18 April 2023. WBI spotlights the release of the findings from consultations to set Portsmouth City Council’s new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy. In January 2023, WBI took part in the consultation workshop and provided our feedback and hopes for EDI and Portsmouth.
The consultation was part of a series of discussions and surveys hosted by the Portsmouth City Council (PCC) earlier this year to gather insights and feedback from community representatives. This was done in line with the national standard for local authorities on equality and non-discrimination.
WBI welcomed the opportunity to provide our views and experiences on working towards an inclusive economy for Portsmouth, where migrants can successfully integrate into the economic life of our vibrant and thriving city.
The consultation findings highlight a need for improvement in outreach strategies to ensure that there is no barrier to information.
Just over half of the survey respondents found PCC services and council-run facilities accessible, indicating that there is a lack of information and awarenss about what services are available in Portsmouth. This is a significant informational barrier and can cause a feeling of exclusion to some members of the community.
Findings suggest some ways forward, including accessing a variety of media and face-to-face channels. Continuous conversations with different representatives from diverse communities would ensure better and a more inclusive provision of services.
[Migrant Community Members learning about online medical services at our Digital Health Workshop with University of Portsmouth Dental Academy]
Given that WBI was founded by members with lived experiences in marginalisation and migration, EDI is central to our mission. We also have a particular interest on one of the four central components of the new proposed EDI framework for the city of Portsmouth: Diverse and Engaged Workforce.
Issues of employment mattered highly in this round of consultation – the highest number of survey responses called for ways to improve the promotion of job opportunities for participation in public life.
WBI supports and works towards this view on economic inclusivity and public participation. This is echoed in the work we support:
- Our Employment Support for Migrants scheme, with the City of Portsmouth College and Workers’ Educational Association, provides bespoke training to help remove employment barriers faced by migrants, as they seek to enter the UK job market.
- We regularly host special workshops and events, such as our Digital Health Workshop with facilitators from University of Portsmouth Dental Academy to familiarise Portsmouth’s newcomers to new technology-based health services.
- Our “Food with Friends” project fosters a stronger sense of community by creating an inclusive social environment and reducing health inequalities by combining a healthy meal with a health education workshop.
It was encouraging to hear how many ideas for EDI progress can emerge from a room full of people coming from different walks of life. It was also inspiring to hear the experiences of minority members being taken on board to make a difference.
[Note-taking at the Consultation Workshop for Portsmouth City Council’s new EDI strategy in January 2023]
We are grateful to have participated in the earlier consultation workshop facilitated by PCC’s Equalities & Diversity officer Karolina Szczepaniak and were able to contribute to an inclusive vision for the city’s future.
As reflected by Portsmouth City Council’s alternative mission statement adapted after the consultation:
We believe and recognise that the diversity of our population is one of our greatest strengths and assets…We will work with staff, communities and business partners to eliminate discriminatory barriers and ensure that everyone within Portsmouth has a sense of shared, common belonging and understanding.
We fully agree and look forward to next steps for implementing better representation for EDI across our beautiful city.
[Title picture from Portsmouth City Council’s official website, where you can see the findings in detail]
