Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment: Development of Equality Scheme

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) commissioned Equality Works to work with them on the development of their Equality Scheme. They wanted a Scheme that would not only demonstrate best practice but also support their aim of providing clear leadership on equality and inclusion and using their influencing role to promote these issues within the profession.

During the first phase of development we focused on CABE as an employer and our team carried out the following activities:

• Met all the Directors and Managers – to find out the detail of CABE’s work, explore the extent to which equality is already part of their work, learn about their vision and priorities and assess the state of play on equality.
• Met Commissioners – to find about more about their role, their vision for CABE and the challenges for CABE in the coming years.
• Met staff in small groups and individually – to find out about working at CABE, to talk about the culture and working environment.
• Met the Inclusive Environment Group – to start involving them in the process of writing the scheme and listening to their views.
• Scrutinised a number of other schemes – those from Department of Media, Culture and Sport and the Department of Communities and Local Government – to learn from their approach and style.

Stage two put the spotlight on CABE’s activities and influencing role in the profession and with government. Our team:

• Undertook an assessment of the CABE Enabler’s programme – This included visiting project mangers on the re-design of Nottingham’s Market Square and Lewisham Children and Young People’s Centre. The focus was on assessing the extent to which local communities were consulted as part of the design stages, specifically disabled and BME communities.
• Examined how equality is mainstreamed into CABE Space activities – As part of this we:
  • Investigated the awareness level and representativeness of the CABE Space Advisory committee; and
  • Researched how Space Shapers are recruited, trained and deployed.
• Assessed the extent to which CABE’s knowledge and skills team equality proof curriculum and representation of the Summer School programme; specifically how disabled people access the programme.
• Examined how equality is mainstreamed into the Design Review activities.

The final stage of the process was to write CABE’s Equality Scheme covering employment and outward facing activities. The published document is now available on CABE’s website, together with their Action Plan and an online survey to collate ongoing feedback on the clarity and relevance of the scheme. We are delighted to have been able to work with CABE to develop a scheme which they believe will be of interest to design professionals and people working in equalities as well as their own staff.