Posted Thursday 20 May 2021
Kingston University is proud to announce it has joined Stonewall's Diversity Champions Programme, a scheme that works with institutions to create inclusive and accepting cultures.
Stonewall is Europe's largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBTQ+) charity and joining the programme is the result of close collaboration with the University's LGBTQ+ Staff Network. It marks a visible and lasting commitment to further the Network's and University's joint aims of ensuring that all LGBTQ+ people at Kingston can be their authentic selves - in the workplace, in education and beyond.
Yvalia Febrer, Chair of the LGBTQ+ Staff Network said: "I am thrilled that Kingston has joined Stonewall's Diversity Champions Programme. This is part of a bigger picture of equity and diversity at the University, and I look forward to the progress we will make on this journey."
Stonewall's Diversity Champions Programme supports employers in ensuring they have an inclusive and accepting culture and equal and inspiring environments for LGBTQ+ people. It helps employers create a structured path to developing and embedding inclusive practices across the entire organisation, while harnessing and celebrating the huge value LGBTQ+ people bring to the organisation.
It will also facilitate collaborating with the Staff Network on a potential future submission to the Workplace Equality Index (WEI), which ranks a large number of private and public organisation on their LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.
Emily Boynton is the University's HR Director and Senior Leadership Team Lead for LGBTQ+ issues. She said: "I am delighted we have joined Stonewall's Diversity Champions Programme, which demonstrates our commitment to supporting lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff in the workplace.
"Having worked with Stonewall in the past, I know this will give us access to best practice advice and support to help us to become a more inclusive and welcoming place to work and study."
Through the programme the University can access resources, events and activities that enables it to recognise where it's doing well, where it can improve, and to further empower Kingston to make strides in LGBTQ+ inclusion and EDI more broadly.