Equal Edinburgh: equality, diversity and inclusion framework 2026 to 2030
Equal Edinburgh is our new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion framework and aims to deliver services that are engaging and easy to access, ensuring that every individual can access and benefit from Council support with dignity and confidence.
From listening to what communities have told us about what is important to them we have developed three equality outcomes to guide meaningful change for people across the city:
- Council services are easier to access and engage with, and the needs of different groups are equally considered
- the Council engages with diverse groups of people across the city in ways that are meaningful and helpful to them
- the Council is equipped to make data-driven decisions about equality matters ensuring people are treated fairly and equally.
We’ve created this framework with communities across the city and we will keep communities involved and informed through the Equality and Rights Network (EARN). EARN will be part of the new EDI Programme Board, which will support, monitor and manage the delivery plan. Find out more about the Equality and Rights Network (EARN).
Read the Equal Edinburgh plan
- Download and read Equal Edinburgh Full version (PDF)
- Download and read Equal Edinburgh Easy read version (PDF)
- Download and read Equal Edinburgh Plain English version (PDF)
- Watch the full British Sign Language version of Equal Edinburgh.
Integrated Impact Assessments
Equal Edinburgh puts the needs of those from different communities at the heart of decision-making. When we are developing policies, strategies, and making service decisions, we use Integrated Impact Assessments (IIAs) to look at the potential impacts on people, rights, and climate and nature.
IIAs help us to:
- understand the impacts of our proposals on different groups
- improve service delivery efficiency
- ensure we comply with our legal obligations
- embed Council behaviours of respect, integrity, and flexibility.
The Council is required to take into account equality considerations in all its decisions, including day-to-day operational or routine decisions, but it would not be appropriate or proportionate to carry out an IIA on every decision taken. Whether an IIA is required will depend on the potential impact of the policy being proposed
Find out more about our published IIAs
Inclusive Edinburgh
Part of Equal Edinburgh covers our own workforce. We aim to recruit people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. This is important to us because we want to attract a workforce that reflects the diversity of our city.
Find out more about our Inclusive Edinburgh workplace policy.
