The Progressing Equality event was a great success - again

News - 8 May 2025

Statutory and voluntary sector organisations came together again to make services more inclusive, one pledge at a time.

Satoko Fujishiro from Islington Mind speaks to event participants about the development of the Inequalities Toolkit

Our Progressing Equality events

Healthwatch hosts two Progressing Equality events each year. These events bring together health and care organisations from the statutory and voluntary sectors to take steps to be more inclusive. It's an opportunity to get together, discuss progress, and share ideas. 

I really enjoyed the warm atmosphere where everyone could share their challenges.

Event participant

The event opened with a presentation from Laura Saksena, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Islington. Laura spoke about inequalities in Islington – inequalities which are repeated in many inner London boroughs but can be challenged and changed through aspirational partnership working.

Next, contributions from Islington Mind, Islington Live Well Commissioning, and Nafsiyat showcased the importance of making meaningful pledges that influenced organisations to change.

The table discussion was engaging, and everyone had valuable contributions to make. Examples of the kind of improvements organisations were working on included:

  • Paying more attention to the voices we are hearing and those we aren't. We might need a better strategy for reaching more marginalised users.
  • Considering the accessibility of referral processes and our physical buildings
  • Using this support network - learning from other services and collaborating to improve 

Kay Carter, Inequalities Toolkit Project Lead at Healthwatch Islington said, "The room was buzzing with enthusiasm and positivity! Thanks to everyone who attended. We're already looking forward to our next event and even more organisations coming to share their work." 

Find out more

To learn more about our Progressing Equality events, contact kay@healthwatchislington.co.uk

A toolkit to help commissioners design inclusive services

The Challenging Inequalities Self-Assessment Toolkit contains evidence and expertise from our various partners on how those involved in mental health in Islington can work together to address the inequalities we know continue to exist in service delivery. It was authored by Islington’s Inequalities Subgroup of the All Age Mental Health Partnership Board.

This first edition of the toolkit focused on race and ethnicity. Islington Mind has published a second chapter to support organisations in increasing access and inclusivity for the LGBTQI+ community, guided by specialist services mostly operating in London. The Challenging Inequalities Self-Assessment Toolkit - LGBTQI+

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