Today (3 December) is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which raises awareness of the experiences of people living with disabilities.

Photo of seven members of our staff disability network stood smiling in front of a promotional banner, including Netork Co-Chair Francesca (fourth-from-left) with her guide dog.
Members of our staff Disability Network, including Francesca (fourth-from-left)

Our staff Disability Network and other colleagues have been working hard to get as many staff as possible to share if they have a disability or long-term condition.

Network Co-Chair Francesca (pictured fourth-from-left), shares more on why this helps us create a more supportive working environment:

“Creating a safe, open and inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable and confident to talk about disability has been a goal of our Disability Network since it began in 2019.

“Sharing information on disability or long-term conditions can be difficult colleagues for many reasons. Some may not feel confident and not want to talk about their disability, or they may feel that it might have a detrimental impact on their jobs or careers.

“However, there are benefits for both staff and the employer in building a better understanding of disability. For staff, it can help to prompt discussions with their manager about reasonable adjustments or other workplace support that they might require.

“For the trust, it helps us to build a more accurate picture of the diverse needs our workforce, which in turn helps to inform and shape future decisions that affect our staff.”