Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
At South Essex Homes, we believe that everyone deserves to feel valued, respected, and included. We are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment where differences are celebrated, and our services reflect the needs of our diverse communities.
Our approach to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) is shaped by our legal and regulatory responsibilities, including the Equality Act 2010, the Public Sector Equality Duty, and the Consumer Standards for Social Housing. This means we work to:
✅ Treat all residents fairly and with respect
✅ Ensure equal access to opportunities and services
✅ Promote understanding and inclusion across our communities
We also recognise the importance of supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Our staff are trained to respond with sensitivity and understanding, ensuring that everyone receives the help they need.
What EDI Means to Us
- Equality – Making sure everyone has fair access to opportunities and support
- Diversity – Recognising and valuing the unique differences between people
- Inclusion – Creating an environment where everyone feels they belong
We are dedicated to making South Essex Homes a place where every resident feels heard, valued, and supported.
You can download our full Policy here: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy for Customers.pdf[pdf] 232KB
Equality Impact Assessments
We are conducting Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) for all major policies to ensure services are fair, inclusive and accessible to everyone. These assessments will be uploaded here as they are completed:
Our Residents
By understanding the unique backgrounds and experiences of our residents, we can tailor our services to better meet their needs. Find out more about our resident demographics on this page: Our Residents | South Essex Homes
You can also find out how we cater to the diverse needs of our resident population by providing a tailored service to respect and celebrate their diversity here: Diverse Needs | South Essex Homes
LGBTQ+
We want to celebrate our diverse workforce and the brilliance of individuality. We want to empower our residents and staff, by being even more inclusive and increase our diversity as an organisation.
Southend City Council have an LGBT forum called OUTreach which reaches out to LGBTQ+ staff, allies, other forums, external sites, other organisations and community groups, to engage with and learn from the experiences of similar groups from around the city and beyond. The forum has also supported the Council's Stonewall Workplace Equality Index submission and continues to support ongoing work to enhance LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace and city.
If you want to find out more about Pride and supporting the LGBTQ+ community, there are lots of resources online.
Visit THE Homepage – Livewell Southend
Check out www.southendpride.org.uk for details of local events.