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Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society: The Government’s strategy to increase race equality and community cohesion. Charles Ramsden Home Office Race Equality Unit. Our vision:.
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Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society:The Government’s strategy to increaserace equality and community cohesion Charles Ramsden Home Office Race Equality Unit
Our vision: “Everybody in Britain has the life chances they deserve…to ensure that people are not held back because of their race or religion and that all can make a full contribution to our society”
Improving life chances Health Education Housing Employment Criminal Justice System A cohesive society Young people Helping immigrants to integrate Understand and celebrate cultures Participation in civic life Tackling racism Marginalising extremists Key themes
Principles • Strengthening society • Tackling racism • Some groups thriving, but poor outcomes still common • Tailored initiatives • All of us have a role…
Delivery • Over 100 commitments • Targets • Regular reports • Partnership working • Public Service Agreements (PSAs) • Cabinet Committee • Strategy Board
Create and enforce powerful legal drivers • Race Relations (Amendment) Act • Religious discrimination (goods, facilities and services) • Commission for Equality and Human Rights • Discrimination Law Review
Health inequalities • Eg heart disease, strokes, diabetes • Mental health services • Poor self-reported health
Housing • 40% of BME groups live in non-decent home compared to 32% of white people • Government decent homes target • Gypsies and Travellers • Better monitoring
Criminal Justice System • CJS must be fair, and seen to be fair • Stop and Search • Terror laws • Confidence • Some improvement in trust
Employment • Employment rate gap – 15.7% • Employability • Connecting people to work • Equal opportunities in the workplace • Fair Cities pilot
Connecting Communities Plus • Strategic, Project and Community grants • £6 million per year (05/06 – 08/09) • Grants to improve: • Outcomes • Access • Perceptions • Cohesion • Tackling racism and extremism
Create a shared sense of belonging • Young people • Helping immigrants • Understanding and celebrating cultural diversity
Tackling racism and extremism • Racism is unacceptable • Marginalising extremists who spread hatred
Cohesion • Promoting cohesion at local level • Mainstreaming cohesion • Engaging with faith communities