Our communities
2021 census data1 shows the level of diversity in our borough, something that we think should be celebrated. Between 2011 and 2021 there was an increase in the number of people who are from an ethnic group other than white British. In Hammersmith & Fulham, 63.2% of people identified as 'white' and 36.8% identified as Black, Asian or minority Ethnic. The main ethnic groups identified are Black African (7.2%), Mixed (6.7%), black Caribbean (3.6%), and Arab (3%).
1 Hammersmith and Fulham population change, Census 2021 – ONS
There are several distinct faith communities in H&F.
Religion |
Number of residents |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Christian |
83,673 |
45.7% |
Muslim |
21,290 |
11.6% |
Hindu |
2,209 |
1.2% |
Buddhist |
1,723 |
0.9% |
Jewish |
1,228 |
0.7% |
Sikh |
450 |
0.2% |
No religion |
56,059 |
30.6% |
Other |
1,227 |
0.7% |
Not answered |
15,298 |
8.4% |
Total |
183,157 |
100% |
In H&F, 15.5% of residents are disabled people (more than 1 in 7). We are committed to ensuring that we work with disabled people to plan, design and review policies and services that affect them. 'Nothing about disabled people without disabled people' is at the heart of decision-making and policy development in H&F.
We also have a large LGBTQ+ community in the borough, as shown in table 2.
H&F (%) |
London (%) |
England (%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Straight or heterosexual |
85 |
86.19 |
89.37 |
Gay or Lesbian |
3.1 |
2.23 |
1.54 |
Bisexual |
1.8 |
1.52 |
1.29 |
Pansexual |
0.1 |
0.10 |
0.10 |
Asexual |
0.1 |
0.05 |
0.06 |
Queer |
0.0 |
0.06 |
0.03 |
Another sexual orientation |
0.2 |
0.31 |
0.16 |
Not answered |
9.7 |
14.54 |
7.45 |
Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Of residents aged 16 and over |
H&F (count) |
H&F (%) |
|---|---|---|
Gender identity the same as sex registered at birth |
141,488 |
91.5 |
Gender identity different from sex registered at birth but no specific identity given |
526 |
0.3 |
Trans woman |
214 |
0.1 |
Trans man |
211 |
0.1 |
Non-binary |
111 |
0.1 |
All other gender identities |
59 |
0.0 |
Total |
154,627 |
100% |
Keeping residents safe
We know how important feeling safe is to our residents and we want all residents and visitors to be able to live free from hatred and discrimination. Hate crime is a key priority of the Hammersmith & Fulham Community Safety Partnership.
Our Law Enforcement Team (LET) patrol the borough keeping residents safe and driving down anti-social behaviour. Our officers patrol dedicated wards getting to know communities and aim to build trust amongst all groups. Every Officer receives training on hate crime, and guidance on how they can support residents who have experienced hate crime.
H&F has launched a £4.5m CCTV investment programme to enhance, improve and upgrade our CCTV network. The scheme will see state-of-the-art upgrades to the borough's extensive camera network, with fully automated 360-degree cameras set to help improve coverage and, as a result, residents' safety.
Celebrating H&F
In 2023, we launched 'Celebrating H&F' to honour Hammersmith & Fulham's diversity and the people and places that have helped shape the borough. 'Black History 365' builds on events held during Black History Month to continue celebrating all year and to learn more about H&F's own Black history.
Annually, we hold a range of events and activities to mark and celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month, PRIDE Month, Disability History Month and International Day of Disabled People. We mark Windrush Day with numerous events to honour our British Caribbean communities and its contribution to our diverse culture.
We also celebrate Women's History Month each year. In 2024, we launched the Women's Trail to commemorate the contribution of women that have lived and worked in the borough.
Each year, Hammersmith & Fulham celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month with a range of events including a five-a-side football tournament 'Football vs homophobia' in partnership with the football clubs in borough to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression at all levels of football.
Annually, between 25 November and 10 December we mark 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence. The council and a host of local partners deliver a range of events each year to highlight our work to support women and change behaviours that lead to gender-based violence.
Each year we celebrate Inter Faith Week and various religious festivals in H&F to celebrate our different religious communities and strengthen our understanding of our different celebrations and traditions. In December 2023, a large Menorah was placed in Lyric Square to mark Hanukkah. We host an annual Christmas Day lunch for elderly and vulnerable residents in the borough who would otherwise be alone during the festive period.
In H&F, we are welcoming to refugee and asylum seekers. Our dedicated refugee team support refugees and asylum seekers in H&F and provide practical and emotional support. The team also delivers events as part of Refugee Week for refugees and asylum seekers and the wider community.
Our staff
Hammersmith & Fulham Council is committed to becoming an employer of choice and fostering greater inclusion. We are signed up to the Race at Work Charter and other equality and diversity and inclusion commitments, such as: Disability Confident, Armed Forces Covenant, Opening Doors Employers, Employers Initiative Against Domestic Abuse, UK Says No More (to end domestic abuse and sexual violence), Menopause Workplace Pledge,
Timewise and Age Friendly Employer. We continue to make strides to advance equity and inclusion in our workplace.
Our staff diversity networks include a Race Equality Forum, Women's Network, Early Careers Network (formerly Young Person's Network), Pride Network (formerly LGBTQIA+ Network), Carers Network and Disability Equity Network. These networks provide staff with a voice on issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion and host various community events across H&F.
Faith Forum
The H&F Faith Forum has been running for over 5 years. Meeting quarterly, the Forum aims to bring together different faiths to improve inter faith dialogue and understanding. The Forum offers an opportunity for representatives from different faith groups to discuss shared interests or concerns with the council.
We have over 25 members representing over 7 different faiths and beliefs. During the pandemic, the faith forum worked closely with the council to support and assist the vulnerable and elderly residents in H&F and ensure places of worship remained safe when operational.
The forum also engages with Wormwood Scrubs Prison's Chaplaincy team to understand the needs of the inmates and develop a partnership where members of the Faith Forum can support the prison.
In December 2023, members of the Faith Forum wrote to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to share their concerns about the ongoing war in Israel and Palestine.
Prevent Advisory Group
The Prevent Advisory Group (PAG) consists of faith, community, youth and women's organisations from across Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea.
The aim of the group is to provide a safe space for members to share concerns or issues impacting their communities. They provide feedback and advice on the local Prevent Delivery Plan and initiatives. They also assist in designing and disseminating key messages in an inclusive and supportive way.
Following the conflict in Israel and Palestine, the group has discussed the impact the conflict has had on local communities and has requested a meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss these concerns. The group also recently received training on tackling Antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Football clubs
H&F is in the unique position of having three English Football League teams in the borough - Chelsea Football Club, Fulham Football Club and Queen's Park Rangers. While action is being taken to tackle discrimination and hate within sport, in 2023 Police statistics showed that were 96 football related hates crimes reported in London.
There were 23 offences flagged as hate crimes at football clubs in H&F in 2023. In 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service defined a homophobic slur aimed at Chelsea players and staff to be a hate crime.
Transport
H&F is an extremely well-connected borough, with 17 tube stations including the transport hubs of Hammersmith Broadway and Shepherds Bush station.
Transport for London and the British Transport Police have developed campaigns to reduce hate crime and abuse on public transport, including the Bystander Awareness Campaign launched in 2023 which aims to increase the awareness of hate crime to all Londoners so that they are able to support anyone targeted.