The Equality Act 2010 is the law which bans unfair treatment and helps achieve equal opportunities in the workplace and in wider society.

The Equality Duty applies to Sandwell Homes because we provide public services.

The new duty covers the following eight protected characteristics: age – disability - gender re-assignment - pregnancy and maternity - ethnicity (this includes ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality) - religion or belief (this includes lack of belief) - sex (gender) - sexual orientation - marriage and civil partnership (only in respect of eliminating unlawful discrimination)

The public sector equality duty consists of a general equality duty and specific duties.

The general duty requires public organisations to have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate unlawful discrimination:    harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010
• advance equality of opportunity:     between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it, and
• foster good relations:                      between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

The specific duties require public bodies to:

• publish relevant, proportionate information demonstrating compliance with the equality duty. The information must be published at least annually; and
• set and publish first equality objectives by 6 April 2012. Subsequent objectives must be published at least every four years.

Compliance with the Equality Duty:

To evidence compliance with the Equality Duty, Sandwell Homes has provided the following information which is accessible by following the relevant link:

• Tenant profile information: http://www.sandwellhomes.org.uk/About/Equality/Documents/GTKY.pdf

• Service specific information:        Equality Act – Publishing Data – January 2012)

• Introduction to Employee Data:             HR – Introduction to Information

• Employee Data:       Evidence – HR Data

If you have any comments about any information provided, please contact the Equality Team via our Customer Services Contact Centre on: 0121 569 6000