Equalities and diversity

Our commitment to equality and diversity

Shropshire County Council is committed to treating everyone fairly, openly and honestly. We are striving to achieve equality for the diverse mix in our communities and our own workforce, recognising that people have different needs, cultures, experiences and expectations.

The council recognises that valuing equality and diversity will lead to more sensitive services that are responsive to the needs of the communities, a workforce that is representative of the community, and a commitment to participation by all.

Equality and diversity: a process of improvement

The equal opportunities approach uses national law to protect human rights and to remove unfairness and discrimination. Organisations are expected to have policies and plans in place that address the issues effectively. Guidance is provided by ‘watchdog’ bodies such as the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission.

Diversity is a newer concept. A diverse population contains individuals with visible and non-visible differences which will include gender, race, sexuality, disability, age, background, lifestyle, personality and work style. Harnessing these differences will create a productive environment in which everyone feels valued and where their talents are used to the full. This will benefit the local economy and ensure that skills are not wasted.

We refer to ‘equality and diversity’ in order to bring together these two approaches.