Our commitment to equality standards

Disability Confident Leader Level 3

As a Disability Confident Leader, we aim to improve recruitment and retention rates of disabled people within the council and work with businesses locally to improve disability employment rates countywide.

Work with the North East England Rainbow Alliance

The Rainbow Alliance is all about raising awareness and improving responses for LGBT+ people living and working across County Durham and Darlington and the North East. We will continue to work with this group to improve support for victims of same sex domestic and/or sexual violence, hate crime and bullying through education and training.

White Ribbon accredited

White Ribbon is the UK's leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls. Striving to change long-established attitudes, behaviours and systems around masculinity that perpetuate gender inequality and men's violence against women. We are committed to support those affected by domestic abuse and violence against women and girls.

Armed Forces Covenant supporters

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved. We are committed to the covenant and all it stands for.

We have also been awarded the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Gold Award which recognises our positive attitude and policies towards serving and ex-members of the Armed Forces.

For all Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans and their families, our Armed Forces Outreach Service (AFOS) can provide help and support with benefits, employment, health and wellbeing, schools, and care and support. See Armed Forces support.

Fostering Friendly Employer

As a Fostering Friendly Employer, we recognise and value the contribution that foster carers make to society and especially the lives of children in care. We understand that foster carers who do other work in addition to fostering need some flexibility in their working arrangements to meet the needs of their fostered child/children. Foster carers and approved kinship carers may request paid time off to support them in their roles. Find out more about our Fostering Friendly Status.