Diversity and equality networks

Co-led by Ruvi Ziegler and Tahlia-Rose Virdee, we work closely with the Dean for Diversity and Inclusion and the Diversity and Inclusion Advisor.

We host a series of annual events for colleagues who identify as LGBTQIA+ and are involved in events for non-LGBTQIA+ colleagues which aim to raise awareness of issues affecting the community. We are inclusive of people with multiple identities and work with other staff diversity networks to collaborate on areas such as gender, race and disability.

We also work with the Harassment Peer Support Network to provide support and advice to staff who experience homophobic, biphobic or transphobic incidents. We wish to encourage a working environment where colleagues and PGR students can feel safe and confident to be themselves and perform to the best of their ability within the organisation. If you want to speak to a network member about a confidential issue please contact the network co-chairs.

Our activities contribute to Reading's ambition to embed equality and diversity across the University, and we welcome suggestions for events and activities at any time. We are fully supported by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Parveen Yaqoob who is the University's Champion for sexual orientation and gender identity. 

To learn more about the LGBTQIA+ Network, please read our Terms of Reference. If you would like to join the network, have any ideas or enquiries, then please contact network co-chairs Ruvi Ziegler or Tahlia Virdee.

If you could like to become an LGBTQIA+ Ally or would like to seek advice, then please contact our Lead Ally, Michael Kilmister .

You can also keep in touch with us by:

• Following the Microsoft Teams group link
• Signing up to our mailing list
• Liking us on Facebook
• Following us on Twitter
• Reading and bookmarking our blog

Contact the LGBTQIA+ Network 

Parent and Family Network

We are a staff network set up to support, represent and foster community among colleagues with familial and other caring responsibilities for children and young people, adults or elderly family members. We advocate for staff across the University and also welcome PHD students to be included in our supportive network by providing a social forum, termly meetings and talks on a range of subjects. We welcome any and all to join and be part of our community both online and in person. Parenting and caring for people of all ages can be challenging (albeit it very rewarding too) so we are here to support you and advocate as well as signpost for you as best we can.  

The Network is currently co-chaired by Sarah Jewell and Jeevan Kang. You can find out more about our network and the different sub groups on our webpage, or by emailing. We keep in touch through our online community on MS Team, offering each other informal peer support and information to help us, as parents and carers, manage work and family life. Join our Parent and Family Network | General | Microsoft Teams. 

Staff Disability+ Network

Launched in 2017, the Staff Disability+ Network is an inclusive support network for all staff with a range of disabilities, impairments and / or mental health conditions, as well as non-disabled staff with an interest in disability issues.

The core principle of the network is one of equality. The network aims to promote an increased influence within the University of Reading, to make our community more inclusive to all staff members. We aim to give disabled colleagues a voice in the University, to provide a consultation group on matters such as management, HR and building works, to inspire culture change and raise awareness, and to develop a network of allies across the University.

The Staff Disability+ Network, co-chaired by Yota Dimitriadi (0118 378 2688), work closely with the Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Professor Allán Laville. You can join the Disability+ Staff Network by following the Microsoft Teams group link.

Women@Reading Network

The Women@Reading staff network champions issues of gender equality across the University.

Working with University leadership the Network aims to:

• hold the University to account for its gender objectives by championing gender parity amongst academic and professional service staff, including the professoriate and in leadership role
• champion and create equal gender representation on decision making Committees
• champion and create gender equality of opportunity and pay in all areas and types of roles at the University
• provide a supportive space for women to engage with one another
• support women's career progression and development through targeted communications and programmes
• develop and support a network of Gender Allies to work with the Network in championing and promoting gender equality across the University and speaking up when they witness discriminatory behaviour or language
• contribute to creating a diverse and inclusive University

Our Co-Chairs are Tharindu Liyanagunawardena, Digital Accessibility Officer (DTS) and tbc (we currently have a vacancy), who are supported by an active Steering group. Collectively, they build awareness of and champion topics of interest for members and staff more widely, organise events and activities, often in collaboration with other EDI Networks where there are topics of shared interest, providing a voice for all women working at the University.

The Chair has regular access to University leadership to raise topics of interest affecting Network members and to propose action primarily via the Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, the University Equality and Diversity Board, the University's Athena Swan Implementation Group and the UEB Sex Equality Champion.

All Women@Reading events are open to all staff. They are advertised on the Staff Portal and in In Brief, and are bookable on UoR Learn.

If you are interested in joining the Network, please sign up through Microsoft Teams.

For general enquiries about the Network and/or if you would like to support our work as an Ally, please contact us at womensnetwork@reading.ac.uk so we can respond to your query and/or share some resources with you to get you started on your Gender Ally journey.

Women’s Health Café - facilitated by the Women@Reading Network

Further to Network members feedback and looking at other initiatives/models successfully implemented in many other organisations, the aim of the café is to create a space for people to come together to talk, share stories and support each other. Facilitated by network members, this will also help us to better understand the issues that people are facing and help us to signpost them for further support to meet their needs.

The café is primarily aimed at women, however other members of the University community are also welcome to come along to develop their awareness of women’s health topics, how they may impact women in the workplace and to enable the café community to be there for those who may be supporting a partner, family member, friend and/or work colleague with a particular health-related event. We may have several groups who may want to discuss potentially different things relating to women’s health – it is up to those who attend, there is no set agenda!

There will be 3 key points to remember for those participating in the cafes:

1. Listen when people are talking
2. Have respect for others’ views, and
3. Treat the conversations and information shared as confidential

The café will take place on the following basis, at the following dates, this academic year (September 2023 – August 2024):

12:00pm to 1:30pm, Library Café, Whiteknights Campus

• Tuesday 12 September 
• Wednesday 18 October (World Menopause Day)
• Thursday 16 November
• Tuesday 12 December
• Thursday 11 January
• Wednesday 21 February
• Tuesday 12 March
• Wednesday 24 April
• Thursday 16 May
• Thursday 13 June
• Wednesday 3 July

In time, it is hoped that the café will also extend to other University campuses and formats (such as an online café for colleagues who may not be able to meet in person).

We are pleased to confirm that the Network will continue to subsidise a 50% discount on your first drink (a voucher will be given to you when you arrive at the café for you to use to purchase a drink).

There is more information and some FAQs about the cafes on our Women’s Health channel on the Network Teams.

So, we hope to see you at the café over the year and if anyone is interested in helping to facilitate a café and/or set up a café online, at London Road or Greenlands campuses then please email the Women@Reading Network so we can come back to you to discuss how we can make that happen!

Diversity and Inclusion Professional Development Networks

Women's Springboard Network

The Women's Springboard Network was set up in November 2019 by Cohort 12, who attended the Women's Springboard Programme from April-July 2019. We were keen to maintain the momentum of the programme and started meeting on a termly basis to continue our learning and to network with each other.

 

Since then, the membership of our Network has grown constantly, currently standing at 150 women from across the University. We welcome women of all ages and backgrounds, who have undertaken the Springboard Programme, and also those who wish to apply in the future.

 

The Network aims to give an opportunity for Members to:

 

We have been fortunate to receive Diversity and Inclusion funding to help support our programme of activities. This has enabled us to invite external coaches to provide interactive sessions on topics such as Developing a Personal Brand, Taming your Inner Critic and Influencing with Power and Confidence. Chris Cross, the inspirational Springboard Programme coach, has also led half day annual refresher workshops so we can revisit the Springboard aims whilst reconnecting with fellow Springboarders.  

 

Our meetings have also focused on areas such as Body Language, Presentation Skills and Developing Resilience with the help of specialist input from the UoR People Development Team.  

 

We collaborate with the other Staff Networks to provide shared events, for example, we have teamed up with colleagues in the Women@Reading Network to celebrate  International Women’s Day.

 

The Women's Springboard Network, is facilitated by Julie Farwell, supported by Tracy McAuley and Rachel Franklin. For more information and to join the group, please contact Springboardnetwork@reading.ac.uk or sign up via the Women’s Springboard Network Team.