Sefton Council has reinforced its commitment to breaking down barriers for disabled people in our community, through the signing of the Disability Impact Pledge.

The Disability Impact Pledge has been designed by the Disability Policy Centre, an independent social enterprise. It is dedicated to improving the lives of disabled people, through public sector reform and the formation of local and national policy.

The commitments 

The pledge details Sefton Council’s commitment to:

• Ensuring accessibility of communication, both on the Council website and any documents.
• Encouraging participation and representation at all levels.
• Consultation and events to guarantee everyone’s voice is heard.
• Support for staff with disabilities.
• Providing inclusive services and policies, and understanding the barriers that people may face.

Representatives from local disability community organisations, including Southport Access for All, Ability Plus and The Pocklington Trust were invited to a disability awareness day, where they discussed the barriers that exist for local residents, business owners and community groups, as well as employees of Sefton Council.

The Pledge was signed by all present, including Cllr Cummins, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, and officers and staff from Sefton Council.

Speaking about the pledge, Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “Sefton Council is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for both our residents and employees.

“Inclusivity and accessibility are at the forefront of our thinking and planning, and we are actively listening to the voices of people with disabilities.

“This pledge is our way of setting ourselves achievable goals, which help us to provide the best services possible to the people of Sefton.”

Equality and inclusion

The pledge aligns with the Council’s existing Equality, Inclusion and Diversity (EDI) Strategy, and will set out the way in which the organisation will work together with staff, partners, and the local community to ensure the Council provides an accessible and inclusive environment for all.

The Disability Policy Centre’s ambition is to break down barriers for disabled people across Sefton, and we look forward to working with partners along this journey.

For more information about the Council’s work to advance equality, visit the Equality and Diversity webpage.