What is Inclusion Week?

National Inclusion Week, running from September 27th-October 3rd 2021, was created by Inclusive Employers who organise the campaign each year.

27 September, 2021

The week aims to raise awareness of inclusion in the workplace. Now in its ninth year, the 2021 theme for National Inclusion Week is #UnitedForInclusion.

It is about bringing people and organisations together to share learning and best practice so we can work together to reach our shared goal of making inclusion an everyday reality. 

Throughout this week, we will focus on different areas of inclusion and how we're progressing our inclusion agenda. 

To set the tone for the week, our Senior Leadership Team have told us what inclusion means to them.

Rob Thomas, Managing Director

"Put simply it means treating all people as individuals.  As an organisation we must work harder to ensure that our organisation better reflects and works on behalf of the wider communities that we serve."

Paula Ham, Director of Learning and Skills

"Inclusivity is about supporting everyone to access education, training, employment, recreation, and any service they need to fulfil their potential and live life to the full. This requires us to reflect community diversity in our workforce, to engage more closely with staff and communities to gain a true understanding of people’s differences and to tailor our practice and offer in response."

Lance Carver, Director of Social Services

"Inclusivity to me is about making all people feel valued. We need to understand our subconscious prejudices to consciously change how we interact and operate in order to ensure everyone feels that they have the same opportunity to advance and make an impact. I am also motivated by the belief that we need to understand the impact of privilege and the need to make positive adjustments for those less fortunate in order to live in a fairer more equitable society."

Miles Punter, Director of Environment and Housing 

"To me inclusivity is a way of thinking and behaving and it sets the work-place environment. It’s an acceptance that we are all different and in so many ways but that it is not those differences that define us, it’s our relationships, behaviours and how we treat each other."      

Tom Bowring, Head of Policy and Business Transformation 

"To me inclusivity means valuing everyone as an individual and embracing people’s unique contributions to our organisation and our lives. Being open to differences is really important to understand the perspectives we bring to our work and to making the right decisions that benefit our colleagues and residents. It’s not about treating everyone the same, but treating them as who they are, and challenging ourselves to remove barriers and prejudice."

 
Debbie Marles, Head of Legal Services / Monitoring Officer

"Inclusivity means to me ensuring that there is equity across service provision and access to the same, together with equity in employment opportunities so that so no one is excluded or restricted in accessing the same as a result of a disability or having a protected characteristic. As a result the Council has the opportunity to tap into a broad pool of talent which can inform and assist in shaping Council policy and decisions."

Carys Lord, Head of Finance / Section 151 Officer

"To me inclusivity in the work place means the workplace is one that values individual differences in the workforce, and makes everyone feel welcome and accepted. To achieve this it is also essential that the culture of the workplace does not isolate any employees based on their special requirements and needs or draw attention to them in any way."

Tracy Dickinson, Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development 

"When people feel value and accepted as a team member and part of the organisation to just ‘be’. Where we celebrate diversity and challenge to thrive as an organisation."

More information about National Inclusion Week and how to get involved is available via the Inclusive Employers website.

Throughout this week, we will focus on different areas of inclusion and how we're progressing our inclusion agenda. Look out for items on StaffNet every day this week as well as on our social media feeds.