Case studies

Birmingham City Council is the largest employer in the city. They have committed to improving the pay and work opportunities for people from marginalised ethnic groups through improving their recruitment process, setting up a dedicated equalities and cohesion team and the carrying out the council’s first Workforce Race Equity Review. This case study forms part of the health inequalities hub.

Bradford District Council has been leading a programme to improve community cohesion and engagement and reduce inequalities. More than 70 individual projects have been launched and 25,000 people engaged in the process.

Brighton & Hove City Council made a commitment to do more to actively challenge racial inequality and become an anti-racist city. It includes a promise to draw up an anti-racism strategy and the creation of a dedicated community fund for BME community groups. This case study forms part of the health inequalities hub.

Gloucestershire was chosen as one of six programmes to receive funding as part of the King’s Fund and National Lottery Community Fund scheme to explore new ways of working with local communities and the voluntary sector during 2021. This case study forms part of the health inequalities hub.

Lewisham Council and Lewisham Learning plan took a new approach to education to investigate why Black students were underachieving. Following the findings a number of pledges were created, including a commitment to increase black representation among the school leadership team and governors, reducing exclusions for black pupils and targeting ambitious outcomes for black pupils. This case study forms part of the health inequalities hub.

Nottingham City Council published a BAME Inequalities Framework in the summer of 2020 which set out a place-based approach to trying to make progress. A taskforce, including representatives from the council and other public sector partners and community groups, was set up to help drive forward the work, including around COVID-19 vaccinations. This case study forms part of the health inequalities hub.

Lancashire County Council's Shared Lives scheme matches people with learning disabilities with families in the community so they can live in their home, becoming part of their family, developing independence and friendships, gaining confidence and new living skills.

Oldham Council have commissioned KeyRing to provide flexible help through networks made up of 10 people with learning disabilities who are then supported by a community living volunteer and community enablers to help people gain independence and life skills.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council funded a scheme for people with learning disabilities to develop social interactions and have fun through a community choir. The choir combines singing with Makaton, which uses signals, signing and speech, and also involves members getting involved song writing.

Rotherham Council challenges the traditional model of community support for people with learning disabilities through working with social enterprise Community Catalysts on a project that supports local people to set up innovative new activities for people with learning disabilities, as well as supporting them to develop their own projects.