The creation of the Class Unit marks a renewed drive to stamp out the inequalities and barriers that exist for working-class communities.
Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities, hosted cross-sector voices on fixing class inequality
Priorities of the new Class Unit set out to drive fairer outcomes in health services, access to jobs and community pride for working-class Brits
Phillipson says “class stigma, stereotypes and disadvantages” must be confronted head on
Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equalities, hosted the first roundtable of the government’s new Class Unit, bringing together experts, community leaders and people with lived experience to help shape its work.
The creation of the Class Unit in the heart of government marks a renewed drive to stamp out the inequalities and barriers that exist for working-class communities.
Initial priorities for the Class Unit discussed at the roundtable included:
tackling unequal outcomes in public services, including maternal health outcomes, community safety and opportunities for young people
fairer access to good jobs, addressing attainment and access gaps, class stigmas in the workplace and financial security
better life chances for every postcode, ending the vicious cycle of child poverty, focusing on intergenerational factors and geographic deprivation that cause deep-rooted disadvantage
Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, said:
Class stigma, stereotypes and disadvantages are ever present in our lives, from classrooms, to careers or in healthcare.
We’ve taken big steps in the past 2 years to tackle child poverty and level the playing field across our communities, but there’s a long way to go, and the contributions of experts and those with lived experience will be invaluable as we work to shift deep-rooted inequalities.
After the roundtable, the minister spoke to youth participants from Mission 44, a charitable foundation set up by Sir Lewis Hamilton, to hear their perspectives on what practical changes could help them manage the leap from classroom to career.
The Unit will also be leading on the manifesto commitment to commence the socio-economic duty. This is a new legal requirement for public bodies to consider how to improve the lives of lower-income families when making decisions about public services.