Equality Outcomes 2021-2025
The Equality Act 2010 requires all public bodies (such as councils and the health service) to publish equality outcomes at least every four years. Equality outcomes aim to achieve specific and identifiable improvements in people's life chances, eliminate discrimination and foster good relations.
Working in partnership - Edinburgh, West Lothian and Midlothian Councils (including their education authorities and Midlothian's licensing board), NHS Lothian, Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership and East Lothian Integrated Joint Board have developed a set of draft equality themes and outcomes. These are based on research and evidence from different sources and on conversations with services and organisations that work to help and support people.
Each organisation will ultimately be responsible for their own outcomes and action plan. However, we hope to identify common outcomes that we can work on together. There may also be opportunities for us to work towards the same equality theme but focus on different actions to achieve it, depending on our differing remits, geographies, resources and your feedback.
We want people with a variety of life and personal experiences to share their thoughts on the draft themes and outcomes. Your views will help shape and influence the development of the final outcomes and help us to agree actions that can make a difference to people's lives.
Introduction
We are consulting on seven equality themes:
- Accessibility
- Housing
- Inclusive education
- Eradicate racism
- Safer communities and gender-based violence
- Workplaces
- Mental health awareness, support and management
These draft themes are based on research and evidence from different sources and on conversations with services and organisations that work to help and support people.
Each of the sections below include some background about the equality theme, a draft outcome detailing what we want to achieve and action we could take to deliver the outcome.
You can either share your views on all of the equality themes or just respond about the ones you are interested in.
What are protected characteristics?
Throughout this consultation we refer to protected characteristic groups. The Equality Act 2010 protects the following characteristics:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of a protected characteristic.
In addition to the 9 protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act, we have a duty to also take account of people's socio-economic status under the Fairer Scotland Duty.
Equality Mainstreaming and Equality Outcomes Framework 2021 - 2025 (PDF, 505 KB)(opens new window)
