Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Working in partnership both locally and globally, we are tackling each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through our research and knowledge exchange, education and student experience, and through our operations. Discover how our unique commitments align with and support Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced inequalities.
Research and impact
The Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place continues to tackle regional inequalities through interdisciplinary research on economic development, urban governance, and public policy. Its work addresses disparities in productivity, income, health, and employment across the UK, supporting debates on inclusive growth, skills development, and devolution (10.2, 10.3). Recent research on community-led housing revealed that Black and Minority Ethnic groups are consistently under-represented within the sector. Drawing on 26 interviews and participatory workshops, the study highlighted structural barriers in funding and planning and set out policy recommendations to support greater inclusion (10.3, 10.4). Parallel work on racial inequalities in the NHS workforce led to the creation of an evidence-led EDI knowledge platform in collaboration with the Workforce Race Equality Standard team. This platform is being actively used across NHS trusts to promote reform and embed equality into institutional practice (10.2, 10.3). In 2025, the University also launched the Liverpool Institute of Child Health and Wellbeing, a major new centre using data science, AI, and place-based healthcare innovation to address child health inequalities. This investment reflects the University’s commitment to reducing systemic disparities and advancing equitable, resilient communities (10.2, 10.3).
Education and student experience
The University embeds inclusivity and equity into its teaching and student experience, directly advancing SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. The Liverpool Curriculum Framework establishes inclusivity as a baseline expectation for all programmes, shaping curriculum design, teaching, and assessment to ensure equitable outcomes for students from all backgrounds (10.3, 10.4). Academic programmes integrate teaching on inequality across disciplines. The module Sociologies of Class and Inequality examines historical and contemporary forms of class-based exclusion, while Social and Spatial Inequalities equips students with tools to analyse geographically embedded disparities in income, ethnicity, and employment. These courses critically evaluate policy responses to systemic inequality and directly support Target 10.3. Beyond the classroom, widening participation initiatives such as the Fast Trackers mentoring programme and the Liverpool Scholars Programme provide targeted support for pupils from ethnic minority and disadvantaged communities, raising aspirations and enhancing access (10.2, 10.6). Complementary schemes such as Liverpool Plus, alongside hardship funds and debt advice, ensure financial barriers do not prevent student success. Students also contribute to inclusive practice by engaging in curriculum mapping, sustainability modules addressing systemic barriers, volunteering with the Guild of Students, and community-based projects designed to promote fair access to resources and opportunities (10.2, 10.3).
Sustainable campus and operations
The University of Liverpool is committed to fostering an environment that recognises and celebrates diversity, with Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) embedded across all operations. The Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee leads this work, guided by the Equality Objectives Action Plan (2022–2028), which prioritises race, gender, disability, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion, using data and community feedback to ensure measurable progress. In 2024, we pledged to eliminate degree awarding gaps by 2030, addressing disparities linked to ethnicity, socio-economic status, and other protected characteristics. This commitment supports Target 10.3 by promoting equitable academic outcomes. Staff equality networks and Disability Coaches provide peer support and tailored assistance, while enhanced pay gap reporting now covers gender, ethnicity, disability, and sexuality. Race equality remains central through participation in the Advance HE Race Equality Charter (REC) and leadership initiatives such as Diversifying Leadership. LGBTQIA+ inclusion is advanced through initiatives like PINKBRICK, which examines evolving societal attitudes. Global equity is also supported through Humanitarian Scholarships and the Asylum Seekers Bursary, offering disadvantaged students from other countries the opportunity to study at Liverpool, reducing inequalities between and within nations (10.2, 10.3).
Case studies
Empowering BME communities through community housing
In 2025, the University of Liverpool contributed to a landmark national report, Community-led housing for all: Opportunities and challenges for Black and minority ethnic community-led housing. Co-authored by Dr Tom Moore, housing and planning expert at the University, alongside housing practitioners and colleagues from Leeds Community Homes, Pathway Housing Solutions, and Sheffield Hallam University, the report highlights the systemic under-representation of Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in England’s community-led housing sector.
Drawing on 26 interviews and participatory workshops, the research identified historic and structural barriers that limit BME groups’ access to, and leadership of, community housing projects. Despite the sector’s potential to empower residents and deliver affordable homes, many existing models reflect “white spaces” where BME voices are marginalised. Key challenges include inequitable access to funding, land acquisition, and leadership opportunities.
The report sets out actionable recommendations, including improved monitoring of fund allocations, increased representation of BME leaders, and policy reform to ensure equitable access to land and funding. These recommendations were supported by partners including the Nationwide Foundation, the Tudor Trust, and the Community Land Trust Network, and were launched at the University of Liverpool as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science.
This work advances SDG 10 by promoting inclusion (10.2), reducing inequalities of outcome (10.3), and calling for fairer policy frameworks (10.4). By combining academic research with practitioner and lived experience, it provides a foundation for systemic change in housing justice, shaping policy debate and practice across the UK.