LGBTQ+ listening exercise

The purpose of the social engagement working group is to organise regular activities to bring staff and students together, provide low-level social and peer support, share progress on the Action Plan, and listen to issues that affect our LGBTQ+ community.

Many of the actions that were raised in the Listening Exercise rely on better communication, and access to resources, information, and guidance, which can be partly met through providing dedicated LGBTQ+ web pages for staff and students.

LGBTQ+ web pages will host and signpost various resources and information from across the university including Rainbow Alliance, our LGBTQ+ student networks, guidance pages for trans students and staff, pronoun and active bystander guidance, information on LGBTQ+ faith groups, resources to help line managers support LGBTQ+ staff, and other relevant guidance.

They will help us to raise awareness and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, promote EDI training and resources for students and staff, and explain university systems and processes (for example, the process for providing all gender toilets, and linking to information about how the university manages Freedom of Speech events.

They will also explain how and where concerns and issues relevant to LGBTQ+ staff and students can be raised, and how students and staff can access support if they experience harassment, bullying, or hate incidents.

The purpose of the Inclusion and Involvement working group is to ensure that all staff and students from across the university, at whatever level, and from whatever department, service area, or cultural background, feel included in our LGBTQ+ community and the university as a whole.

To do this, we will raise awareness and understanding and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, and  explore mechanisms through which LGBTQ+ staff and students can raise issues and concerns.  

We will develop a greater range of LGBTQ+ staff profiles from across departments and at different levels of seniority to make Rainbow Alliance  more inclusive, and explore whether welcome events for LGB students, similar to other student welcome events, can be provided.

This working group will explore the potential provision of an internal scheme whereby staff and students can demonstrate they have undertaken training and development on LGBTQ+ issues and are able and willing to support other LGBTQ+ staff and students. This will help to meet some of the actions raised in the Listening Exercise in relation to providing EDI training for staff and students, raising competence, understanding, and awareness of  LGBTQ+ issues, and providing training and information for line managers on how to support LGBTQ+ staff.

These actions will help to raise the visibility and profile of LGBTQ+ issues and encourage all staff to be involved in supporting LGBTQ+ issues, at all levels of seniority, and across the University.

This working group will explore requests for specialist practitioners and officers that LGBTQ+ students and staff can approach (e.g. open door, student hub, HR), and better support and information for people affected by controversial freedom of speech events.

It will also consider the potential provision of peer support and buddying opportunities for staff and students who are not yet out and may not have joined relevant LGBTQ+ networks.