10. Actions and outcomes
10.1 We developed actions to achieve four key outcomes and will deliver these from 2026 to 2029.
10.2 Outcome one - delivering for our communities - highlights the important role of responsive services in good customer care. This is about acknowledging the needs of different people when integrating equality objectives into service design.
Action | Lead department |
|---|---|
As part of RIBA Stage 3, maintain the inclusion and accessibility of people with disabilities and Sign Language Users in the planning and delivery of Belfast Stories programme as part of RIBA Stage 3 Spatial Design. | Place and Economy |
Complete a review of Resources and Fleet accommodation at Duncrue and Waste Transfer station to consider disability accessibility for employees. | City and Neighbourhood Services |
Consider recommendations from a completed accessibility audit report (physical). | City and Neighbourhood Services |
Consider recommendations from a completed internal digital accessibility audit report. | External Affairs, Marketing and Communications |
Deliver our parks and outreach annual events programme and continue to ensure the accessibility for people with disabilities. | City and Neighbourhood Services |
Deliver the Dreamnight event for children living with terminal, life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses at Belfast Zoo. | Place and Economy |
| Deliver the PEACEPLUS Reconnected Belfast project: Waterworks and Alexandra Park, including Changing Places Toilet and inclusive and accessible play provision and signage. | Property and Projects |
| Delivery of annual upgrades to its playgrounds through the Playground Improvement Programme (PIP), increasing play value, accessibility, and overall quality in the sites selected for refurbishment each year. | City and Neighbourhood Services |
| Develop and deliver tailored skills and employability initiatives for people with disabilities. | Place and Economy |
| Evaluate AccessAble website and app | Legal and Civic Services |
| Expand the provision of Sign Language translation on popular pages on the website. | External Affairs, Marketing and Communications |
| Host and programme a range of accessible city events throughout the year including Quiet Christmas Switch-on to coincide with Belfast Christmas lights switch-on at 2 Royal Avenue. | Place and Economy |
| Implement the commitments stated in the Changing Places toilet policy. | Property and Projects |
| New sensory play space for children and young people with autism and sensory needs at Woodvale Park, including provision of a Changes Places toilet facility. | Property and Projects |
| Promote and update the supporting people with disabilities webpage and other webpages on the website. This includes information on disability access at council venues and AccessAble detailed guides. | External Affairs, Marketing and Communications |
| Review the provision of pedestrian and inclusive access to recycling centres. | Property and Projects |
| Trial a new road train at Belfast Zoo, to provide suitable transport provision for visitors with mobility requirements. | Place and Economy |
| Work with city employers to design and deliver bespoke academies for people with disabilities. | Place and Economy |
10.3 Outcome two - knowing our communities - emphasises the importance of information in understanding and working with our communities. This includes effective community engagement, collecting and analysing data and sharing information.
Action | Lead department |
|---|---|
Compile a report entailing a demographic analysis of people with disabilities residing in Belfast. | Finance and Legal and Civic Services |
Develop evidence base of needs for Sign Language and disability communication. | Legal and Civic Services |
| Disaggregate Inclusive Growth indicators by disability status wherever relevant data is available, ensuring disability inclusion is monitored across economic and social outcomes. | City and Organisational Strategy |
Improve data use on disability, accessibility and intersectionality in equality screenings. | Legal and Civic Services |
| Organise and evaluate events and communications including annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities and awareness days. | Legal and Civic Services |
| Procurement of new play equipment supply contract to increase the range of inclusive items for use in playground construction and refurbishment. | City and Neighbourhood Services |
| Promote disability communications tools on our website and on social media platforms. | External Affairs, Marketing and Communications |
| Review mechanisms for D/deaf and disabled people to participate in our plans and decision making. | Legal and Civic Services |
10.4 Outcome three - leadership - acknowledges the important role of guidance and direction from elected members and directors. Partnerships and collaboration are recognised as key mechanisms to making improvements, in addition to using tools to address inequalities, such as equality screening. Monitoring and scrutiny of the content of the action plans are prioritised.
Action | Lead department |
|---|---|
Appoint enterprise champions to further disseminate knowledge, knowledge transfer, and to develop networks across participating parties. | Place and Economy |
Clear and consistent reflection of D/deaf and disabled people in city marketing communications. | External Affairs, Marketing and Communications |
Complete review of outdoor seating provision in our green flag accredited and larger parks and open spaces (including accessible picnic tables for wheelchair users) and installation of additional benches where opportunities identified. | City and Neighbourhood Services |
| Deliver a series of workshops to promote accessibility to businesses. | Place and Economy |
| Deliver on the commitments set out in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Programme to support, educate and empower Belfast’s tourism and hospitality sector to provide a warm welcome, high-quality service and memorable experiences for all visitors. Ensure accessibility and inclusion are embedded within wider tourism initiatives, events and promotional activity. | Place and Economy |
| Design and deliver a strategy for Belfast to become an inclusive and accessible city for Deaf/deaf and disabled people residing, working in or visiting Belfast. | Legal and Civic Services |
| Engage monthly with external stakeholder groups, including four disability organisations, with a new theme around employability discussed at every meeting to provide disability and autism awareness training. | Place and Economy |
| Fleadh Cheoil Programme delivered in accordance with the accessibility principles and recommendations identified through equality screening and engagement with disability organisations and representatives ensuring inclusive participation. | Place and Economy |
| Follow inclusive design principles (BS 8300-2 and BS 8300-1) when designing new buildings or refurbishing existing assets. | Property and Projects |
| Governance of Disability Working Group reviewed after local elections. | Legal and Civic Services |
| Host events to share best practice with opportunities for collaboration developed. | Legal and Civic Services |
| New Communication Boards programme supplied and installed in all our managed playgrounds. | City and Neighbourhood Services |
| Review effectiveness of Disability Action Plan 2026-2029 and integrate findings into new Disability Action Plan development. | Legal and Civic Services |
| Review on how we integrate accessibility and inclusion into corporate and departmental plans. | Legal and Civic Services |
10.5 Outcome four - diverse and skilled workforce - promotes workforce diversity and inclusion through forums and policies. Workforce data will be collected and analysed as a tool to make improvements. Learning and development are promoted continuously to keep pace with changing workplace environments.
Action | Lead department |
|---|---|
Agree and deliver an annual disability employee outreach programme which includes work placements, with delivery targets. | Corporate Human Resources |
Assess and address training needs and skills gap on positive attitudes, accessibility and participation, intersectionality and their role in inequalities. | Legal and Civic Services |
Conduct a voluntary monitoring exercise. | Corporate Human Resources |
| Develop and publish disability awareness articles on Interlink. This includes publishing awareness on different types of disabilities and promoting disability days and weeks. | Corporate Human Resources |
| Provide Corporate Consultation and Engagement Framework Good Practice guide training to employees. | Legal and Civic Services and City and Organisational Strategy |
| Review disability passport for employees. | Corporate Human Resources |
| Review provision of Sign Language courses for employees. | Corporate Human Resources |
| Undertake training on Inclusive Design for physical projects. | Property and Projects |
