Barking and Dagenham Council pledges to increase diversity by signing Race at Work Charter

Barking and Dagenham is the first council to sign up to the prime minister’s new equality charter.

The Race at Work Charter seeks commitment from organisations to increase the recruitment of people from BAME (black and minority ethnic) backgrounds.

The charter was announced yesterday (Thursday), and Barking and Dagenham was the first local authority to sign it.

Councillor Dominic Twomey, cabinet member for finance, said: “Barking and Dagenham is one of the capital’s most diverse boroughs and it is important our workforce reflects this.

“By signing up to the charter we are making an important public statement of our intent to continue to ensure representation at all levels in the council, particularly in our leadership and management teams. Strengthening the diversity in our workforce can only enrich the service we offer local people.”

By signing the charter, organisations commit to a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and a roll-out of mentoring schemes. In 2016, Barking and Dagenham was the first council in England to adopt a gender equality charter.