classes. The Lifelong Learning team work in alignment with Bracknell and Wokingham College to signpost learners coming to the end of their non accredited language classes to progress onto accredited classes at the local college.

Healthy Voices Project 2012-13

• 163 participants - English speaking, reading and writing have all improved• 30 joined accredited ESOL classes at Bracknell and Wokingham College• 4 now have a Preparing to Teach in Adult Learning qualification (PTTLS)• 98% of learners feel more integrated into British society now that they understand

English better

“My life has been changed quite a lot after learning English. I am more able to speak English in front of other people and also understand them properly. It has built up my confidence level.” [‘Healthy Voices’ project participant]

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Supporting Service Leavers

Equality Objective 4: Maintain high levels of community cohesion in Bracknell Forest. Including through:• Supporting the integration of our diverse communities

Bracknell Forest is home to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Supporting the integration of service leavers is important to maintaining high levels of community cohesion. Service leavers have many skills that can benefit the Bracknell Forest community and economy.

The Council’s actions to support service leavers in 2012-13 have included a Housing Options Briefing session and one to one housing advice sessions for service leavers. A business breakfast was organised in partnership with the Royal Military Academy and Surrey Heath Borough Council to encourage businesses to recruit service leavers. Educational resources are being developed to support Bracknell Forest schools to meet the specific needs of service children and their families.

A number of Ministry of Defence Community Covenant bids have been submitted by the Council and the Council’s work on the Community Covenant has been featured in a British Legion best-practice publication.

• 87% of Bracknell Forest residents surveyed agreed that individuals from different backgrounds got on well together in the borough (2012 Residents Survey), a significant improvement on the findings of the 2008 Place Survey which was 82%.

• The majority of residents (78%) felt that there was little problem with people not treating each other with respect within their local area; a minority of residents (14%) considered this to be a problem. This was a significant improvement on the 30% who found this to be a problem in the 2008 Place Survey.

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The Willows and Maples Children’s Centre – EQualities Award

Equality Objective 4: Maintain high levels of community cohesion in Bracknell Forest. Including through:• Supporting the integration of our diverse communities

The EQualities Award is a national scheme aimed at all schools and children’s centres who want to demonstrate their commitment to equality. OFSTED recognises the award as evidence of children’s spiritual, moral and cultural development. In order to gain the prestigious gong, the Willows and Maples Children’s Centre, which is the first in the borough to receive it, was audited and had to provide evidence that all families and children using the centre were treated the same, regardless of their background.

Quote from Chris Derrington, Director of the EQualities Award

“The Willows and Maples Children’s Centre has demonstrated a very strong and genuine commitment to equality for all its users.

The staff work extremely hard to promote diversity at every level; they challenge inequality and show a determination to foster harmonious relationships with the local community.

The evidence they supplied in order to achieve the award speaks for itself. It shows a high level of awareness and really showcases their commitment to equality for all groups and individuals irrespective of ability, ethnicity or gender.”

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Meadow Vale Primary School – UNICEF award

Equality Objective 4: Maintain high levels of community cohesion in Bracknell Forest. Including through:• Supporting the integration of our diverse communities

In May 2013 Meadow Vale Primary School in Priestwood was awarded the Rights Respecting School (RRS) level two award from UNICEF, demonstrating that children’s rights are at the very heart of the school.

The award is only bestowed on schools that can prove they are committed to valuing the views of children and put pupils at the heart of the school’s ethos. It is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The award demonstrates that Meadow Vale Primary is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted.

The school has been working towards achieving the award for the past four years. Having already successfully completed level one of the award, it was assessed by an external inspector at the end of March prior to confirmation of the level two award.

Quote from Nigel Duncan, headteacher of Meadow Vale Primary School

“We are very proud of this achievement as it underpins so many of our core values. It has taken several years to obtain the award but it proves that pupils’ rights and respect for their rights are at the very heart of our school.”

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Tackling Domestic Abuse

Equality Objective 5: Reduce overall repeat incidents of domestic abuse and increase the detection rate for domestic abuse assaults with injury.

Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, is a pattern of behaviour which involves the abuse by one partner against another in an intimate relationship such as marriage, cohabitation, dating or within the family.

The Domestic Abuse Service Co-ordination Project (DASC) has now been running for over a year resulting in a significant reduction in the number of repeat victims/perpetrators. The number of repeat victims/perpetrators involved in the project has now been increased from 11 to 20. More funding has now been made available, through Thames Valley Police, to increase this number to 50 and Cambridge University are in negotiations with the Council’s Community Safety Team to undertake an evaluation, recognising the innovative approach.

The number of violent domestic abuse assaults has reduced substantially over the year and the detection rate has increased.

Promotion of Positive Understanding of the Gypsy Roma Traveller Community

Equality Objective 6: Empower communities and partners to address identity specific bullying of children and young people

Over the past two academic years, Richard O’Neill, the internationally acclaimed Gypsy Storyteller, has been engaged to work in schools on the topics of prejudice, stereotyping, bullying and racism. Five schools have welcomed Richard so far: College Town Infant and Junior, Owlsmoor Primary, Sandhurst and Brakenhale. His work includes helping to promote literacy and inclusion in schools through storytelling. Children from 5 years to 16 years have been delighted and shown great enthusiasm with the sessions.

In March 2014 Richard will return to work in Birch Hill Primary for the day, Edgbarrow for a morning and then an afternoon session with Bracknell Forest officers.

The members of the Gypsy Roma Traveller communities in Bracknell Forest and in those schools have seen themselves and their culture highlighted whilst boosting confidence in their ethnicity. The visits have especially educated the secondary pupils regarding racism and prejudice, allowing students to be more comfortable within their school.

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Reducing Fuel Poverty

Equality Objective 7: Reduce fuel poverty through helping people improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

The Council is helping residents to improve the energy efficiency of their homes by reducing the number of low Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) homes (those with a rating of SAP 50 or less) by 2.5% annually, which equates to 300 homes by 2016, through encouraging insulation measures and improvements to homes throughout the Borough. This initiative is supported by energy efficiency measures funded by the NHS Warm Homes Healthy People grant and improved data collection. The number of homes that are below SAP 50 has been reduced by 27% in 2012-13 (from 3,320 to 2,415).

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Sensory Needs Clinic

Equality Objective 8: Enable older people, people with a disability, mental health issue, autistic spectrum disorder or long term condition to have a choice of support to meet their needs.

In April 2013 Bracknell Forest Council assumed responsibility from Wokingham Borough Council (Optalis) for support for people 18 and over with visual and/ or hearing impairment.

The new sensory needs clinic launched in July 2013 offers a resource centre full of equipment, aids and adaptations to help residents continue living independent lives and has, so far, taken an average of fourteen referrals per month for the new service. This figure does not include people seeking to join the registers for blind/ partially sighted or deaf, the latter of which is voluntary. Nor does it include work the team undertakes with voluntary sector groups, providing information and support at local meetings.

The clinic has a wide range of equipment installed in a flat so that people are, for example, able to test kitchen equipment in a kitchen.

Quotes

“You have no idea how this equipment will help us and the difference that it will make to our lives. It will put our minds at rest to be able to get in touch with her” (mother of deaf daughter)

“It was good to spend time trying out the equipment and to be able to take time doing it and not feel rushed. We are very happy with the service we have received from the clinic” (husband and wife who attended together)

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Supporting People with Learning Disabilities/Mental Health Issues to Take up or Remain in Employment

Equality Objective 9: Improve recruitment, development and progression, employment and settled housing opportunities for members of the community with disabilities.

Supporting people with disabilities into employment is a priority for Bracknell Forest Council. In 2012-13 we exceeded the targets we set for the number of people with learning disabilities and people with mental health problems being helped into employment.

• Adults with learning difficulties in employment rose to 16.9% in 2012/13 exceeding the target of 15%.

• The percentage of adults receiving secondary mental health services in employment in 2012/13 was 18.6% exceeding the target of 13%.

Case Study

“I was 18 and just out of sixth form, having received my first jobseekers benefits and ready to look for work. Supported by the Bracknell Autism team, I was assigned to the disability supported employment service (Breakthrough).

I gained interview techniques and CV writing skills. This helped me secure a casual clerical assistant position in the Environment Culture and Communities department of the Council.

After my job in the council I volunteered before being successful in getting a 4 hour per week job with a charity called The Ark Trust. I was employed as an Admin Assistant for the Ark and six months later I was offered two extensions to my hours going from four to 20 hours per week, working part time as the Ark’s chief receptionist and later becoming a partner of Healthwatch Bracknell Forest.

Thanks to Breakthrough I went from having no job and no experience, to having a permanent job and becoming a valued member of the team. I am now not receiving any benefits and like being part of the general working community.”

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Raising Awareness of the Diverse Faith and Beliefs in the Borough

Equality Objective 10: Support groups and organisations run by and that work with people from our diverse communities.

In partnership with Bracknell Forest Voluntary Action, the Council supported the creation of the Bracknell Forest Faith and Belief Forum. The forum held its first Annual General Meeting and elected its first representative members in May 2012. The Forum organised a well-attended and successful event during Interfaith week in November 2012 which raised the profile of the borough’s faith groups and their work and encouraged links between them.

• 45 faith and belief groups are now members of the forum.

Bracknell Rugby Club – Disabled Access

Equality Objective 10: Support groups and organisations run by and that work with people from our diverse communities.

The Council allocated approximately £8,000 of funding, generated by nearby development to Bracknell Rugby Football Club for access improvements including:

• creating a new accessible toilet on the first floor;• creating a new path that meets current disability standards allowing access to

the clubhouse from the car park on Lily Hill Road and;• making minor improvements into the clubhouse and around the pitch to make

them suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.

The clubhouse is now fully accessible for disabled spectators and members. Parents with pushchairs will also see a real benefit.

Quote from Bracknell Rugby Football Club chairman Ian Hallam

“This is great news and a really positive start to 2013 for us.

“Bracknell Rugby Football Club is in the middle of a strategic drive to improve facilities at Lily Hill Park for players and spectators alike. This project is a vital part of that process and the club’s ongoing efforts to be as inclusive and as active within the community as we can be.”

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Bracknell Bus Station - Accessibility Improvements

Equality Objective 11: Influence the provision of public transport to ensure it is physically accessible for people with disabilities

As part of a comprehensive regeneration of Bracknell Town Centre, the Council will be making significant improvements to Bracknell Bus Station. At the forefront of the project is a step change in public accessibility to the site and the services which are provided. Improvements will include new bus bay shelters, improved real time information technology, improved customer amenities and substantially improved pedestrian access to and across the site. This improved pedestrian environment, while important for the bus station itself, also provides a significant improvement for accessing the town centre from the rail and bus stations.

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Bracknell Forest Council Learning and Development Courses

Equality Objective 12: Ensuring Bracknell Forest Council is an ‘Employer of Choice’ where diversity is respected and valued. Including through:• Ensuring all Council employees and potential employees have fair and

equal access to available opportunities and enjoy fair treatment.• Continuing to take steps to make the Council’s workforce more

representative of the community it serves• Addressing the Council’s gender pay gap

Formal training has been given to the Council’s Learning and Development Officers to allow them to review lesson plans to ensure that they are equality proofed i.e. that Equality and Diversity has been blended into all relevant Council run courses as a standard feature.

• Equality and Diversity training for front line staff - attended by 67 people• Equality and Diversity training for new staff (not front line) - attended by 14

people• Level 2 Education Development International (EDI) Equality and Award

programme run twice - attended by 14 people• 146 people have successfully completed the Equalities and Diversity elearning

module in the last 12 months.

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Access Improvements

In 2012-13 improvements have been made to Bracknell Leisure Centre’s facilities for disabled people including new changing facilities and a new hoist in the spa. Two large disabled cubicles feature an electronic changing bench, which will raise/lower people to the appropriate height, helping carers to offer assistance safely. The centre continues to attract more people with disabilities and has seen a 28% increase in 2012-13. In addition, the Centre has over 2000 users via the Direct Payments System and the number of Platinum (all-inclusive) members with disabilities has increased from 10 in 2011-12 to 16 in 2012-13.

Improvements at Bracknell Library included the installation of a lift, disabled toilet and baby changing facilities.

• Percentage of Council buildings open to the public which are suitable for and accessible to disabled people increased from 83% in 2011/12 to 90.2% in 2012/13, exceeding the Council’s 2012/13 target of 90%.

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3. ConclusionsThe Council has been successful to date in implementing the strategy. This is clear from the key performance measures against which the success of the strategy is being judged, namely: 99 of the 104 key actions in the Equality Scheme action plan were completed within the allocated timescale with 4 identified as amber (may fall behind schedule) and only one red (action behind schedule), the details of which are set out below.

Work with partners to reduce overall repeat incidents of domestic abuse:

The overall level of repeat incidents of domestic abuse has not reduced significantly. This is due, in part, to the high number of incidents recorded and the high number of those where there is only 1 repeat incident, making intervention difficult. But there has been substantial success with a cohort of 11 persistent repeat victims with high numbers of repeats. This has been achieved through the Domestic Abuse Co-ordination Project (DASC). Extra resources will allow the DASC to be extended during 2013/14, which may have an impact.

The Council’s performance is also measured through testing residents’ perceptions, and the findings of the 2012 Residents Survey should also be noted:

• 87% of Bracknell Forest residents surveyed believe that people from different backgrounds get on well together in the borough, a significant improvement on the findings of the 2008 Place Survey which was 82%.

• The majority of residents, 78%, felt that there was little problem with people not treating each other with respect within their local area; a minority of residents, 14%, considered this to be a problem. This was a significant improvement over the 30% who found this to be a problem in the 2008 Place Survey.

However, we are not complacent. Families in Bracknell Forest are experiencing financial hardship due to the economic downturn and we recognise that national changes to the benefits system will place additional pressure on some households; we will do our best to provide advice and support to mitigate the impact of these changes. We recognise that there will always be more that we can do to ensure that the Council improves the quality of its service delivery; ensuring services are provided fairly and appropriately to all its residents, as well as making sure that residents can have their say about how the services should be delivered. Making these improvements will be the focus of our work going forward.

The Action Plan will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis as the Council continues to implement its Equality Scheme over the next three years.

20 © Bracknell Forest Council

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