Equalities Data Monitoring

At Barking and Dagenham Council, we are committed to fairness, inclusion and making sure our services work for everyone. To do this, we collect and use equalities data to help us understand who uses our services and their experiences.

What is equalities data?

Equalities data is information about people’s backgrounds and characteristics, known as protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. These are:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage and civil partnership
  • Pregnancy and maternity
  • Race (including ethnicity)
  • Religion or belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation

Although it is not a protected characteristic, we also collect data on socio-economic disadvantage. This helps us better understand and address inequalities related to income, deprivation, and access to opportunities.

We may also collect information about employment or housing where relevant, to better understand people’s circumstances.

Why we collect this information

We collect equalities data to:

  • Make sure our services are fair and accessible
  • Understand the needs of different communities
  • Identify and remove barriers or inequalities
  • Improve how we design and deliver services
  • Meet our legal responsibilities under equality law
  • Be transparent about how we are performing

This helps us make better decisions and ensure no group is disadvantaged.

How we collect equalities data

You may be asked to provide equalities information when you:

  • Apply for a service
  • Register for an account online
  • Take part in a survey or consultation
  • Access services through partner organisations or contracted providers

How we use your information

  • Your information is used for monitoring and improving services only
  • It does not affect your access to services
  • We often analyse it in groups (for example, totals or percentages), not individually
  • We use it to check whether services are reaching everyone fairly

Keeping your information safe

We take your privacy seriously:

  • Your data is kept secure and confidential
  • It is protected under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
  • Sensitive information is handled with extra care
  • Where possible, data is anonymised so individuals cannot be identified

You can read more in our General Privacy Notice here.

Your choice

  • Providing this information is usually voluntary and you can choose to answer all, some or none of the equality’s questions
  • It may be necessary to collect certain information in order to provide a specific service, meet legal requirements, or carry out statutory duties.
  • You will not be treated differently if you choose not to share this information

Our approach

When we collect equalities data, we make sure that:

  • We only ask for what is necessary
  • We clearly explain why we are asking
  • We use respectful and inclusive questions
  • We follow national standards where possible
  • We treat everyone’s information with dignity and care

Our commitment

By collecting and using equalities data, we aim to:

  • Build services that reflect our diverse community
  • Reduce inequalities
  • Support inclusion and fairness for all residents