Equality and cohesion

Baruch Haba, Baruch Haba'a, Fáilte, Foon Ying, Huan Yin, Hun bi xer hatin, Khush aamadiid, Marhaban, Merhaba, Mišto avilan, Shagatom, Sus waagatam, Sushri Akal, Swaagat, Vitáme Vas... or perhaps just welcome.

Salford City Council is committed to making the city a welcoming, tolerant and thriving place to live, and an important foundation of that is ensuring everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential, whatever their background and life choices.

Achieving ‘equality' is not something peripheral to the lives of Salford residents, or just about minority interest groups. It's about the persistent factors which often place individuals and communities at a disadvantage and marginalise them. For example: poverty, old age, disability and exclusion from opportunities in things like educational and employment. Likewise, unless people from different backgrounds can get along together, our streets, neighbourhoods, and the city as a whole are unlikely to prosper. Diverse, hospitable places are proven to be vibrant, successful places. And, areas where people feel they don't get a fair chance or are equally treated are less likely to be respectful, welcoming areas. This is a key reason why equality and cohesion are interrelated.

All council services have a direct role to play in making the city a more equal and welcome place, and many are achieving this in the work they do everyday, from adult social care to supported housing. We think it's important that this message gets across. The what the council does section explains this in more depth. The corporate Equalities and Cohesion team plays a central role supporting the Council to meet its legal equality and cohesion duties, and developing specialist policies, advice and guidance.

The population of Salford is changing and it is vital that our services understand and respond to that. Its important to remember that the city has always been home to young and old, and disabled residents as well as established ethnic and faith groups and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities - in short, a diverse Salford is nothing new.

This page was last updated on 6 February 2012