At the heart of local government in Darlington is a commitment to public service and a desire to make a positive difference to those who live, work and visit here.
Our Social Inclusion Strategy has a specific aim that clearly links to this broader commitment. It sets out what we, and our partners, can do to improve the life chances of those at risk of disadvantage and discrimination” in Darlington.
I am happy to introduce this strategy to you because it explains the complexities that we face in trying to deliver social inclusion. It shows where we are as an organisation in trying to achieve this and identifies what still needs to be done. It is a pragmatic and honest document. One that I hope will help us, and our partners, to see the wood without getting lost in the trees.
I hope that this strategy makes you think again about the people in this borough who are at risk of getting a raw deal from life, and about what we can do to help people to help themselves to improve their lives. The message is all the more poignant when we realise that the vicious circle of helplessness, poverty and social exclusion can flow from the kind of everyday events (the loss of a job, an illness, the dependency of a relative) that can happen to any of us at any time.
The value of this document will be seen in both how it raises the profile of the social inclusion agenda and, more importantly, how it delivers change for the better in Darlington.
Leader of the Council and board member of Darlington Partnership, Councillor Williams
View All Together Now: A Social Inclusion Strategy for Darlington 2005 - PDF document