Public sector equality duty

Socio economic status

Although the Equality Act 2010 doesn't include socio-economic status as one of the protected characteristics, Southwark Council recognises that this continues to be a major cause of inequality in the borough.

Socio economic status is the measure of an area’s, an individual's or family’s economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education, health, living conditions and occupation.

Socio economic status in Southwark, London and England

As the Census didn't include questions on income or other measures of socio-economic status, the information below is taken from the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2010.

The IMD is based on a small geographic area known as Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) aggregated into larger areas for ward or borough data. Each LSOA has an approximate population of 1,500 which allows for the identification of small pockets of deprivation. Southwark has 165 LSOAs.

Main findings (IMD 2010)

• in the 2010 IMD, Southwark was ranked as the 41^st most deprived borough out of the 326 local authorities in England; this showed some improvement on previous indices as Southwark was ranked 26^th in 2007 and 17^th in 2004
• Southwark moved from the 6^th most deprived borough in London in 2004, to 9^th in 2007 and to 12^th in 2010
• 4 LSOAs (2%) in Southwark were among the 10% most deprived in England in 2010. These are in East Walworth, South Bermondsey, Nunhead and the north part of Livesey

Examples of how we're working to promote equality

• the free school meals initiative for every primary school pupil in Southwark was in part designed to remove the stigma of qualifying for free school meals
• the council works in partnership with Southwark Legal Advice Network and other partners to deliver better financial services for people in Southwark
• Southwark, as one of the largest social landlords in the country, is investing in improving the quality of its housing stock through its warm, dry, safe programme
• the council offers 100 apprenticeships in a wide variety of roles each year to Southwark residents
• the council gives financial support to a number of young people from homes with low household income each year through its scholarship scheme
• the council funds Southwark Works which supports unemployed people who need some support to get a job
• volunteering has long been recognised as one way to gain experience of a work environment whilst doing something useful for the community; Southwark council funds the Volunteer Centre Southwark in this work
• the council has a number of welfare funds to help people in particular hardship, including the Southwark Emergency Support Scheme (SESS), discretionary housing payments and the welfare hardship fund

Further information and support

• Southwark Legal Advice Network offer a range of debt and other financial advice services
• advice on benefits and money management is also available from a range of agencies listed on the council website
• we run a scholarship scheme to give a number of young people financial help to go to university
• we has a wide range of opportunities for apprenticeships
• Southwark Works offers a range of support to unemployed people who are trying to get work
• Volunteer Centre Southwark is a local charity dedicated to making it easy for anyone to volunteer within the borough

Page last updated: 02 August 2022