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Background
Social inclusion means making sure that people are not discriminated against or denied access to opportunities, and so have an acceptable quality of life.
To effectively tackle issues such as poverty, discrimination and inequality we need to have a wide-ranging and co-ordinated approach. Our Social Inclusion Strategy sets out a range of actions to include people and communities. The residents' survey shows our residents know about the improvements we have made in tackling poverty and deprivation.
We have achieved a lot but we still have more to do before everyone can fully take part in society and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Poverty affects some of our communities and needs dedicated action.
Throughout this plan we have identified a number of actions under other themes which also tackle barriers to social inclusion.
Our aims are as follows.
- To make sure we treat everyone equally, regardless of their race or disability
- To promote financial inclusion (that is, make sure people and communities have access to affordable financial services and the income they are entitled to)
- To target services to support the most vulnerable people
Our intended outcomes are as follows.
- For equal opportunities policies and procedures to be accepted as normal.
- To improve our position in levels of income deprivation in relation to the rest of Scotland.
- For everyone to have equal access to a range of affordable financial services and advice, including credit unions and the Municipal Bank.
- To have social-inclusion initiatives which are targeted at the most vulnerable people and show results that can be measured.
- To have safe, homely and well-maintained environments for all children and young people in our residential accommodation.
Aim 1 – To make sure we treat everyone equally, regardless of their race or disability
Actions we will take
- Bring the revised Race Equality Action Plan into force by 2006.
- Introduce an action plan relating to access, in order to keep to the Disability Discrimination Act, by October 2004.
- By 2005, have procedures in place to help communities influence our plans and services.
Aim 2 – To promote financial inclusion for individual people and communities
Actions we will take
- By 2005, achieve 'one-stop' advice and benefit processing for all benefits we pay.
- Achieve the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit national performance standards, resulting in improved service to claimants.
- By 2005, make sure all residents have access to a range of affordable financial services (for example, Credit Unions and the Municipal Bank).
- By 2005, review advice services to make sure everyone has equal access.
Aim 3 – To target services to support the most vulnerable people
Actions we will take
- By 31 December 2006, fully introduce the recommendations of the national review and action plan on child protection.
- Maximise 'Supporting People' resources to help over 9,000 people to remain in their own homes.
- By 2008, expand supported employment (a scheme to help people with disabilities to work in real jobs) by 100 jobs (including 40 new opportunities in the council), and appoint two extra job coaches to support six people with mental ill health into employment.
- Replace or refurbish all children's homes by 2008, and make sure each accommodates no more than six children or young people in a modern, safe and homely environment.
By 2005, develop the Family Centre in Airdrie to provide all our services from the one location, the first of its kind in North Lanarkshire.
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