Equality objectives 2025 to 2026

Our equality objectives for 2025/26 reflect our commitment to tackling inequality and promoting inclusion across the borough.

Developed through engagement with local communities and informed by national guidance, these objectives respond to the specific challenges and opportunities facing Wandsworth. They help us focus our efforts where they can make the greatest impact and set a clear direction for how we aim to create a borough where everyone can thrive.

Objectives

1. We are committed to tackling inequality by strengthening our connection with communities through active engagement and closer collaboration between the Council and residents. We’ll become a listening Council - going beyond the Town Hall to hear directly from residents and respond to what matters most, building on the success of the Leader’s roadshow programme. We will also enhance our partnership with the voluntary and community sector by implementing our new VCS strategy and working with our newly commissioned support service to ensure our work reflects local needs and priorities.

2. We will promote the wellbeing of and reduce educational inequalities between children in the borough. We will close the education gap across Wandsworth by improving outreach, strengthening partnerships, and using Family Hubs to support vulnerable children. Initiatives like free school breakfasts and collaboration with partners will help ensure every child gets the best start in life. Family Hubs will also promote childhood immunisation amid declining vaccination rates.

3. We will tackle health inequalities across Wandsworth with the urgency and dedication communities deserve. Significant disparities in life expectancy between wards in the borough highlight the need for action. We will ensure all residents have access to clear, inclusive health information. Through an integrated borough-wide food partnership using initiatives like the Healthy Schools Programme and Nutrition Plan, we will improve access to healthy food choices.

4. We will support women and girls by ensuring they receive timely, specialist support by delivering our Violence Against Women and Girls strategy. This includes expanding education and awareness, strengthening community partnerships and advocating for protective policies. We will improve access to domestic abuse services for underrepresented groups - including LGBTQ+ communities, disabled women and older adults - and build stronger local support networks through the voluntary and community sector.

5. We will break down barriers to access by delivering Britain’s leading concessions scheme through our Access for All programme, helping residents overcome financial barriers to local services and opportunities. We will expand support across all council services and events, including those in London Borough of Culture 2025, and work with businesses to offer borough-wide discounts - creating a fairer, more inclusive Wandsworth where everyone can thrive and participate fully.

6. We will be a leading organisation in our community for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) through delivering on our EDI Strategy, recruiting more staff onto our Black on Board programme and improving our communication and dialogue with staff on the work we are doing to tackle inequalities within the workplace. We will deliver on our promise to ensure all contracted staff also receive the London Living Wage by April 2026.

These objectives are central to our wider strategy for advancing equality across Wandsworth. They guide how we plan, deliver and evaluate our services, ensuring that inclusion and fairness are considered at every stage. We monitor progress regularly to ensure accountability and use this insight to improve outcomes for residents and drive lasting change across the borough.

Reporting on these objectives

These objectives are part of our Key Issues framework, with progress reviewed by Councillors and published every six months. The Annual Equality Report explains how these priorities were identified, drawing on local data, community feedback and national evidence to shape our approach.

Mainstreaming equality

Equality is not limited to our published objectives - it is embedded in everything we do. Our long-standing approach to mainstreaming equality means that all officers take responsibility for implementing the Public Sector Equality Duty as part of their core role.

This involves considering the impact of decisions on different communities, designing inclusive services, and ensuring fairness in recruitment and engagement. By integrating equality into day-to-day work, we build a culture of inclusion, transparency and accountability across the Council.

Learn more about how we measure equality and our commitment to embedding and promoting equality and diversity in all aspects of our work - ensuring our services meet the needs of all our communities.