Our approach to Equality and Diversity

We’re an incredibly diverse city that pulls together and proudly celebrates our differences. Everyone who lives or works in Wolverhampton is valued for the unique contribution they make to our city and we won’t rest until everyone can achieve their potential and live their lives free of discrimination.

Our vision is to be a fairer, inclusive and a more equal City – where no one is left behind. To achieve our vision, we will lead by example, work with our partners, invest in our communities, develop and empower our workforce - and listen and act when our communities and our employees tell us how we can do better.

We are a council who is leading the way on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and these are just some of things we have done / are doing:

• Four vibrant employee equality forums (LGBT; Race, Religion and Belief; Gender, Paternity and Maternity; Disability)
• Allyship Programme
• Mandatory diverse recruitment panels
• Mentoring and reverse mentoring
• Invested in our Black, Asian and ethnic minority employees by providing professional development opportunities (Brilliant Leaders programme)
• Leadership pledges
• EDI training – whole council as well as social work specific
• Launched Safe Place Scheme
• Investment in staff equality forums and EDI team
• Visible presence and support of senior executive team in equality forums

Hear more about our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion in the city and specifically from our social work teams as well as hearing from some young people and others with lived experience of discrimination by watching this video that we produced as part of Social Work England’s Social Work Week in 2021: