MD2250 Social Integration Strategy

1.1 The Mayor’s strategy for social integration sets out his role in improving the state of social integration in London. It is the result of months of research and discussions with social integration experts, London’s communities and civil society. It fully recognises that, with limited powers, the Mayor cannot improve social integration on his own. It therefore describes his approach to social integration, how he will exercise the powers he does have, and how he will work with others.

1.2 The strategy launches the new social integration initiatives approved in MD2192 (Social Integration Programmes), and details the workstreams of the Citizenship and Integration Initiative approved in DD2176 (Citizenship and Integration Initiative) and DD2183 (Active Citizenship). These decisions approved the budget required for delivering the strategy in 2017/18. The budget required for 2018/19 will be set out in a forthcoming MD regarding the allocation of the Communities and Social Policy budget.

2.1 The purpose of this strategy is to set out a vision and direction for the Mayor’s role in improving social integration in London. The policies and projects described are intended to have a direct impact on the state of social integration in the city, and also to inspire others to act. The intended audience is stakeholders interested in social integration – particularly civil society organisations, engaged communities, employers, philanthropists and borough councils.

2.2 The following outcomes are expected through the launch of the strategy:

• stakeholders comment positively that it sets out a vision around which Londoners can unite

• new initiatives launched in the strategy are effectively delivered (to be reviewed at the end of each financial year, complemented by evaluations of specific initiatives)

• teams across the GLA align their work with the goal of improving social integration.

2.3 The delivery of policies and actions in the strategy will help to achieve the Mayor’s objectives to:

• develop world-leading best practice on using sport, volunteering, arts and culture as powerful tools for social integration;

• enable Londoners to build stronger social networks in early years and family support settings, so that more of London’s families benefit from social integration

• equip more Londoners to participate in democratic processes such as voting, public debates and citizen-led action, knowing how to engage and that their voice matters

• reduce inequalities which could otherwise undermine social integration, working alongside partners to achieve this, particularly in the areas of skills, housing, planning, regeneration and policing

• address specific barriers to social integration through targeted programmes such as supporting underrepresented groups to access employment, promoting pathways to citizenship, improving English language training and widening digital inclusion

• support London’s councils, central government and other partners to embed principles of social integration into their institutions

• lobby for changes to central government policies which currently present barriers to social integration, for example the implementation of immigration policies.

Under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as a public authority, the Mayor and GLA must have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and any conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act; and to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Protected characteristics under the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and marriage or civil partnership status (the duty in respect of this last characteristic is to eliminate unlawful discrimination only). Compliance with the Act may involve, in particular, removing or minimising any disadvantage suffered by those who share a relevant protected characteristic, taking steps to meet the needs of such people; and encouraging them to participate in public life, or in any other activity where their participation is disproportionately low, including tackling prejudice and promoting understanding. In limited circumstances it may require treating people with a protected characteristic more favourably than those without the characteristic.

3.2 This strategy has a focus on tackling inequalities and barriers, including those which affect Londoners who share protected characteristics and therefore reflects the requirements of the PSED regarding removing or minimising disadvantage, encouraging participation in public life, tackling prejudice and promoting understanding. Part 1 of the strategy includes policies and actions which aim to foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not – by promoting shared experiences which bring different groups of Londoners together, and creating an environment where Londoners find it easy and beneficial to have positive and regular contact with those around them. Part 2 of the strategy seeks to support Londoners from all backgrounds to be active citizens. This work will include targeted work to increase participation in volunteering and democratic processes among groups of Londoners who are currently less likely to be engaged, many of whom share protected characteristics. Part 3 of the strategy builds on the commitments to be set out in the forthcoming Mayor’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, focusing on addressing the inequalities and barriers that are particularly detrimental to social integration and require specific interventions.

3.3 The strategy furthers the social development of London and Londoners, and so falls within the Mayor’s general powers under section 30 of the GLA Act 1999. Under section 33 the GLA is required to have in place arrangements to ensure that due regard has been had to equality of opportunity for all people in the exercise of those general powers.

3.4 The Mayor’s strategy for social integration gives high priority to equality of opportunity for all people in London. Part 3 of the strategy sets out policies and actions to increase equality in the city – including addressing inequalities in opportunity affecting groups currently represented in London’s workforce through a new initiative called the Workforce Integration Network (WIN). Through another new initiative, ESOL Plus, the strategy will address the barriers facing Londoners who lack English language proficiency. Ensuring equality of opportunity will be a key criterion for selecting partners on all new initiatives, including The London Family Fund, WIN, ESOL Plus and the Social Integration Design Lab.

a) Key risks and issues

experiences and their ideas on improving social integration and informed the strategy. In particular, they highlighted:

• the role of sport, volunteering, food, culture and family in bringing Londoners from diverse backgrounds together;

• the power of positive interactions to build connections and challenge negative assumptions, and the Mayor’s role in creating the conditions in which such positive interactions can take place;

• barriers to social integration including inequalities in employment rate gaps and a shortage of affordable housing. There are also specific barriers for certain groups including digital exclusion and difficulty accessing support to learn English.

4.6 The London Strategic Migration Partnership (LSMP) and Migrant and Refugee Advisory Panel (MRAP) also helped advise on the development of policies and actions regarding the barriers to social integration facing migrant and refugee communities, which have been included in the strategy.

5.1 There are no direct financial implications to the GLA associated with the publication and launch of the Mayor’s social integration strategy.

6.1 The strategy falls within the power in section 30 of the GLA Act 1999 as it furthers the promotion of social development in London. As it is a discretionary strategy it is not one the Mayor is required to prepare in accordance with the requirements of section 41 of the Act. In making this decision the Mayor is required to have due regard to the obligations arising under the public sector equality duty as set out in the Equality Comments in section 3 above.

6.2 The strategy includes work to promote political literacy and voter registration among young Londoners through new resources as part of the London Curriculum to be delivered in schools. Electoral law gives specific statutory responsibilities for voter registration and education about the elections to electoral registration officers (EROs) in the boroughs and the Electoral Commission. Section 31 prevents the GLA from incurring expenditure in directly providing educational services. However, promoting participation in the electoral process furthers social cohesion and promotes social improvement and the Act allows the Mayor to undertake activities, including those that involve GLA expenditure, that foster co-operation with, or facilitate or coordinate the activities of, such other bodies. The GLA’s activities in this area must at all times be apolitical and not be perceived to be associated with the promotion of any political party or individual politician; they must also be kept distinct from the functions of the Greater London Returning Officer, whose actual and perceived impartiality is vital, and who has no role in respect of voter registration.

6.3 Before exercising his power under section 30 of the GLA Act 1999 in relation to the approval of the strategy, the Mayor is required to consider what consultation is appropriate. Section 4 (c) above sets out the steps that have been taken to consult in relation to the preparation of the strategy

The Mayor's social integration strategy - draft for approval.