Council seeks to urgently address inequalities highlighted by Fairness Commission
As part of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to promote fairness and address structural inequalities in the borough, the Council has accelerated a number of recommendations made by the Haringey Fairness Commission.
The Haringey Fairness Commission was established in July 2018 to better understand the causes of unfairness in the borough, tackle inequality and better support residents, communities and businesses.
The five key themes initially identified by the Commission were: unemployment and low pay; access to safe and affordable housing; education for children and young people; the inequality faced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and disabled people; and trust in public bodies and democratic participation.
The Commission highlighted the detrimental effects of low pay and insecure work and housing on some members of the community, including the inability to access a financial safety net in times of difficulty and the effects of limited access to basic services.
It also highlighted the need for trust-building between public institutions and residents and the need to tackle unfairness and structural inequality across the borough.
The emergence of Covid-19 in March 2020 reinforced the findings of the Commission and – following the profound impact of the pandemic on the lives of residents in the borough – some recommendations have been accelerated as part of the council’s response to the pandemic.
A number of steps have already been taken to address fairness and equality issues in the borough, including making socioeconomic status a protected characteristic, raising the wages of care workers, plans for 1,000 new council homes on site by 2022, expansion of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, a local welfare assistance scheme and a debt reduction policy.
Haringey Works has also been expanded to help reduce local unemployment, the Haringey Fairer Education Fund has been created to offer young people bursaries for higher education and youth services have also been expanded.
The council has also worked with its Voluntary Community Sector partners and communities to improve inclusion and equality for residents and communities – developing and delivering work under a Partnership Programme Plan Addressing Racism and Racial Discrimination.
Moving forward, the council will go even further. Through the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme, residents in need will receive access to food through the Haringey Food Network.
Those with the most urgent need will receive debt management support and residents who have lost jobs or income due to the pandemic will be offered emergency financial help. The council is also providing school children and vulnerable young people with Free School Meals.
The council is currently refreshing its 2019-23 Borough Plan, with a priority to confront structural inequality in Haringey. Recommendations from the Commission will contribute to the council’s objectives to grow local businesses, raise local wages and lift residents out of poverty.
Over the course of its work, the Commission heard from over 1,500 residents at public events and focus groups, including individuals, schools, local stakeholders and voluntary sector groups.
Cllr White, Cabinet Member for Planning and Corporate Services at Haringey Council, said:
“The Covid-19 pandemic has deepened and made more obvious many of the structural inequalities highlighted by the Fairness Commission, including financial and housing insecurity, debt and access to food and essential items.
“Through the Fairness Commission we have been able to hear the voices of our residents and better understand the needs of our community and the steps we must take to reduce inequalities.
“As recommended by the Commission, in response to the pandemic we have started with the hardest-hit areas such as unemployment, low pay and access to safe and affordable housing. We’re also working to ensure our young people have access to the education, resources and services they need to get ahead.
“It’s no secret that our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and disabled residents have been disproportionately impacted during the pandemic and we will continue our work to support these communities and reduce inequality.
“An important step for the Commission has been to ensure that our residents are included in the decision-making process and have the opportunity to shape the services that will impact them.
“We will continue this work to ensure that Haringey is a fair and equal borough and reduce the structural inequalities that blight the lives of so many of our residents.”
As part of the Borough Plan refresh process, a report will be presented to Cabinet in June setting out how the council intends to implement the Fairness Commission’s recommendations.
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