Stevenage Equalities Commission held their inaugural meeting on 28 July 2021 and is now looking to the Community for their experiences.

The Equalities Commission is a body supported by Stevenage Borough Council that is independently chaired, initially focusing on the disproportionate impact of inequalities on the lives of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals and communities (BAME).

The Commission is made up of 10 community members and 9 organisational representatives with a range of skills and expertise to support its objectives and those of the Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority communities on which it is currently focused.

In order to develop their understanding of the needs of the communities in Stevenage they are asking for feedback through a questionnaire available as both an online form or for download.

Independent Chair, Errol John is asking for community members to please complete the questionnaire and pass it on to anyone who they feel would also like to share their experiences and ideas.

“The Commission wants to hear resident’s experiences of inequality in Stevenage; what’s the impact on you, your family and your friends? What do you think needs to change to improve people’s lives?”

They are also looking for community members who would like to become part of the Community Voices group, helping to build a picture of community life in Stevenage.

If you would like to become a member of the Community Voices group or would like an informal chat about membership, you can contact them, Equalities.Commission@stevenage.gov.uk.

To download a hard copy of the questionnaire, an information pack and to read the Terms of reference, go to the Stevenage Equalities Commission page.

The link to the online questionnaire is below.

The Commission will be undertaking a strategic assessment of the nature, extent, causes and impact of race inequality in Stevenage and will then make recommendations for tackling them. They will also consider wider issues of inclusion for other sections of the community where inequalities are experienced and will maintain an effective dialogue in order to tackle these.

They will next meet at the end of September with a focus on health inequality and are keen to hear from the community on this matter.