Equalities monitoring – about you

Why we monitor equality 

At Gloucestershire County Council, we believe that understanding our community is essential to providing effective services. Equality monitoring simply helps us understand whether our services are performing well for all residents. This process helps us identify any barriers to access and make necessary improvements to ensure fair treatment for all residents. 

It involves collecting, storing and using information about the different protected characteristics of our customers. 

What information we collect 

When you use council services or take part in consultations, fill in certain forms or other activities where you have contact with us you may be asked to complete an 'Equality Monitoring Form'.  

You are then asked to complete a number of questions about 'you': This valuable information helps us build a comprehensive picture of who is using our services and how we can better meet diverse needs. We collect information on: 

• Demographics and protected characteristics such as your age, sex, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
• Service usage patterns
• Satisfaction levels
• Accessibility needs

Example of equalities monitoring form (PDF, 28 KB) 

How we use this information 

Your responses play a crucial role in shaping our services. We analyse this information to understand patterns and trends, which helps us make informed decisions about service improvements. All information is confidential and data protection rules will apply. 

Stonewall have produced a leaflet to explain 10 reasons why you should fill in those funny monitoring box things at the end of forms.