SUMMARY EQUALITY PROFILE 2022 - Policy and Intelligence Team - Plymouth City Council
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OFFICIAL
SUMMARY EQUALITY PROFILE 2022
Policy and Intelligence Team
Page 1 of 24OFFICIAL
PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
INTRODUCTION
This profile is organised under the following headings:
age;
disability;
religion and belief;
sex, including marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity;
gender reassignment;
race;
sexual orientation.
Information is arranged under these headings, including in each case:
a pen picture explaining the main barriers to equality experienced by people sharing each
protected characteristic;
demographic and other key statistical data about our diverse communities;
relevant recent policy and research.
This information will be updated annually where possible to keep it current.
Sources of information
Pen portraits were developed from the evidence presented in the profiles. We sent these to relevant
community groups and individuals for comment and we have incorporated their feedback.
Demographic data is sourced from the 2011 Census or the most recent mid-year population estimate
unless otherwise credited. There will be new data realised later in 2022 from which we will be able to
report a more contemporary picture, but until this data is released, we rely on the 2011 census for
information. Other key data is sourced from the Office of National Statistics at the local level, where
this is available, and from relevant national charities and advocacy groups working with specific diverse
communities.
Consultation data includes information extracted from our most recent citywide surveys, the City
Survey (2020) and the Residents Survey (2021).
Data about our workforce is published separately and can be found within the equality and diversity
section of our website.
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AGE
Pen Picture
Age discrimination occurs when someone is treated unfairly because of their age or because they are
part of a specific age group.
People are living longer and one in three people in our community is aged over 50. There will be a
shift in the population structure of Plymouth over the next fifteen years as the proportion of the
population aged 65 and over increases. There is a projected 32.7 per cent increase in the number of
people aged 65 or over between 2016 and 2034 (an additional 15,400 individuals) in Plymouth by
2034. Older people, especially those in the 65 plus age bracket, are among the largest users of our
health and social care services therefore an ageing population suggests an increasing need for care and
support services.
Older people are particularly vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness. More than 2 million people
in England over the age of 75 live alone, and more than a million older people say they go for over a
month without speaking to a friend, neighbour, or family member (NHS, 2018). An older person is 1.6
times more likely to be often lonely if they live alone, compared with older people who live with
somebody (Age UK 2018). Approximately 9,370 people over 75 in Plymouth live alone, projected to
increase to 13,400 by 2035 (POPPI).
The Coronavirus pandemic is believed to have exacerbated feelings of loneliness and anxiety in both
older and younger people. Loneliness can have a big impact on health and has been linked to early
death on a par with smoking or obesity according to the government’s first loneliness strategy
published in October 2018. It is linked to increased risks of coronary heart disease and stroke as well
as Alzheimer’s, depression and cognitive decline. 18 per cent of pensioners are currently living in
poverty, an increase of around 500,000 pensioners since 2013/2014. (Joseph Rowntree Foundation,
2021).
Both older and younger people can face barriers in the workplace. Young people (aged 16-17 years)
not in education, employment or training, or where their destination is not known is at 7.5 per cent
in Plymouth compared to 5.4 per cent nationally and although unemployment is decreasing,
unemployment amongst the 16 to 25 year olds is increasing. Young people highlight training and
employment opportunities, particularly apprenticeships, as a key priority. The IFS Deaton Review into
COVID-19 and inequalities found that the specific nature of the economic shock associated with
COVID-19 has interacted with many existing inequalities and that young people have been particularly
affected by being in the lower end of the earnings distribution and being in sectors that have been
forced to shut down or in jobs that they are not able to do from home.
Older people account for a growing proportion of the UK workforce, from one in ten in 2010 to a
projected one in three by 2022. Research suggests older people are less likely to receive training and
many people over 50 would like to work but are unable to. Many older people are leaving work
earlier than they would like, due to factors like poor health, caring for others or redundancy. The
Centre for Ageing Better State of Ageing in 2020 report suggests that, due to the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic, people currently in their 50s and 60s who lose their job now may fall out of the
labour market for good.
Older people are less likely to use modern technology than younger people, which can also
exacerbate social isolation as well as being a potential barrier in the workplace. Only 49.8 per cent of
women and 59.4 per cent of men over 75 report having used the internet within three months of
asking, compared with 94.6 per cent and 94.5 per cent of those aged between 55 and 64 (ONS,
2020).
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Young people are less likely to vote and are often put off by existing mechanisms for engaging local
communities. Young people report lower levels of knowledge about politics than other age groups,
are less likely than other age groups to participate in political activities, be on the electoral register,
and vote. The average age of councillors, candidates and MPs is over 50. The proportion of young
people (18-24) who voted in 2017 was more than in 2015 but is still less than other age groups.
Research from the 2019 general election suggests a turnout rate of around 70-80 per cent in older
voters as opposed to between 40-50 per cent in the youngest voters.
Rising house prices, a shortage of properties and changes to Housing Benefit is making it hard for
young people to get on to the housing ladder or achieve independence. This means they are now
more likely to live with their parents or remain in the private rented sector. This could lead to
younger people putting off having children or taking second jobs to help save for their own home.
Housing for older people is also of concern with the Centre for Ageing Better highlighting that more
than two million older people live in homes that endanger their health and wellbeing and do not meet
basic government standards (Centre for Ageing Better, 2020).
COVID-19
There was a direct correlation between mortality and age at the height of the pandemic. For example,
the mortality rate from COVID-19 in England and Wales at age 80–84 was at one point about eight
times greater than at age 60–64 (The King’s Fund, April 2021). Older people are at particular risk of
COVID-19 as they are more likely to get acute respiratory distress syndrome, the acute lung injury
that has caused many deaths.
As discussed above, the Coronavirus epidemic is believed to have exacerbated feelings of loneliness
and anxiety in older people alongside both physical and cognitive decline.
Younger people have been particularly adversely affected by the pandemic economically as many are
in the lower end of the earnings distribution and work in sectors that have been forced to shut down
or in jobs that they are not able to do from home. Young people have also been particularly impacted
in terms of education and training and the longer-term effects of this still remain to be seen.
Demographics
The average age in Plymouth (38.6 years) is below the England average (40 years), and the
South West (44.1 years).
Children and young people under 18 account for 20 per cent of our population, with 18 per
cent being under 16.
Young people (aged 16-17 years) not in education, employment or training, or where their
destination is not known is 7.5 per cent compared to 5.4 per cent nationally.
The proportion of the working age population (aged 15 – 64 years) is higher at 64.3 per cent
than regionally (61.1 per cent) but similar to the national proportion (64.5 per cent).
Other key data
Between 2020 and 2035, it is expected that the number of people aged over 65 with a limiting
long-term illness will rise from 13,100 to 17,500.
The older people get, the greater their risk of sight loss. There are an estimated 1.6 million
people aged 65 and over living with sight loss in the UK. Of these, one in five is aged 75 and
over and one in two aged 90 and over (RNIB, 2020). Of the 276,690 people registered as blind
and partially sighted in England, 70 per cent are aged 65 and over (NHS Digital 2021). An
estimated 4,320 people over 65 in Plymouth are considered to have a moderate or severe
visual impairment compared to 105 under 65’s. There is growing evidence to link visual
impairment and falls to lifestyle factors such as obesity (RNIB, 2020).
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Around a third of people over 65, and around half of people aged 80 and over, will fall at least
once per year. In Plymouth, there are 2,066 per 100,000 emergency admissions due to falls in
people aged 65 and over which is similar to the England average of 2,023 (OHID, 2021).
In 2020, 3,500 people over the age of 65 years were estimated to be living with dementia in
Plymouth. By 2035 it is estimated that this number will have risen to 4,750.
Consultation
Results of the Plymouth City Survey 2020 showed that:
The proportion of respondents feeling safe when outside after dark in their local area aged 16-
24 years (44 per cent) was significantly lower than those aged 45-54 years (61 per cent).
The proportion of those respondents agreeing they feel they belong to their local area aged
65-74 years (73 per cent) and 75+ years (76 per cent) was significantly higher than those aged:
16-24 years (40 per cent); 25-34 years (46 per cent); 35-44 years (59 per cent) and 45-54
years (59 per cent).
The proportion of those respondents agreeing they feel they belong to their local area aged
45-54 years (59 per cent) and 55-64 years (63 per cent) was also significantly higher than those
aged 16-24 years (40 per cent) and 25-34 years (46 per cent).
The proportion of those respondents agreeing they feel they belong to their local area aged
35-44 years (59 per cent) was also significantly higher than those aged 16-24 years (40 per
cent).
The proportion of those respondents disagreeing they are involved in community
activities/groups in their local area aged 16-24 years (71 per cent) and 25-34 years (67 per
cent) was significantly higher than those aged 45-54 years (51 per cent); 65-74 years (49 per
cent) and 75+ years (45 per cent).
The proportion of those respondents disagreeing they are involved in community
activities/groups in their local area aged 35-44 years (60 per cent) was also significantly higher
than those aged 75+ years (45 per cent).
The proportion of those respondents disagreeing that their local area is place where people
from different backgrounds get on well together aged: 25-34 years (22 per cent); 35-44 years
(15 per cent) and 45-54 years (16 per cent) was significantly higher than those aged 75+ years
(5 per cent).
The proportion of those respondents disagreeing that their local area is place where people
from different backgrounds get on well together aged 25-34 years (22 per cent) was also
significantly higher than those aged:55-64 years (9 per cent) and 65-74 years (9 per cent).
Relevant Policy/Research
Age UK (2015). Evidence Review: Loneliness in Later Life. (Online). Available at:
.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-
briefings/health--wellbeing/rb_june15_lonelines_in_later_life_evidence_review.pdf
Age UK (2018). All the Lonely People: Loneliness in Later Life. (Online). Available at:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-
and-briefings/loneliness/loneliness-report.pdf
Centre for Ageing Better (2020). The State of Ageing in 2020. (Online). Available at:
https://ageing-better.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-12/State-of-Ageing-in-2020.pdf
Department for Education (2019). NEET statistics annual brief: 2019. (Online). Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/neet-statistics-annual-brief-2019
DWP (2017). DWP Fuller Working Lives, A partnership Approach (Online). Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach
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Government Equalities Office (2016). Understanding digital engagement in later life. (Online).
Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-digital-engagement-in-
later-life
House of Commons Library (2019). Political disengagement in the UK; who is disengaged?
(Online). Available at: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7501/
Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2021). Rising poverty among children and pensioners shows
why Covid inquiry must consider its impact. (Online). Available at:
https://www.jrf.org.uk/press/rising-child-and-pensioner-poverty-shows-why-covid-inquiry-must-
consider-its-impact
Matthews and Nazroo (2015). Understanding Digital Engagement in Later Life University of
Manchester (Online). Available at:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fil
e/495105/FullReport-UnderstandingDigitalEngagementinLaterLife.docx.pdf
NHS (2020). Falls. (Online) Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/falls/
NHS (2018). Loneliness in older people. (Online) Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-
health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/loneliness-in-older-people/
NHS Digital (2021). Registered Blind and Partially Sighted People, England 2019-20. (Online)
Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/registered-blind-
and-partially-sighted-people/registered-blind-and-partially-sighted-people-england-2019-20
Office for National Statistics (2020). Internet users, UK: 2020. (Online) Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/itandinternetindustry/bulletins/internetusers/
2020
Plymouth City Council (2019). Plymouth Report 2018/19. (Online) Available at:
https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/
Public Health England (2020). Falls: Applying All Our Health. (Online) Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/falls-applying-all-our-health/falls-applying-all-our-
health
RNIB (2020). Key information and statistics on sight loss in the UK. (Online) Available at:
https://www.rnib.org.uk/professionals/knowledge-and-research-hub/key-information-and-
statistics
The Women and Equalities Committee (2017). Older people and employment: Is Government
policy effective? (Online). Available at: parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-
z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/news-parliament-2017/older-people-and-
employment-launch-17-19/
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DISABILITY
Pen Picture
More people are living with a disability now than in the past because we are living longer and
improved medical treatments are enabling more people to manage long-term health problems.
Negative attitudes towards disabled people remain prominent in Britain, and people with mental
health conditions, learning disabilities or memory impairments remain particularly likely to be
stigmatised.
Disabled people are less likely to access health care, education, employment and participate in the
community. COVID-19 has worsened this, disproportionately impacting disabled people both directly
and indirectly.
Fewer disabled people reported being very or somewhat worried about the effect that the COVID-19
pandemic was having on their life (72 per cent) than at earlier points in the pandemic (91 per cent in
March 2020, 78 per cent in February 2021) but the latest estimates were higher than during the
period of restrictions easing in 2021 (62 per cent in May 2021, 59 per cent in June 2021).
However, it is not just disabled people who are affected, but also the people who care for them. The
term ‘carer’ describes people who care for others on an unpaid basis, as opposed to people who are
paid, such as care workers and home helps. As of 2020, there are an estimated 13.6 million unpaid
carers in the UK. 9.1 million of carers nationally were already caring before the coronavirus outbreak.
There were 907 young carers identified in November 2020 through the annual young carers school
survey in Plymouth.
Economic
Disabled people are almost twice as likely to be unemployed than those without disabilities (8 per
cent compared to 4.3 per cent), and more likely than workers without disabilities to be employed on
a zero-hours contract.
Disabled people experience significant barriers to getting and keeping jobs. This has resulted in a
national disability employment gap of 28.7 percentage points in 2020/21. The gap has not changed
significantly since last year, when it was 28.6 percentage points.
Disabled workers have been more likely than workers without disabilities to have seen a hit to
household finances during the pandemic. New survey findings show that disabled workers are
significantly more likely to have experienced financial hardship during the pandemic (40 per cent)
compared to workers without disabilities (27 per cent).
Compared to workers without disabilities, disabled workers are also:
Twice as likely to have used a food bank in the last year (6 per cent compared to 3 per cent).
Twice as likely to be concerned about losing their job in the next 12 months (22 per cent
compared to 11 per cent).
More likely to say that levels of debt have increased since the pandemic began (16 per cent
compared to 11 per cent).
Social
Disabled people continued to have on average poorer well-being ratings than people without
disabilities across all four well-being measures (life satisfaction, feeling that things done in life are
worthwhile, happiness and anxiety). They are more likely to be discriminated against, harassed and
not given the same life opportunities. Consultation feedback tells us that children with disabilities
often worry about being bullied.
In the year ending March 2021, d were more likely to report feelings of loneliness “often or always”
(15.1 per cent) than people without disabilities (3.6 per cent).
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In the year ending March 2018, disabled people were more likely to have been involved in civic
participation (45.5 per cent) than people without disabilities (38.4 per cent).
In the year ending June 2021, disabled people aged 16 to 64 years in the UK were less likely to own
their own home (39.7 per cent) than people without disabilities (53.3 per cent), and more likely to
have rented social housing (at 24.9 per cent compared with 7.9 per cent).
Estimates show that the number of adults with disabilities who were recent internet users in 2020
reached almost 11 million, (81 per cent of adults with disabilities), up from just over 10 million (78 per
cent of adults with disabilities) in 2019.
In the year ending in March 2019 it was found that disabled people were more likely to experience
crime and be victims of domestic violence.
Demographics
A total of 31,164 people (from 28.5 per cent of households) declared themselves as having a long-
term health problem or disability (national figure 25.7 per cent of households), compared with the
total number of people with disabilities in UK (11,600,000) (2011 Census).
10 per cent of our population have their day-to-day activities limited a lot by a long-term health
problem or disability (2011 Census).
At the last census, there were 22,146 people aged 65 and over with a long term health problem
or disability of which 11,266 recorded that their day-to-day activities were limited a lot and 10,880
reported their day-to-day activities were limited a little.
Other relevant data
The total number of people with a current or work limiting disability in employment stood at
33,000 for the period to September 2021.
33 per cent of Council Tax Support (CTS) claimants have a disability.
The prevalence of common mental disorders (2017) in Plymouth is 18.2 per cent which is
significantly worse than England average of 16.9 per cent.
The rate of intentional self-harm in Plymouth is 244.0 per 100,000 (2019/20) which is significantly
worse than England average of 192.6 per 100,000.
A model from the Centre for Mental Health for mental health need arising from COVID-19
forecasts that as a direct consequence of the pandemic, up to 8.5 million adults in England will
need either new or additional mental health support. It predicts that there will be 43,461 new
people in Plymouth who will require mental health services.
18.5 per cent of pupils (year R to 11) were identified as having a Special Education Need or
Disability in the 2021/22 academic year.
Across the whole education cohort (Nursery to Y14) in the 2021/22 academic year, 1,591 pupils
had an Education, Health and Care Plan and 5,454 pupils required Special Educational Need
Support. There were a total of 7,045 pupils with a Special Educational Need or Disability.
In 2019/20, 793 younger adults aged 18 to 64 had Learning Disability as the primary reason for
receiving adult social care support. This is 45.6 per cent of people aged 18 to 64 who received
support.
It is estimated that in Plymouth, in 2020 3,973 people aged 18 to 64 will have a learning disability
and that in Plymouth, in 2020 1,026 people aged 65 and over will have a learning disability.
In 2021, 8,590 people were living with sight loss in Plymouth. 1,375 people were registered blind
or partially sighted.
By 2030, it is expected that the number of people with sight loss will increase by 20 per cent.
In August 2021, 9,113 people in our city were dependent on Employment Support Allowance
(ESA)
In October 2021, Plymouth had 15,455 claimants of Personal Independence Payments of which
11,558 people were receiving a mobility award.
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Hate crime
In Devon and Cornwall the number of reported hate crime incidents with disability as the
motivating factor rose from 236 in 2019/20 to 255 in 2020/21.
Nationally, hate crimes recorded by the police have increased for people with disabilities, with
8,465 hate crimes recorded in 2019/20 compared to 9,208 in 2020/21.
Consultation
Results of the Plymouth City Survey 2020 showed that:
The proportion of those respondents with no health problem/disability agreeing that Plymouth
is a great place to live (78 per cent) was significantly higher than those who were limited a
little through a health problem/disability (68 per cent).
The proportion of respondents with no health problem/disability who felt safe after dark (64
per cent) was significantly higher than those limited a little (48 per cent) and those limited a lot
(43 per cent).
Those residents who were limited a lot through a health problem/disability had an average
score of 5.2 with life satisfaction compared with those limited a little 6.4 and those with no
disability/health problem 7.4.
Results of the Plymouth Residents Survey 2021 showed that:
Those respondents who did not consider their day-to-day activities were limited because of a
health problem or disability were significantly more satisfied with their local area as a place to
live (76 per cent) compared with those who outlined their day-to-day activities were limited a
lot (68 per cent).
The proportion of those respondents who did not consider their day-to-day activities were
limited because of a health problem or disability were significantly more satisfied with their
local area as a place to live (76 per cent) compared with those who outlined their day-to-day
activities were limited a lot (68 per cent).
The proportion of those respondents who did not consider themselves to have a health
problem/disability (83 per cent) and those limited a little (81 per cent) were significantly more
likely to agree that local people have a role to play in looking after their local area compared
with those who were limited a lot (70 per cent).
The proportion of those respondents who were limited a lot from a health problem/disability
were significantly more likely to disagree the Council has done its best to continue to deliver
critical and essential services during the pandemic (18 per cent) compared with those with no
health problem/disability (11 per cent).
Relevant policy and research
National Disability Strategy
The National Disability Strategy sets out the government’s vision to improve the everyday lives of
disabled people. The Government want to ensure that disability is not a barrier to people living full,
independent lives where they can reach their full potential. The strategy includes helping to ensure
disabled people can play a full role in society by:
Bringing forward legislation to remove historic barriers to participation in public life
Publishing a new cross-government strategy to tackle the crime and disorder that undermines
the quality of life for everyone, including disability hate crime
Making it easier for disabled people to cast their vote
JRF- UK Poverty 2022: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation report looks at trends in poverty across all its characteristics and
impacts. The report highlights 12 percentage points in poverty rates between disabled and non-
disabled people. Negative stigma around employing disabled people also still persists, with 1 in 5
employers less likely to hire a disabled person.
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Sources:
Equality and Human Rights Commission (2017) Being disabled in Britain: A journey less equal.
(Online) Available at: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/being-
disabled-britain-journey-less-equal
The UN (2020) A Disability- Inclusive Response to COVID-19 (Online) Available at:
www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_on_persons_with_disabilities_final.pdf
Coronavirus and the social impacts on disabled people in Great Britain: March 2020 to
December 2021. (Online) Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/articles/c
oronavirusandthesocialimpactsondisabledpeopleingreatbritain/march2020todecember2021
TUC (2021) Jobs and recovery monitor- disabled workers. (Online) Available at:
https://www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/jobs-and-recovery-monitor-disabled-
workers#research-analysis
ONS (2021) Outcomes for disabled people in the UK: 2021. (Online) Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/articles/
outcomesfordisabledpeopleintheuk/latest
Anti-Bullying Alliance (2017-2021) Do children with SEND experience more bullying? (Online)
Available at: https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/all-about-bullying/at-risk-
groups/sen-disability/do-children-send-experience-more
ONS (2019) Disability and social participation, England: 2018. (Online) Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/bulletins/
disabilityandsocialparticipationengland/2018
Carers UK (2020) Carers Week 2020 Research Report, ‘The rise in the number of unpaid
carers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Online) Available at:
https://www.carersuk.org/images/CarersWeek2020/CW_2020_Research_Report_WEB.pdf
ONS (2020) Internet users, UK: 2020. (Online) Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/itandinternetindustry/bulletins/internetusers/
2020
ONS (2019) Disability and crime, UK: 2019. (Online) Available at:
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/bulletins/disabili
tyandcrimeuk/2019#toc
RELIGION AND BELIEF
The Equality Act applies to any religion, religious belief or similar philosophical belief, including non-
belief. However, to be fully protected by the act the religion or belief must be “organised”, i.e. have a
clear structure and belief system. Denominations e.g. Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Christians,
Sunni and Shia Muslims and belief systems such as Humanism, Atheism, Paganism and Spiritualism are
also covered. Political beliefs are specifically excluded.
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The 2011 census recorded that Christians are the largest faith community in the city. The majority of
people identify themselves with some religion although compared to 2001 more people are identifying
themselves with no religion. Islam is the religion with the second largest number of followers and
there are small but significant numbers of Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Baha'i. Other belief
systems with small numbers of followers include Humanists, Pagans and Spiritualists. Some smaller
faith communities are growing, principally because of migration.
The city has the 'Kadampa Meditation Centre Plymouth', the oldest Ashkenazi Synagogue in the UK
and a Baha’i spiritual assembly as well as active Sikh, Humanist and Pagan communities.
Faith communities continue to face challenges around access to appropriate spaces in which to
worship, celebrate, mark religious occasions and carry out religious rituals. In Plymouth Mosques
there is insufficient capacity to accommodate everyone who wishes to pray, especially during
Ramadan, Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha. The Muslim community also faces challenges securing
appropriate burial rituals and is currently reliant on securing support from outside the city to follow
burial rituals.
While, some churches face challenges in meeting the physical access needs of disabled people which is
made all the more difficult due to the age of some buildings. There is also a shortage of suitable
venues to celebrate Hindu weddings. These issues are also seen in some of our smaller faith
communities which do not have easy access to spaces in which to worship or celebrate other
religious rituals and occasions.
Religious groups including Christian groups have highlighted their voluntary work in the community
and questioned whether faith communities are treated fairly when applying for funds to support this
work.
Demographics
Christianity is the biggest faith in the city with more than 58 per cent of the population
(148,917 people).
32.9 per cent (84,326) of the Plymouth population stated they had no religion.
Those with a Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish or Sikh religion combined totalled less than 1 per cent.
Islam: 0.8 per cent, (2,078 people) doubled from 0.4 per cent since 2001.
Buddhism: 0.3 per cent, (881 people) increased from 0.2 per cent since 2001.
Hinduism: 0.2 per cent, 567 people described their religion as Hindu,
Judaism: 0.1 per cent, 168 people
Sikhism: 89 people (less than 0.1 per cent), increased from 56 people since 2001.
0.5 per cent of the population had a current religion that was not Christianity, Islam,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism or Sikh, such as Paganism or Spiritualism.
Consultation
The 2020 City Survey found that:
People from other religious backgrounds are slightly less likely to be satisfied with Plymouth as
a place to live (68 per cent) than Christians (78 per cent) or people with no religion (74 per
cent).
Hate Crime
In Devon and Cornwall the number of reported hate crime incidents with religion as the
motivating factor rose from 88 in 2019/20 to 95 in 2020/21.
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SEX
Pen Picture
Key issues affecting women include the gender pay gap, issues related to pregnancy and maternity, and
sexual harassment and violence including domestic abuse. Men are less likely to attend university, have
a shorter life expectancy and are affected by domestic abuse, although to a lesser extent than women.
Gender Pay Gap
In an attempt to improve pay equality, the government introduced compulsory reporting of the
gender pay gap for organisations with 250 or more employees from 01 April 2018. Plymouth City
Council’s most recent report (March 2021) shows that the mean average standard hourly rate of pay
for female employees is 0.74 per cent lower than that of male employees with the median average
standard hourly rate of pay for female employees being 5.08 per cent higher than that of male
employees. The mean gap, whilst still in favour of men, has reduced by 1.89 per cent compared to
2017. Plymouth City Council’s workforce consists of significantly more women than men (currently
63 per cent female), with a large proportion of these female employees occupying part time roles or
working under a flexible working agreement. The Council’s Gender Pay Gap is significantly below the
median South West average of 17.5 per cent and the national average of 15.4 per cent (ONS, 2021)
Although the national gender pay gap has reduced slightly over the last ten years, there is still a
persistent pay gap between men and women with men earning more on average than women. In the
UK, the gender pay gap for full-time employees in April 2021 was 7.9 per cent, down from 9.0 per
cent in April 2019 (ONS, 2021). Among all employees, the gender pay gap increased to 15.4 per cent,
from 14.9 per cent in 2020, but is still down from 17.4 per cent in 2019. (ONS, 2021) The gender pay
gap remained close to zero for full-time employees aged under 40 years but was over 10 per cent for
older age groups. Compared with lower-paid employees, higher earners experienced a much larger
difference in hourly pay between the sexes.
One reason behind the gender pay gap persisting in those over 40 is that factors affecting women’s
employment and earnings opportunities become more evident among women aged in their 30s and
40s. For example, time spent out of the workplace to care for children or elderly relatives could
affect future earnings when a person returns to work. Similarly, the need to balance work with family
commitments and the availability of flexible working practices may restrict employment options. A
higher proportion of women work part-time than men, particularly from age 30 onwards. Another
factor is that women are still more likely to work in lower-paid and lower-skilled jobs. There is a
higher proportion of men occupying chief executive and management occupation groups and a higher
proportion of women in administrative secretarial and caring, leisure and other service occupations
(ONS, 2018).
The impact of COVID-19
The IFS Deaton Review into COVID-19 and inequalities highlights that the lockdown may have
impacted most upon women in employment particularly around the lack of childcare and raised
concerns that this may have an impact on the work and career progression of women and the
progress made on closing the gender pay gap.
Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination
Research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that three in four mothers reported
a negative or possibly discriminatory experience during pregnancy, maternity leave and/or return from
maternity leave. Half of mothers reported a negative impact on their career while 20 per cent said
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they had experienced harassment or negative comments relating to pregnancy or flexible working
from their employer and/or colleagues.
Violence Against Women and Girls
Violence against women and girls is defined as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to
result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women and girls, including threats of such acts,
coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) covers a range of crimes that have been identified as being
committed primarily but not exclusively by men against women. VAWG is not a new phenomenon,
however the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021 ignited a national conversation and generated
increased awareness of the dangers facing women. Violence against women and girls crimes are varied
and widespread and can include for example, domestic abuse, sexual assault, stalking and harassment.
It is estimated that 1 in 3 women over the age of 16 in Great Britain were subjected to at least one
form of harassment in the last year. This increases to 2 in 3 for women aged 16 to 34. Tragically, in
the year ending March 2020, 81 women were killed in a domestic homicide. In July 2021, Government
published an updated strategy for Tackling Violence against Women and Girls.
Women are significantly more likely to be victims of domestic assault with 1.6 million women aged 16
to 74 (7 per cent of the female population) estimated to have experienced domestic abuse (ONS,
November 2021). The number of Police recorded domestic abuse related crimes in England and
Wales rose 6 per cent in the year ending March 2021 to 845,734 (618,232 women and 227,502 men)
In the year ending March 2021, the victim was female in 73.1 per cent of domestic abuse related
crimes. (ONS, 2021).
In Plymouth:
Victims of interpersonal violence are disproportionally women and perpetrators are men (69.3
per cent of domestic abuse victims were women and 74.4 per cent of suspects were male).
In the twelve months to May 2021 there were 2,955 stalking or harassment crimes, an
increase of 25 per cent on the previous year. 68 per cent of victims are female.
Annual crime statistics for sexual offences in Plymouth as of end of Jan 2021 show 991
offences, an increase of 4.1 per cent on the previous year.
Tragic events in Plymouth have reinforced the need to assess what more can be done at the local
level to ensure that women and girls feel safe and empowered to live without fear of harm, abuse or
intimidation and a Plymouth Violence Against Women and Girls Commission has been set up to look
into this. The Commission is due to publish its findings and recommendations in May 2022.
Marriage and civil partnership
According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, ‘marriage is a union between a man and a
woman or between a same-sex couple’. Same-sex couples can also have their relationships legally
recognised as 'civil partnerships'. Civil partners must not be treated less favourably than married
couples (except where permitted by the Equality Act).’
Demographic and other relevant data
Demographic data
Overall 50.3 per cent of our population are female and 49.7 per cent are male: this reflects the
national figure of 50.6 per cent females and 49.4 per cent males (ONS MYE 2019).
Life expectancy at birth in Plymouth is 78.8 for males and 82.5 for females (OHID 2018-2020).
Healthy life expectancy in Plymouth is 61.8 for males and 58.3 for females (OHID 2018-2020).
Nationally, the current gender pay gap is 7.9 per cent for full time employees (ONS, 2021),
down from 9.0 per cent in 2019.
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Consultation
The Plymouth City Survey 2020 showed that:
The proportion of female respondents agreeing that Plymouth is a great place to live (79 per
cent) was significantly higher than males (71 per cent).
The proportion of female respondents agreeing they felt safe when outside during the day (93
per cent) was significantly higher than males (88 per cent) although there was no significant
difference in responses to feelings of safety after dark.
The proportion of female respondents agreeing they feel they belong to their local area (65
per cent) was significantly higher than males (56 per cent).
The proportion of females agreeing they are involved in community activities/groups in their
local area was significantly higher than males (23 per cent compared with 17 per cent).
The proportion of female respondents agreeing their local area is place where people from different
backgrounds get on well together (45 per cent) was significantly higher than males (32 per cent).
Sources
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (2016). Pregnancy and maternity-related
discrimination and disadvantage: final reports. (Online). Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pregnancy-and-maternity-related-discrimination-and-
disadvantage-final-reports
Gov UK (2020). Gender Pay Gap Reporting: Overview, (Online) Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/gender-pay-gap-reporting-overview
House Of Commons Library (2020). The Gender Pay Gap. (Online). Available at:
http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN07068
Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (2020). Public Health Outcomes Framework.
(Online). Available at: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/public-health-outcomes-
framework/data#page/1/gid/1000049/pat/6/ati/401/are/E06000026/iid/90366/age/1/sex/1/cat/-
1/ctp/-1/yrr/3/cid/4/tbm/1/page-options/ovw-do-0_car-do-0
Office for National Statistics (2017) Sexual Offenses in England and Wales: year ending March
2017 (Online). Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/sexualoffencesine
nglandandwales/yearendingmarch2017
Office for National Statistics (2021). Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview: November
2021. (Online). Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabusein
englandandwalesoverview/november2021
Office for National Statistics (2018). Understanding the gender pay gap in the UK. (Online).
Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/arti
cles/understandingthegenderpaygapintheuk/2018-01-17
Office for National Statistics (2021). Gender pay gap in the UK: 2021. (Online). Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bull
etins/genderpaygapintheUK/2021
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Plymouth City Council (2017). Plymouth Report 2017 (Online) Available at:
https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/
Plymouth City Council (2021). (Online) Available at: Gender Pay Gap 2020
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GENDER REASSIGNMENT
Pen Profile
The Equality Act (2010) states that “a person has the protected characteristic of gender reassignment
if the person is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a
process) for the purpose of reassigning the person's sex by changing physiological or other attributes
of sex.” This means that this person is protected by the law even if they have not undergone surgery
or received treatment.
‘Sex’ refers to the designation of a person at birth as either ‘male’ or ‘female’. Sex is not a binary
system as there are certain chromosomal combinations which can result in intersex conditions.
‘Gender’ is informed by our social context and this includes the traditional or stereotypical roles that
society considers appropriate for men and women. Gender is also informed by a person’s individual
identity. Gender identity refers to our internal sense of self, and is independent of the physical aspects
(sex). Gender identity includes the social aspects of gender such as gender expression – how we
express or present our gender externally – which for example it can include behaviour, clothing,
language and our physical appearance such as hairstyle.
Transgender ‘Trans’ is an umbrella term widely used to describe people whose gender is not the
same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned with at birth. Trans people may
describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms and which cover both gender
identity and expression. Some Trans people may change their gender expression or undergo gender
affirming treatment such as hormone replacement therapy or surgery.
It is also recognised that there are other identities, for example; non-binary, gender-fluid, asexual, bi-
gendered, gender-queer etc. which also face very similar problems, obstacles, discrimination and
harassment. The same consideration should be given to these groups on ethical grounds as they are
clearly distinct, yet possess related characteristics, and while not defined by descriptors contained
within the 2010 Equality Act, are clearly in need of similar sensitivities.
Gender dysphoria is the clinical term used within the NHS and gender recognition Act to describe the
distress arising from the incongruence between a person's sex assigned at birth and their gender
identity.
Many young people experiencing issues with their gender who decide to Transition, may do so
around the onset of puberty and this can bring them into conflict with parents, family and friends, who
may find it difficult to accept their gender identity. Younger children can only Transition with parental
consent, when this is given, and accompanied with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, they may be given
drugs to delay the onset of puberty until they reach the age of consent. Services currently available to
help young people are limited which can mean that many young people and their families do not
receive specialist support or medical treatment prior to being transferred to adult gender identity
clinics.
Research carried out in 2021 by the Intercom Trust ‘Trans+ Voices; gender identity healthcare in the
South West found that service provision is limited and people waiting for services have found
themselves experiencing life difficulties including financial hardship, health problems and homelessness.
There is very little data to draw on when looking to provide a local Plymouth picture of gender
identity issues, particularly as LGBT+ is the commonly used acronym to describe a number of
different groups; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual describe sexual orientation, (who you are emotionally,
romantically or sexually attracted to), and Trans. The ‘+’ refers to those with a sexual orientation or
gender identity which does not easily fit into the terms LGBT. As information is often grouped
together under LGBT+ it makes it difficult to identify issues relating just to gender identity and to
separate out any supporting data.
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Evidence currently available shows that when people reveal their gender preference, they face an
increased risk of discrimination, bullying and hate crime and are more likely to report mental health
conditions and to attempt suicide than the general population. Dealing with victimisation can be
difficult, for those Trans individuals who decide to Transition or not, evidence shows that other
emotional or psychological issues may arise which can lead to life changing events such as
homelessness, loss of employment or rejection by family and friends. In 2018, YouGov found that 25
per cent of Trans people have experienced homelessness at one point in their lives. Other known
issues include the lack of gender neutral facilities in public spaces and the feeling of frustration of
having to change or explain legal documents (driving licence, passport, titles to property, diplomas,
etc.). It is also important to recognise the negative impact on the Trans community from the ongoing
media and political debate surrounding Trans rights.
Reports from the OutYouth Group in Plymouth show a steady increase in Trans members,
particularly Trans boys (assigned female at birth). An increase in young people age 11+ accessing
support has resulted in OutYouth now operating a junior group age 11-15 in addition to the existing
senior group (age 16 - 25). It is currently estimated that 35 per cent of the total number of young
people looking to access the OutYouth Group services are presenting within the Trans spectrum.
There has been an increase in schools looking for support in respect of supporting students
experiencing issues relating to gender identity.
Demographics
The 2021 Census conducted in March 2021 included for the first time questions asking respondents
to indicate their sexual orientation and gender identity. The collection of this information will provide
a much clearer picture of the profile of this community going forward and the issues that they face.
We anticipate that this will go some way in allowing us to understand the data at a local level.
Hate Crime
The Home Office Hate Crime (England and Wales) 2020/21 statistical bulletin reports that
overall, hate crime reported as ‘Transgender’ has increased 3 per cent from 19/20 figures
(from 2,542 to 2,630).
Conversely, recorded Transgender-related hate crimes have decreased 24 per cent in Devon
and Cornwall, down from 93 in 2019/20 to 71 in 2020/21.
Consultation
In 2018 the proportion of those who identified as Transgender who felt unsafe after dark (51
per cent) was significantly higher than those who identified as males (17 per cent) and females
(24 per cent).
In the 2020 City Survey, there were no significant differences to report.
Relevant Policy/Research
In April 2020, Intercom Trust launched a regional survey to explore the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on the LGBT+ community. After receiving over 400 responses from across the South
West, they produced a report using the findings of the survey, existing research on LGBT+ health
inequalities, and their own service user data.
Key findings include;
63% listed inability to see friends and family as their top concern.
52% listed decreased mental wellbeing as the second highest concern. This rises to 63% of
Trans people, 64% of bisexual people, 66% of intersex people, and 75% of non-binary people.
17% of people were living alone at the time. This rises to 38% of LGBT+ people aged 50+.
54% of people living alone were concerned by increased isolation.
9% do not feel safe where they are currently staying. This figure rises to 11% of Black, Asian
and Minority Ethnic LGBT+ people, 13% of disabled LGBT+ people, 18% of Trans people, and
21% of LGBT+ people who also said they were concerned about substance misuse.
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29% of people were concerned the situation would lead to substance or alcohol misuse or
trigger a relapse. 23% of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people were concerned about
substance misuse, and a further 27% of non-binary people were concerned about substance
misuse.
13% of people were unable to access healthcare for non-covid related issues. This rises to 20%
of Trans people.
33% of people had medical appointments cancelled. This rises to 34% of Trans people, 36% of
people under the age of 18, and 44% of people aged 50+. 30% of Black, Asian and Minority
Ethnic LGBT+ people had medical appointments cancelled.
17% of people were unable to access medication, or were concerned about being able to
access medication. This rises to 30% of disabled LGBT+ people, and 32% of Trans people.
58% of people would prefer to receive support from an LGBT+ specific organisation.
52% of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic LGBT+ people would prefer to receive support from
an LGBT+ specific organisation. This rises to 62% of disabled LGBT+ people, 77% of non-
binary people, and 78% of Trans people.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, 49% of people would prefer to access services remotely.
Sources
Home Office, Hate Crime, England and Wales, 2020 to 2021 (2021). (Online) Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2020-to-2021/hate-
crime-england-and-wales-2020-to-2021
Intercom Trust, Coronavirus LGBT+ impact survey (July 2020). (Online) available at:
https://www.intercomtrust.org.uk/item/221-survey-results
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RACE
Pen Profile
Population
At the time of the 2001 census, 97 per cent of Plymouth’s population was White British, by 2011 this
had decreased to 93 per cent. Our ethnic minority communities are diverse with the Polish, Chinese
and Kurdish communities amongst the largest. We also have a small resident Gypsy and Traveller
community.
The Census records that there are at least 43 main languages spoken in the city, and over 100
different languages spoken in our schools. Some areas of the city are more diverse than others; the
area around the university, the city centre, Stonehouse and the East End are among the most diverse.
The most frequent language translation requests for Plymouth are: Kurdish (Sorani), Polish, Arabic
(Modern Standard - North African), Pashto, Arabic (Modern Standard - Middle Eastern), Farsi (Persian
and Afghan), Hungarian, Romanian, Sudanese and Chinese (Mandarin).
In line with government guidance, throughout this pen profile, we use ‘ethnic minorities’ to refer to all
ethnic groups except the White British group. Ethnic minorities include White minorities, such as
Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller groups.
Asylum seekers and refugees
Plymouth is a dispersal area for asylum seekers and around 350 people will be accommodated in the
city at any given time. The Council participated in the Home Office Syrian Vulnerable Person
Resettlement Programme (VPR) and the Vulnerable Children's Resettlement Scheme (VCRS)
resettling 49 families (200 people) via these schemes. As of January 2022, 6 families (28 people) were
resettled in Plymouth through the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan
Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The Council will continue to support Home Office routes of
safe passage for those fleeing persecution and conflict.
Education
At Key Stage 2 (KS2), 73 per cent of all children in Plymouth met the expected standards in KS2
reading, on a par with 73 per cent of all children across the country.
Location Asian Black Chinese Mixed White
England 75 73 84 76 74
Plymouth 77 71 100 73 73
Percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading in KS2 by ethnicity (2018/19)
At Key Stage 2 (KS2), 64 per cent of all children in Plymouth met expected standards in phonics in
2018/19. This is slightly lower than 65 per cent of all children across the country.
Location Asian Black Chinese Mixed White
England 69 64 80 66 64
Plymouth 78 71 100 68 64
Percentage of KS2 children meeting the expected standard in phonics by ethnicity (2018/19)
For England, the average Attainment 8 score is 48.9 for all pupils, for Plymouth this is above at 50.5.
Location Asian Black Chinese Mixed White
England 55.5 50.0 69.2 51.3 50.2
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Plymouth 60.7 45.3 72.1 52.2 50.3
GCSE Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity (2020/21)
The England overall suspension rate for all pupils is 3.76 per cent. For Plymouth this is slightly higher
at 4.23 per cent. Fixed term exclusion due to racist behaviour is 1.02 per cent nationally and 0.55 per
cent in Plymouth.
Location Asian Black Chinese Mixed White
England 1.35 3.85 0.3 4.35 4.11
not
Plymouth (SW) 0.71 2.06 3.35 4.34
available
Percentage of fixed period exclusions by ethnicity (2019/20)
There are 3,003 of compulsory school age children (5 to 16 years old) that speak English as an
additional other language (2019/20). 7.6 per cent of children speak English as an additional language
(EAL) in school in Plymouth compared to 19.3 per cent nationally (2019/20). There are 108 languages
recorded amongst children in schools. After English, Polish (718 first language speakers), Arabic (256)
and Romanian (264) are the most widely spoken.
There were 907 young carers identified in November 2020 through the young carers school survey.
Of these, 31 (3.4 per cent) were from an ethnic minority background.
Employment
Across the UK, the overall employment rate was 74.5 per cent (of working age population) from
October 2020 to September 2021. However, there remains a significant difference between the
employment rates of different ethnic groups in the UK. Of the economically active working-age
population, 9.3 per cent of the Pakistani and Bangladeshi population are unemployed, 10.8 per cent of
the Black or Black British population are unemployed, 5.4 per cent of the Indian population are
unemployed and 8.8 per cent of other ethnic population are unemployed. This is in comparison to 4.1
per cent of the White population being unemployed.
Employment for all ethnic minority groups in Plymouth was 73.3 per cent in the period from October
2020 to September 2021. In the same period, 77.5 per cent of the White working-age population
were in employment in Plymouth. This reflects national trends and those within the South West.
White people are less likely to be unemployed compared to people from all other ethnic groups.
Nationally, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women are the least likely to be employed (42.7 per cent
employment rate nationally of those aged 16 – 64).
Health
National data shows that people from all ethnic minority groups except the Indian, Chinese, White
Irish and White Other groups were more likely than White British people to live in the most
deprived 10 per cent of neighbourhoods in England. According to a report by the King’s Fund, people
from ethnic minority groups are more likely to report limiting long-term illness and poor health than
White British people, in particular people from Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups and those identifying
as White Gypsy and Irish Traveller. There is also significant evidence which recognises that people
from ethnic minority groups have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, it is important to recognise the diversity of experience and outcomes amongst different
ethnic groups.
Policing
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