Staff network groups

The experiences of under represented staff in the workplace can differ significantly from others. Our networks provide peer support and bring individuals with similar experiences together. Beyond this, the networks can play a significant role in organisational change and raise awareness of different issues. They can influence policy, bring in new ways of doing things and help us engage more effectively with our diverse communities.

We work alongside colleagues to promote gender equality across our organisation.

The group provides a forum for our employees to source, or provide, peer support, and share their experiences and ideas on how we can collectively enable improvements in the workplace, all underpinning successful delivery of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

The group provides an opportunity to raise awareness of, or discuss highlighted issues, and instigate change within the organisation as well as ensuring we have an inclusive approach through our foundation of policy, procedure and organisational culture.

To date the network has hosted events to recognise and celebrate International Days for both Men and Women, has supported the development and promotion of regional and national campaigns to enable the best health and wellbeing support in the workplace and generally aspires to work alongside our colleagues in creating a better place to work, where we all are passionate about embedding gender equality.

Our group covers disability, mental health, and neurodiversity. We aim to represent visible and non-visible disabilities.

The network gives a collective voice on issues relating to these areas and enables staff to share experiences, provide mutual support and inform future change and policy to ensure we enable an inclusive workplace.

Our Service Values underpin all aspects of the network including how we engage, collaborate, inform and share; with consideration of the Safety Plan Priorities at all times.

We provide a friendly and safe forum of support for employees who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.

We aim to provide support to people, and their families, whilst promoting best practice throughout the organisation.

FirePROUD is active in attending pride events throughout Hampshire & the Isle of Wight to support our LGBTQ+ communities and raise awareness of other important days within the LGBTQ+ calendar. We currently attend Southampton, Eastleigh, Portsmouth, and Ryde Prides.

Another important function of our group is to explode the “single story” aspect to our community. There is no one way to be a sexual or gender minority person. We are as diverse as humanity itself over centuries and that truth has to be driven home in how we present to the world – culturally, politically, artistically, and spiritually.

The group is active in celebrating religious events within our communities such as Vaisakhi, Eid, Diwali, Christmas, and Chinese New Year. The group consists of both operational and support staff who have a genuine interest in making a difference.

Joining our group is a great opportunity to influence and support employment strategies, policy development, procedures and practises in relation to equality of opportunity across all aspects of the service both operationally and within support functions.