West Lothian Council scoops diversity prize at awards bash

Jul 9 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian Council has been given a top award for promoting diversity.

The local authority scooped the Diversity Achievement of the Year trophy at the Municipal Journal Achievement Awards 2009 in London recently.

The MJ awards are designed to highlight and promote excellence in service delivery among local authorities, and this year received a record number of entries from hundreds of local authorities across the UK.

The council’s application focused on West Lothian Diversity Week, and the wider impact of recent equality and diversity initiatives throughout the council and local communities.

Council Leader Peter Johnston said: “It’s a great honour for West Lothian to be awarded the MJ’s Diversity Achievement of the Year trophy.

“We are proud to be a council which doesn’t just meet the minimum legal requirements – we want to do all we can to ensure that we are positively promoting equality and diversity to our citizens.

“Initiatives such as Diversity Week, which saw over 1000 people attend 16 events in November last year, have helped raise awareness of diversity issues both within the council and to the whole of West Lothian.”

Council equality officer Kenny Selbie added: “It is fantastic to win such a high profile national award.

“This recognition has come as a result of the effort and creativity shown by everyone involved.

“Particular thanks go to the small group of volunteers who put the events together and who made the initiative such a success.”

The judging process included investigative presentations and interviews, looking at how the council has demonstrated leadership and business alignment on the diversity agenda.

The judges said of the West Lothian application: “The council looked at its duties to promote diversity and social cohesion in a holistic way and devised a wide-ranging and effective series of events and initiatives.

“The week achieved very impressive impact and value for money.”