Column by the leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Toby Savage.

The current pandemic has thrown into sharp relief the inequalities in our society.

Over recent months we have heard lots about the importance of getting pupils back to school, especially those who are disadvantaged, given how critical education is in unlocking everyone’s potential whatever their background. But other forms of inequality have come into sharp focus too.

Public Health England reported that people from a black ethnic background in England and Wales continue to be at a greater risk of death involving Covid-19 than all other ethnic groups. Comparing to previous years, all cause mortality was almost four times higher than expected among black males for this period, almost three times higher in Asian males and almost two times higher in white males. Among females, deaths were almost 3 times higher in this period in black, mixed and other females, and 2.4 times higher in Asian females compared with 1.6 times in white females.

There are challenges for other groups too. Nationally it is reported that Covid-19 is having a significant impact on many LGBTQ+ people - issues include family tensions during lockdown, new levels of isolation, and domestic abuse. June was Pride Month - an opportunity to celebrate LGBTQ+ people across the world, campaign for equality of opportunity and highlight our support for the issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. Bristol Pride is happening online from 1 to 12 September this year and we will support it in its virtual form.

The worst paid, the workless and zero-hours contract workers have been impacted hard by Covid-19. The mortality rates in the most deprived areas of the country are more than double those in the least deprived areas, for both males and females.

Success in tackling inequality and delivering equality of opportunity will show significant benefits for everyone across South Gloucestershire. On 27 April, the council’s Cabinet approved a system-wide and strategic approach to understanding and tackling inequality in South Gloucestershire.

Our new Inequalities Strategy challenges us in what we do and how we do it - to make changes to ensure we are inclusive, that inequalities are not just tackled, but eliminated. Our ambition is genuine change backed by long-term, continuous commitment to identifying inequality in all its forms and ongoing hard work to eliminate them.

The pandemic has underlined the importance of our values. At South Gloucestershire Council we will proactively identify and eliminate inequalities; and champion equality of opportunity for all.