Equalities and Human Rights progress snapshot
Our Equalities and Human Rights 'snapshot of progress' will be updated every 6 months to provide details of our activity, as we work to deliver the Council Plan; One City, for all.
For our core commitment to Equalities and Human Rights we will create opportunities for all, providing equal opportunity and balancing the human rights of everyone to ensure residents and visitors alike can benefit from the city and its strengths. We will stand up to hate and work hard to champion our communities.
Priority actions
Find out more about progress on each priority action related to Equalities and Human Rights:
- Listen and learn from those who have direct experience of poverty and caring responsibilities
- Celebrate being a Human Rights City with an Anti-Racism Action Plan
- Promote the Good Business Charter and Living Wage Foundation for public good
- Review Blue Badge accessibility by rolling back restrictions to those in place before November 2021
- Introduce family friendly foot streets and place-making that give young people confidence in their future
- Describe how we will help people live in the right home for their circumstance
- Be recognised by Local Government Association (LGA) as 'excellent' in Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion, including implementing the Social Model of Disability across the Council
- Deliver good and outstanding children's services with the voice of the child heard throughout
Priority action: Listen and learn from those who have direct experience of poverty and caring responsibilities.
Progress by March 2025:
- Phase 3 of the York Poverty Truth Commission process began, with a successful Celebration and Next Steps event held at the Priory Street Centre on 24 April 2024. This included the launch of the Charter for Organisational Standards - Together promoting dignity and respect for those facing poverty. Executive formally adopted the Charter on 11 March 2025; and approved a proposal to publish six-monthly monitoring reports at Decision Sessions of the Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion
- The York Community Fund, including York Hungry Minds, was officially launched on 18 July 2024. Academic Research was conducted, showing positive outcomes from pilots at two primary schools
Priority action: Celebrate being a Human Rights City with an Anti-Racism Action Plan.
Progress by March 2025:
- Executive approved the refreshed governance arrangements for York’s Human Rights And Equalities Board (HREB)
- Executive approved the council action plan developed in response to the Anti-Racism and Inclusion Strategy and actions to support the Gypsy and Traveller Community. See: Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 14 March 2024 (Item 8)
- In celebration of our Human rights City and City of Sanctuary status, Executive approved the Welcome Centre for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children
Priority action: Promote the Good Business Charter and Living Wage Foundation for public good.
Progress by March 2025:
- The council celebrated Living Wage Week 2023 by promoting the Good Business Charter and the Living Wage Foundation
- Over 150 York employers in York are now Good Business Charter employers, more than anywhere in Yorkshire and Humber
- Good Business Charter cases studies are now promoted on the CYC website
- Through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund we are funding support for businesses to develop skills for inclusive employment, and providing energy and retrofit advice - supporting 2 of the components of the Good Business Charter
Priority action: Review Blue Badge accessibility by rolling back restrictions to those in place before November 2021.
Progress by March 2025:
- Blue Badge city centre access reopened on 4 January 2024 at Goodramgate and at Blake Street on 8 March 2024, with access to Blue Badge Holders now fully rolled-back to 2019 levels
- Independent Access Consultants MIMA and the Centre for Applied Human Rights produced recommendations to shape a more accessible city centre, this formed part of the wider Local Transport Strategy papers that were approved by Executive on 18 July 2024: Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 18 July 2024, 4.30pm (item 16)
- New experimental Blue Badge parking established on Blake Street and Lendal in May 2024, following an initial 18-month trial
- Economy, Place, Access and Transport Scrutiny Committee considered the draft transport Implementation Plan on 24 September, which included actions to review and expand Blue Badge car parking in the city centre, and ways to enable access for disabled cyclists to the city centre, plus installation of accessible cycle parking
- In November 2024, the City of York Council's Executive confirmed the continuation of enhanced security measures in the city centre, including the installation of security bollards. These measures are essential for ensuring public safety while maintaining the accessibility of the city for Blue Badge holders. The Council also took steps to ensure that Blue Badge holders continue to have access to the city centre during events such as the Christmas Market. Arrangements were made to provide necessary accommodations, allowing Blue Badge holders to access the city centre without hindrance
Priority action: Introduce family friendly foot streets and place-making that give young people confidence in their future.
Progress by March 2025:
- Executive have approved an updated 'Our City Centre' vision, which includes a “family friendly and affordable city centre” as one of its 8 key themes. See: Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 12 October 2023 (Item 37)
- Executive approved next steps for the Castle Gateway Masterplan, which includes an ambition to include play space in new designs for the space. See: Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 16 November 2023 (Item 10)
- Partners were asked to join a task and finish group in January 2024 to shape an Our City Centre delivery plan. The Access consultation will feed into this place-making work
- On 18 July Executive approved the Movement and Place framework as part of the wider Local Transport Strategy - this will reallocate road-space to create safe and connected networks for walking, wheeling, cycling, public transport, cars and freight for residents, businesses and visitors alike. Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 18 July 2024 (item 16)
- A public engagement period ran between 15 August and 20 September 2024 on concept designs for Castle and Eye of York. Provide feedback on revised ideas for My Castle Gateway
- York’s Local Transport Implementation Plan was approved by Executive in November 2024 and in December 2024, Executive approved the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for York
Priority action: Describe how we will help people live in the right home for their circumstance.
Progress by March 2025:
- The specialist mental health housing and support strategy including homelessness pathways and an extension to the SASH contract was approved by Executive. See: Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 16 November 2023 (Item 13)
- New funding of £234,900 has been awarded from the Government’s Rough Sleeper Initiative to support people sleeping rough off the streets
- The Warm Places Grant was launched to provide warm places for people struggling to cover energy costs over winter
- The Council won the National Healthy Housing Award handy person scheme of the year to support residents live well, safely and independently in their own homes
- Executive agreed the disposal of Lowfield site for housing for 100% affordable housing for people aged 55 and over: Update on the Housing Delivery Programme and the Disposal of Surplus Sites
- Executive approved specialist housing for those adults with learning disabilities or autism at Lowfield Green, with 14 self-contained apartments and communal space planned: Delivering Supported Housing for Adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism at Lowfield Green
- The council has been awarded two grants, approximately £1.4 million will be used to improve the efficiency of around 140 council homes via the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. The second grant, approximately £2 million will be used to improve the energy efficiency of around 140 homes for lower income homeowners through the Warm Homes: Local Grant Scheme
- Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2024-2029): The Council has approved a new strategy focused on providing stable housing first, addressing homelessness through an expanded accommodation supply, and working with partners to redesign services to better support those moving into independent living
- Domestic Abuse Resident and Tenant Policy (2025-2028): Approved in February 2025, this policy will aim to reduce the risk and consequences of domestic abuse. It outlines how the council will respond when domestic abuse affects residents, tenants, and leaseholders
Priority action: Be recognised by Local Government Association (LGA) as 'excellent' in Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion, including implementing the Social Model of Disability across the Council.
Progress by March 2025:
- The council worked with community groups to co-design a clear policy statement about what the Social Model of Disability means and how the community will implement it, approved at Executive Decision-Making Session. See: Agenda for Decision Session - Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects and Equalities on Wednesday, 24 January 2024 (Item 13)
- The budget for 2024 to 2025 included provision for a Head of Service for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to take forward this work and recruitment for this role is underway
- Draft Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy (2024-2027): In January 2025, the council released the Draft EDI Strategy for 2024-2027, outlining its ongoing commitment to improving equity in access to council services. A public consultation closed on March 3, 2025, and feedback is being used to refine the strategy
Priority action: Deliver good and outstanding children's services with the voice of the child heard throughout.
Progress by March 2025:
- We worked with care experienced young people to develop an updated Corporate Parenting Strategy, outlining our ambitions and long-term aspirations for care experienced young people as they become adults. Children in care groups set up by York have been shortlisted for a national award
- The Early Talk for York children’s speech and language programme won a national Learning Award at the Children and Young People Now Awards
- The Children and Young People’s Plan has been approved, setting out our assurance and ambition plans and a city-wide strategic framework for all our partners and reflecting the key things that matter most to children, young people, parents and partners
- In a letter highlighting its findings following an inspection in August 2023, Ofsted found that “Care leavers are very well supported by staff, with whom they have stable and trusted relationships. They are supported effectively into adulthood by workers who are emotionally invested in them.”
- On 23 May, there was an Executive Member Decision Session to approve a tender and £104,000 capital to provide for the creation of early years and childcare places at Lowfield Green
- In September, Executive approved the establishment of a SEND Hub in Clifton
- ‘Young People Belong in York’ – Our Youth Strategy, was approved by Executive in November 2024. The youth strategy aims to focus on what really matters for young people in the city. It ensures that we listen to their voices, understand their needs, and work together to provide the best opportunities for them
- Executive approved a recommendation for care experience to be treated as a protected characteristic in November 2024
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