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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Panels

EDI Panel

Who we are

Our Equality and Diversity Panels which are made up of members with lived experiences across disability, gender, race, and sexuality, were launched in 2023, to help tackle discrimination, injustice, and inequalities, in order to improve outcomes for everyone.

  • In August 2024 we also introduced our Intersectionality Panel. This innovative panel will enable us to strengthen our understanding of how a person or group of people, may be affected by several discriminations/disadvantages and by

  • Meet our panel members

    considering people’s overlapping identities and experiences, we can better understand the complexity of any unintended prejudices and promote a culture which values the contributions of everyone’s different needs.

  • The panels are instrumental in helping us to embed, diversity and inclusion in everything that we do, enabling us to create a fairer city region were no one is left behind.

  • Equality Panel Structure (PPT, 128KB)

    Process to engage with the Equality Panels

    To engage with the Equality Panels, you will need to provide some brief information about the background of your project/proposal, the reason for engaging with the panel, specific asks of the panel and any agreed outcomes. 

  • Please follow the 6 steps below: 

  • 1. Complete either the Executive Summary Doc (DOC, 558KB) or provide a short presentation Standard Engagement Presentation (PPT, 6MB) as soon as possible and at the earliest design stage of your project, policy or proposal. 

  • 2. You will then need to share your completed document with the  Panel Co-Ordinator, who will liaise directly with the Panel Chair, to determine, using the panels preferred evaluation criteria and aligned with their Workplan, if and when the project/proposal will be added as an agenda item. (Please see guidance information below for more information on how to develop your proposal) 

  • 3. The Panel Co-Ordinator will liaise directly with CA Officer(s) to confirm this and if your project/proposal has not been accepted as an agenda item, discuss alternative approaches to engage with the panel or alternative EDI stakeholders networks. 

  • Download Guidance on Engaging with Equality Panels (PDF, 188KB)

    4. Once confirmed as an agenda item, the completed Engagement Document will be shared with the panel at least one week before the agreed meeting date, along with any other pre-reading/support documents 

  • 5. You will receive an invitation to the panel meeting you have been selected to present at and the panel members will provide feedback and recommendations based on your specific requirements during or after the meeting, as detailed in the Engagement Document. 

  • 6. At the end of your presentation, the panel will agree a definitive timescale for  how they would like you to report back to the panel, about how you have actioned and/or considered their feedback and recommendations.   

  • This does not always need to be a return visit to the panel, this could be communicated using another creative method such as an email, voice note, or video etc distributed to Panel Co-Ordinator, who will share with the panel members via their monthly Panel Update Bulletin. 

  • If you are an external stakeholder and would like to engage with or find out more about  the Equality Panels, please contact [email protected] 

  • The Role

    The panels’ role is to provide advice, guidance and scrutiny on the design and delivery of our services, policies, and practices and to promote equity through their external perspectives, which will provide us with valuable and actionable insight, through an equalities lens.

  • The panels will be instrumental in the co-design and co-production of strategic workplans, aligned to the Combined Authority’s Corporate Plan and the regular review of our Equality Impact Assessments.

  • The Mayor’s vision for the panels, is for them to effectively question and challenge our decision-making processes, to ensure that they have a lasting impact on transformative change across our region.

  • Presentation at Equality Panel meeting

    Equality Panel Upcoming Meetings

    MonthRace Disability LQBTQIA+

    Women’s 

    Equity 

     Intersectionality

    November6th21st27th14th–
    DecemberNo Meetings17th
    January22nd16th15th9th–
    February––26th20th
    March5th6th––18th

     

    Meetings are for panel members only. To enquire about upcoming meetings, please contact Equality Panel Co-ordinator Paula Ellis at [email protected]

    Workplan Development

    Each panel has identified or is the process of agreeing a dedicated work programme which outlines the key priorities of focus for the panel for the municipal year.


    Disability Panel 2024/2025

    • Simplifying process for Concessionary Travel Passes
    • Improve accessibility public transport services and infrastructure
    • Embed the Marmot Principles in Policy development
    • Encourage the development of a LCR Disability Hub
    • Improve accessibility of the CA’s corporate Websites
    • Promote greater support from employers for people with disabilities over the age of 25
    • Prioritisation of more affordable and accessible housing provision for people with disabilities

  • LGBTQIA+ 2024/2025

    • More targeted training and employment opportunities in underrepresented sectors
    • Ensure that our spending promotes a more inclusive economy where businesses welcome individuals from the LGBTQIA+ Community
    • Champion innovative training and campaigns to combat discrimination faced by individuals and the wider community on the public transport network
    • Hear more voices from the LGTQIA+ community including ‘youth voice’ and improve data collection
    • Ensuring policies and procedures are more LGBTQIA+ inclusive (Navajo Charter)
    • More inclusive housing and healthcare provision for the LGBTQIA+ community

    Positive outcomes achieved

    Here are a few examples of the positive outcomes the panels have managed to achieve over the past few months.


    Requested the reinstatement the CA’s Local Access Forum after it disbanded in 2019

    • Forum will reconvene in 2024/25

  • Contributed to a Bus User Experience journey, which also involved the testing of QR Bus Information Codes

    • Modified design specifications for new fleet of electric vehicles, including changes to the position of bell pushers, USB points and audio-visual equipment

  • Participated in the ‘Destination Welcome’ Accessibility Research Evaluation Panel for the LCR

    • Evaluated tender submissions for the Research Programme to inform the appointment of the Consultant

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