At the University of Worcester we promote a safe and secure environment for all of our staff and students, we also offer additional services to help support students from the LGBTQ+ community.
The University has an LGBTQ+ staff network that offer training to all staff, providing advice and guidance on issues and concerns. This includes the use of broader reading and teaching materials, as well as support and guidance on how to use pronouns.
In addition, the Students' Union has a number of networks to provide support to students, such as the LGBTQ+ Student Network, who the LGBTQ+ staff network engage with on a frequent basis to help to improve the services that they offer.
The LGBTQ+ staff network has also introduced a staff “Allies” programme, in which staff can sign up and declare themselves an Ally. Those staff are then provided with a rainbow-coloured lanyard to wear, postcard, a pin badge and a digital badge for their emails to illustrate they are happy to be approached directly for support or guidance and making it easier for students to visibly identify an Ally.
Our online student systems have also been updated so that they display students' “known as” names (rather than their legal first name) as the default display for all class lists and registers. We recognise the importance of self-identification and the LGBTQ+ staff network is currently encouraging staff to request the use of pronouns at the start of the year, and to display their own pronouns in their email signatures.
Dr Jenny Hatley, Course Leader for Education Studies, has recently written an academic blog that discusses representation, inclusion and creating safety for the LGBTQ+ community in an educational environment.
In recognition of the University's work in this area, we were presented with the inaugural Times Higher Education Award for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Outside of the University, Worcester has many lgbtq+ community organisations which offer events and support to the local LGBTQ+ community. You can find out more on our LGBTQ+ page.
Strategic Plan
The University's Strategic Plan and Diversity and Equality Policy set out a clear commitment to provide equal opportunities for staff, and student members of its community, in that it will not discriminate directly or indirectly in the appointment, development and promotion of staff, and this expressly includes on the grounds of an individual's sexual orientation. It will do this through:
Equality Impact Assessment a way of checking that policies, procedures and practices don’t inadvertently disadvantage or discriminate against people across legally protected characteristics including sexual orientation. It enables positive and negative impact to be identified and addressed.
Initial/Harassment Advisors are members of staff who have been trained and appointed by the University to provide first line response for anyone who considers they may be experiencing harassment, and this includes any member of staff or student who feels they are being harassed or bullied because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. For more information go to: Initial Advisors
Legislation – by having due regard to our legal responsibilities including under both The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 and the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 which set out the ways in which it is illegal to discriminate on the ground of sexual orientation in the provision of goods and service, and the protection the law offers to employees and students in further and higher education.
Staff LGBT Network - the University’s Staff Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans group which is a social group and also provides feedback to the University’s Diversity and Equality Committee on equal opportunities in policies and procedures etc, to ensure they address issues and concerns of LGBT staff. Please contact lgbtstaff@worc.ac.uk for further information on the group.
Stonewall Membership the University as a Stonewall Diversity Champion works with this good practice forum for sexual orientation to promote diversity in the workplace. Stonewall has a free phone number - 08000 50 20 20 - to respond to questions callers have around gay, lesbian and bisexual issues, available Mon – Fri 0930 to 1730. Alternatively contact Stonewall’s Info Service at info@stonewall.org.uk The University will be making an application through the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2014, a national benchmarking exercise designed to identify how gay friendly organisations are.
Useful contacts:
Regional: Midlands LGBT Employees' Network Website - http://www.midlandlgbt.com/
Health contacts: Worcestershire Gay Men’s Health Project 01905 681751 (Lesbian & Gay Help, Advice, Support & Counselling) http://www.sexualhealth.org.uk/
Terrence Higgins Trust http://www.tht.org.uk/