At Worcester Students' Union, we are committed to equality of opportunity and to promoting a positive and inclusive culture, in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect. This applies to our roles as an employer, a representative and campaigning body, and as a service provider.
We are committed to the elimination of all forms of discrimination and harassment within our organisation, both in relation to our members and guests and in the provision of services.
You can read our Anti-Racism Statement in full HERE
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Following the death of George Floyd and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Union began of process of self-reflection, and worked with the University to do the same. We established an internal EDI Working Group in 2020/21, chaired by the President, with Terms of Reference and representation from across the organisation. We are very pleased with the progress made by our internal EDI Working Group this year which has drawn up an action plan of the priorities for 2022/23, as well as fulfilling our commitment to review and update our EDI Policy annually.
Some of the things achieved/worked on by the group throughout the year:
• Leadership in Race Equity training by the Student Engagement Manager and Chief Executive (who is now of on a group of Union CEOs nationally who are championing the race equity agenda)
• Ensuring race equity is a standard item on SMT meeting agendas and is a key consideration in our recruitment practices
• Reviewing the names and roles of our student committee positions to increase accessible and remove terminology that might be a barrier for students
• Working with the University on gender-neutral facility provision
• Black History and LGBTQ+ History activities
• Reviewing and improving accessibility of the advice service
• Implementing more accessible marketing and communications
• Reviewing the demographic data of members of our sports clubs and societies
• Ensuring the group's interface with the Welfare and Inclusion Council
• TeamWorc UNITED (sports club inclusive practices)
• Removing financial barriers to student engagement in sport
• Diversity of events in the Hangar
• Elections - candidate and voter demographics and engagement of different student cohorts
• Creating an SU Cultural and Wellbeing Calendar
• Developing an Anti-Racist Statement for the Union
• Work around religious observance and mitigating circumstances (addressing a lack of University policy)
• EDI training for student committee members and staff
• How to create an autism friendly SU and campus
• Change of the name BAME Network to REN (Race Equity Network)
The action plan for 2022/23 to date focusses on:
• Co-producing and publishing the anti-racist statement for the organisation (in consultation with students)
• Working with the University on recommendations on how to create an autism friendly campus
• Diversifying our core and student staff team
• Race equity in sport
• LGBTQ+ representation in sport
• Diverse, cultural, and accessible events in the Hangar
• Accessible communications to our members
• Accessibility of the Help and Advice Service
• Working with the University to create a Religious Observance Policy
• Diversifying and decolonising the academic curriculum
• EDI training for student committee members, Reps, and staff
• Increasing the number of candidates in our Elections from ethnic minority groups
• Raising awareness around the use of pronouns
Utilising external expertise on initiatives and practices, recognising when that does not exist within the organisation
The President continues to sit on the University's EDI Committee, which was created following the work of the Union President and Chief Executive in 2020, with the then Pro Vice Chancellor Students and the Director of Access and Inclusion, in drawing up a paper on race equity, of which the Union is very proud.
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You can read our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy in full HERE.
You can read our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group Terms of Reference in full HERE.
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The University of Worcester is committed to creating an environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimisation, where all members of thecommunity are treated with respect and dignity.
Click here to visit the University website and view their EDI Policy Statement, EDI Framework, and EDI Committee Terms of Reference.