Equality Outcomes

Transcription

1 Equality Outcomes April 2013 To request a copy of this document in an alternative format, such as large print or hard copy, please call or equalities@nationalgalleries.org This document has been published in accordance with regulation 4(1) of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations

2 Introduction This paper sets out the Equality Outcomes for the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) for the period This requirement under section 4(1) of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 is intended to support organisations in delivering the General Equality Duty of the Equality Act The Equality Outcomes for NGS are designed to focusing our work to achieve real change for the people who visit our galleries and work with us. Background The General Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010 states that organisations must have due regard to the need to: - Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not - Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. The characteristics protected in the legislation are: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. The public sector equality duty also covers marriage and civil partnerships, with regard to eliminating unlawful discrimination in employment. The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 requires listed authorities to publish a set of equality outcomes which they consider will enable it to better perform the general equality duty. NGS Equality Outcomes NGS aims to achieve the following results over the next four years to further the needs of the General Equality Duty: 1. Visitors feel welcome at NGS and have the appropriate information and support to enable them to make the most of their experience 2. People who share a protected characteristic which was previously underrepresented in our audiences engage with the national art collection onsite, around Scotland and digitally 3. NGS raises awareness and improves understanding of the protected characteristics through the public programme 4. NGS attracts, recruits and develops a diverse workforce and volunteer-base, supporting everyone to reach their full potential 5. Consideration of equality is clearly embedded in NGS decision-making processes These outcomes have been informed by the evidence currently available to us and are deemed to be proportionate and relevant to the work of NGS in the performance of our functions. 2

3 Each outcome covers all of the relevant protected characteristics (NB. Marriage and Civil Partnership is only applicable to outcomes 4 and 5). This is intended to reflect the fact that while we are aware of issues associated with some of the protected characteristics, there is insufficient evidence for many, especially the new characteristics. Therefore, specific actions underpinning the outcomes will be directed towards meeting the needs of the General Equality Duty for particular protected characteristics. These actions can be further developed as the quality and depth of evidence improves, leading to a better understanding of the issues and barriers people face. Further detail on each of these is given at appendix 1, including which of the General Equality Duty needs are met in each case, the conclusions drawn from the available evidence which informed the outcomes and our priorities to ensure delivery of each stated outcome. Evidence Base The main sources of evidence used to inform these outcomes were: - Ongoing Visitor Research exit surveys carried out by third party consultant - Online visitor survey, February 2013 (67 responses) - Education, community and outreach participant data - SNPG evaluation feedback - Recent complaints and anecdotal reports - Employee monitoring - Scottish Household Survey Census results - Scottish Government Equality Evidence Finder However, we know that our evidence base is incomplete and doesn t tell us all we need to know about the protected characteristics of our visitors and employees. Therefore, it is fundamental that we improve the equalities monitoring of visitors and staff. Monitoring Performance A report on progress against the stated outcomes will be published by 30 April 2015, as required by the specific duties which accompany the Equality Act The outcomes themselves will be reviewed by 30 April Further Information For additional information on NGS approach to equality, please contact: Planning and Performance Team National Galleries of Scotland 73 Belford Road Edinburgh EH4 3DS Tel:

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5 Appendix 1 Outcome 1: Visitors feel welcome at NGS and have the appropriate information and support to enable them to make the most of their experience General Equality Duty Needs Met: Protected Characteristics Covered: Eliminating discrimination Advancing equality of opportunity All The number of visits made by young people (16-24) and older people (65+) are decreasing. 4% of visitors consider themselves to have a disability and while current provision for people with disabilities is good, there is room for improvement. There is a requirement for improved access to information about activities and events and standard signage and labelling can be difficult for people to read. 93% of visitors are white (White Scottish, White British, White Irish or White Other). The remainder, of mixed or BME racial groups, will be made up of tourists and locals, but the actual split is unknown. The Annual Population survey in 2010 shows that ethnic minority groups made up 3.3% of Scotland s population, with Asian or Asian British the largest group; in 2011/12 visitors with an Asian background accounted for only 1% of visitors. We are often asked for alternative language versions of information. 60% of visitors are female. We are unaware of any issues or barriers affecting people who share the protected characteristics of Gender Reassignment, Pregnancy and Maternity, Religion or Belief, or Sexual Orientation but we do not hold enough relevant evidence about our visitors to state this with certainty. Our priorities in delivering this will be to: - Improve data collection and reporting so that we know who our visitors are and what needs they have - Continue staff training to address visitors needs - Consider how we publicise and provide information for visitors - Work with groups who are under-represented to identify real or perceived barriers to engaging with the national collection 5

6 Outcome 2: People who share a protected characteristic which was previously under-represented in our audiences engage with the national art collection onsite, around Scotland and digitally General Equality Duty Needs Met: Eliminating discrimination Advancing equality of opportunity Protected Characteristics Covered: All The limited evidence we have about our general audience shows that the following groups are definitely under-represented or that their numbers have fallen: Young people Older people People with disabilities Black and Minority Ethnic people Men Many of these are groups share protected characteristics which are traditionally under-represented and which we do currently target through our education and outreach programmes. However their under-representation in the general audience and mainstream activity suggests more work needs to be done. Our priority in delivering this will be to: - Consider a strategy for making the leap from inclusion and engagement through targeted activity to general attendance at mainstream displays, exhibitions, activities, events etc (ref. Outcome 1). 6

7 Outcome 3: NGS raises awareness and improves understanding of the protected characteristics through the public programme General Equality Duty Needs Met: Fostering good relations Protected Characteristics Covered: All Through our public programme of exhibitions, events and activities we address many of the protected characteristics, sparking debate, raising awareness, tackling prejudice etc. Protected characteristics are often represented either through art or artists, and we actively seek to address this where it is important to understanding the work itself or the artist s inspiration, through our public programme. Themes which have been covered to varying degrees in recent years include: Age and ageing Physical and mental disability Maternity Race Religion and Belief Sex (gender) and Gender identity Sexual Orientation At present we do not know if this attracts people who share the relevant protected characteristics but it does serve to raise visibility. Our priority in delivering this will be to: - Ensure the general equality duty is considered as part of exhibition/ project planning and development, in particular how any relevant protected characteristics can be represented in order to raise awareness, tackle prejudice and improve understanding Increased attendance by people who share the relevant characteristics will be delivered through outcomes 1 and 2 above. 7

8 Outcome 4: NGS attracts, recruits and develops a diverse workforce and volunteer-base, supporting everyone to reach their full potential General Equality Duty Needs Met: Eliminating discrimination Advancing equality of opportunity Protected Characteristics Covered: All Vacancies are always advertised on our website and sometimes, depending on the role, in other media such as the press or through agencies. We have an online application form which can be tailored to suit people with visual impairments (font size and contrast); we monitor equalities data of all job applicants covering all of the protected characteristics. In November 2012 we started collecting employee data relating to all of the protected characteristics; before then we monitored only the gender, disability and race of our employees. The current data shows very little diversity in our workforce, but many members of staff prefer not to provide details of the protected characteristics which apply to them. Our priorities in delivering this will be to: - Improve gathering and reporting of employee data - Identify any real or perceived barriers to employment through involvement of under-represented groups - Review our recruitment and other HR policies to ensure they align with the needs of the General Equality Duty Outcome 5: Consideration of equality is clearly embedded in NGS decisionmaking processes General Equality Duty Needs Met: Eliminating discrimination Advancing equality of opportunity Fostering good relations Protected Characteristics Covered: All Our existing equality impact assessment (EqIA) procedure is not fully embedded in planning and decision-making processes and as such we are unable to demonstrate clearly how decisions over the last few years have been informed or influenced by consideration of their impact on equality. Our priorities in delivering this will be to: - Complete our review of the equality impact assessment procedure to ensure it tests that the needs of the General Equality Duty are met and that all of the protected characteristics are considered. - Agree a programme of activity for assessment or review - Implement a standard report template for SMT including a section on Equality Impact. 8