Equality Outcomes 2025 - 2029
East Lothian Council is required to produce a set of Equality outcomes to demonstrate how it will meet its equality duties set out in the Equality Act 2010. We are required to do this every four years and update on work undertaken in a mainstreaming report, every two years.
The purpose of the Equality Plan is to clearly state the council's commitment to equality and diversity and to demonstrate how we are meeting the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 to ensure our decision making and day-to-day activities consciously consider how we address equality and to:
- eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
and other conduct that is prohibited by the Act - advance equality of opportunity between people who share a
relevant protected characteristic and those who don’t - foster good relations between people who share a
protected characteristic and those who don’t
The Plan also contributes to the Council’s overarching commitment to reduce inequalities within and across our communities.
It identifies key priorities for achieving improved equality outcomes in a targeted and consistent way across the council. It also contains the commitments of East Lothian Licensing Board and East Lothian Council acting as Education Authority.
Work on previous outcomes continues to contribute to accessible and inclusive services, being embedded in what we do and how we do it.
Our 2025-2029 outcomes
Everyone is able to receive the right information in the right place, in the right format, at the right time:
- people can communicate with us in a timely, accessible and effective way
- people can access our services, facilities and public spaces
- we take a human rights-based approach to community engagement
Poverty decreases across the protected characteristic groups with improved health and well-being:
- people live healthier and more comfortable lives
- people have a home that is warm, and meets their needs
- people have more money
All children are valued and respected; improved education and social outcomes for protected groups:
- everyone achieves well at school
- more young people from deprived backgrounds get a job or go to further education
- all children feel valued and respected at school
- pupils feel safe at school
People are confident to report hate crimes including sexual abuse and violence, and receive help and support to be safe:
- people report hate crime if they experience it or see it
- people help prevent violence and sexual harassment against women and girls
- people help prevent discrimination and violence against people with a protected characteristic
Everyone is respected at work and confident to report racism and other unlawful behaviours:
- our staff feel valued and respected
- people feel comfortable to report racism and we will do something to stop it
- our staff treat everyone with dignity and respect
- people can get qualifications and learn key skills
Who we are is not a barrier to being healthy, active and independent:
- encourage and facilitate participation for all
- uphold dignity and respect
- challenge stereotypes
These outcomes reflect our work to mainstream equality in what we do, in partnership with other statutory bodies and the voluntary sector.