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Making your department more inclusive

24 August 2016

UCL has a diverse community of staff and students that makes UCL a dynamic and innovative place to work and study.

LGBT flag There may be occasions where managers need guidance or advice so that they are able to support diverse teams, for example, if a colleague is dealing with mental health issues, trying to balance their work and family life or worried about discussing their sexuality at work.

The HR Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team has developed a range of guidance documents for managers on a number of topics including supporting LGBTQ+ staff, staff with disabilities, or parents and carers. These guidance documents are available on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team website.

Please take some time to read these guidance documents and share them with colleagues in your departments.

If you have any questions, you can contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team by email: equalities@ucl.ac.uk.

UCL staff networks

We would like to ask managers and heads of department to promote UCL's range of staff networks. There are a range of networks open to all staff at UCL. These include:

  • Enable@UCL: open to any staff at UCL with disabilities and those with an interest in disability equality at UCL. It enables disabled staff to get to know each other, make professional alliances, offer peer support, share information and join in social events.
  • RaceMatters@UCL: a forum for networking, peer support, sharing ideas and articles of interest, forging scholarly connections and collaborations, organising formal and social events and positively influencing policy and practice on 'race' equality at UCL.  
  • Out@UCL: a social network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) staff at UCL to get to know each other and take part in social events.
  • Parents and Carers Together (PACT): a social network that aims to support UCL staff members who are balancing ongoing caring responsibilities with work. The network organises a range of networking and mutual support events along with training and workshops.
  • Astrea: a network for women in Professional Services. Astrea aims to empower women by building a network where women can learn from each other; where members can find mentors and role models; where they can talk about issues of common concern and where we can discuss what needs to change to reach 50/50 leadership. 
  • UCL Women: a network for female academic staff (postdoc and above). The network runs regular networking and social events, along with presentations from inspirational women from UCL and other institutions. 
  • Women's Writing Collective: an informal and friendly network to promote and support women's writing. We welcome all women and all types of writing (from academic to creative and everything in-between).

We strongly encourage managers to allow staff the time to attend network events and meetings, as these events can have a direct impact on career development and networking across the institution. 

More information on these networks can be found on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion website.

Show your support - become a friend of Out@UCL

Out@UCL is the network for LGBTQ+ staff (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, plus other marginalised sexual orientations and/or gender identities). The network arranges social networking meetings and awareness-raising events. 

Out@UCL wishes to create an inclusive environment where LGBTQ+ staff, students and visitors can be themselves, which includes feeling comfortable enough to be out. 

The network is doing this by asking people to become a friend of Out@UCL. We would like to strongly encourage line managers and heads of department to be a visible ally of LGBTQ+ staff and students. By becoming a friend of Out@UCL, you're agreeing to be an active ally, visibly displaying your support using our 'Friend of Out@UCL' stickers and badges. Your commitment will help to make UCL a safer, more supportive place to work and study.

Advice and guidance on being an LGBTQ+ ally can be found on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion website.

If you would like to be sent a 'Friend of Out@UCL' sticker, badge or email logo, please email equalities@ucl.ac.uk or visit the HR reception.  

If you would like to be more involved with Out@UCL, and meet with members of the network, please contact the co-chairs Fiona Addison (f.addison@ucl.ac.uk) or Sandy Kutty (s.kutty@ucl.ac.uk). You can also join the mailing list by emailing: out@ucl.ac.uk.

Nigel Waugh
Executive Director of UCL Human Resources