We have three key roles in promoting equality and diversity:

1. As a community leader

We work with our partners to tackle inequality.

2. As a service provider

Making sure our services are tailored to the needs of the individual.

Making sure staff are aware and responsive to the needs of different sectors of our community.

3. As an employer

We welcome diversity in the workforce and have policies in place to make sure staff can balance their work and home commitments.

Our equality objectives

We have a set of new equality objectives these are reviewed at least every four years.

Strategic Equality Objectives (2025–2029)

The Council has agreed on the six objectives identified below, with a view to ensuring they result in meaningful outcomes for our residents and our employees and members.

1. Inclusive Leadership and Community Engagement

Establish regular forums with underrepresented community groups to co-design services. 

Ensuring senior leaders and elected members champion inclusive decision-making. 

Publishing an annual Equality Impact Statement to demonstrate progress and accountability.

2. Empowerment Through Targeted Initiatives

Launching community-led pilot projects to address barriers in service access. 

Providing targeted funding through our grants program to support grassroots equality initiatives. 

Partnering with voluntary and faith-based organisation to amplify community voices. 

3. Fostering Social Cohesion and Preventing Discrimination

Delivering district-wide campaigns to challenge prejudice and celebrate diversity. 

Facilitating interfaith and intercultural dialogues to build mutual understanding. 

Embedding anti-discrimination principles into all Council policies and procedures.

4. Equal Access to Employment and Skills Development

Partnering with local employers and training providers to create inclusive pathways to work. 

Supporting digital inclusion and adult learning programs for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups. 

Promoting apprenticeships and internships for young people from underrepresented backgrounds. 

5. A Diverse and Inclusive Workforce

Implementing inclusive recruitment practices. 

Providing mandatory training on unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, and neurodiversity. 

Establishing employee networks and mentoring schemes to support career progression. 

Providing appropriate training for our employees and members to ensure knowledge, education and understanding of people from groups identified under a protected characteristic or as an underrepresented group.  

6. Transparent Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Publishing annual progress reports aligned with our Equality Objectives. 

Conduct regular Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) across all major policies and services. 

Using data analytics to identify gaps, measure outcomes, and inform future strategies.


Equality Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2025 - 2029

Equality data

We are required under the Equality Act to publish equality data relating to the services we provide and our workforce.

Mid Sussex equalities profile

How life has changed in Mid Sussex: Census 2021

You may also want to visit our Mid-Sussex statistics and data page for information on:

  • Deprivation
  • Ward profiles
  • Health profiles
  • Information from the Office for National Statistics
  • Crime data

Mid Sussex District Council workforce statistics

We regularly check our workforce to make sure that it is reflects the community we live in. We are currently reviewing this data. 

Previous years' reports

Equality impact assessments

We carry out a range of equality impact assessments for all our services and policies.

Impact assessments are an improvement tool with a number of benefits.

They:

  • Make sure our policies and services meet our duty to public sector equality
  • Give us evidence to show that our policies and services are working
  • Make sure that the services we provide do not overlook or exclude any groups
  • Set out ways to get feedback on our services and monitor their impact
Completed impact assessments

Contact us

Contact: HR and OD team 
Email: people@midsussex.gov.uk

Other contacts:

Last updated: 18 December 2025