Council services
Social Inclusion
Social exclusion often happens in areas which are mainly wealthy, healthy and white. We want to ensure that all communities feel equally valued and are able to participate equitably. Although this is an evolving part of the Community Strategy, the Local Strategic Partnership - LSP members have made good progress in developing a joint approach to promoting social inclusion and community development in areas of relatively high social need.
Key achievements
In partnership, the LSP members have:
- Become a pilot for developing a Children's Trust to ensure joined up services for children and young people, many of whom will be vunerable.
- Established a Black and Minority Ethnic - BME - Forum in December 2002 with more than 75 members from community groups such as the Indian Community Centre, the Pakistani Community Association and the Council for Racial Equality, local businesses and statutory organisations including the Council, the Primary Care Trust and Thames Valley Police.
- Established an Older People's Forum in 2002 to consult on policy-making and decisions.
- Developed adult learning programmes targeting disadvantaged learners including travellers, BME groups, lone parents and disabled people.
Future priorities
Our priorities over the next 3 to 5 years are to promote inclusion for four key groups:
- Children and young people
- Black and minority ethnic - BME - communities,
- Disabled people
- Older people
