Equality Champions Training Open Course
Equality Champions can play an important role in creating fair, respectful and inclusive workplaces. This practical course develops the knowledge, confidence and skills Champions need to raise awareness, support colleagues, model inclusive behaviour and contribute to positive cultural change.
Open courses are public Equality and Diversity UK training dates that anyone can book onto, ideal when you only need training for one or two people.
In‑house courses are private sessions delivered exclusively for a group of people from your organisation, on a date that suits you, with the option to tailor the content to your staff and setting.
Equality Champions, sometimes known as Equality, Diversity and Inclusion or EDI Champions, help organisations turn their commitment to equality and inclusion into everyday practice.
Champions can raise awareness, encourage conversations, promote good practice, support colleagues and provide an important link between employees and those responsible for equality and inclusion within their organisation.
However, becoming an Equality Champion can also raise questions. What exactly is the Champion responsible for? How should they respond when somebody raises a concern? When should they challenge something themselves, and when should they seek support or refer the issue elsewhere?
This open course provides a practical introduction to the Champion role and helps delegates develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to contribute effectively within their own organisations.
The Equality Champion role can mean different things in different organisations. This course is suitable whether you are preparing to become a Champion or are already undertaking the role and want to develop your confidence and understanding.
Develop a clear understanding of what being an Equality Champion involves and build confidence before taking on the role.
Strengthen your knowledge and practical skills and reflect on how you can make the Champion role more effective.
The course is particularly suitable for:
No previous experience as an Equality Champion is required. The course is designed to be accessible to people who are new to the role while also providing useful reflection and practical development for existing Champions.
Equality Champions can help keep equality, diversity and inclusion visible within everyday organisational life. The role is not about taking sole responsibility for equality. Instead, Champions use their position and influence to encourage inclusive practice and help colleagues engage with EDI.
Help colleagues understand equality, diversity and inclusion and promote relevant policies, initiatives and good practice.
Create opportunities for constructive conversations and encourage colleagues to raise equality-related questions and concerns.
Develop confidence to challenge inappropriate language, assumptions, discrimination, harassment or exclusion constructively.
Demonstrate respectful and inclusive behaviour and encourage others to consider the impact of their everyday actions and decisions.
Being approachable and willing to support colleagues is an important part of the Champion role. Equally important is understanding where that role ends.
Champions can listen, encourage, signpost, raise awareness and promote good practice. They should not be expected to become investigators, counsellors, legal advisers or substitutes for managers, HR professionals or formal organisational procedures.
Knowing when to signpost or seek support is part of being an effective Champion. Clear boundaries help Champions provide appropriate support while protecting both themselves and the colleagues who approach them.
Champions do not need to be EDI experts. They do, however, need interpersonal skills that help them communicate effectively, build trust and respond appropriately when equality-related issues arise.
Listen carefully to people's experiences without immediately making assumptions, dismissing concerns or trying to solve the situation.
Communicate EDI messages clearly and respectfully and adapt conversations for different colleagues, roles and situations.
Approach concerns fairly, recognise different perspectives and avoid reaching conclusions without sufficient information.
Work within organisational policies, maintain appropriate boundaries and understand responsibilities around sensitive information.
Challenge inappropriate language, assumptions and behaviour in ways that encourage reflection and constructive dialogue.
Remain open to learning, recognise personal limitations and reflect on how your own assumptions and experiences may influence your perspective.
Equality Champions do not need to become legal experts, but an effective Champion should have a practical understanding of the key principles of equality law.
The course introduces relevant aspects of the Equality Act 2010 and helps delegates recognise when an equality-related issue may need to be referred to somebody with specialist responsibility.
Understand the nine protected characteristics and recognise that people's experiences can also be shaped by the interaction of different identities and circumstances.
Develop awareness of key forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and how equality-related concerns may arise at work.
Recognise when an issue should be referred to HR, management, an EDI lead or another appropriate organisational process.
Equality Champions may encounter inappropriate comments, stereotypes, assumptions or behaviours. Speaking up can be important, but challenge does not always need to be confrontational.
Delegates explore different ways of responding depending on the situation, their role and what is appropriate.
ASK A QUESTION
A simple question can encourage somebody to reflect on a comment or assumption without immediately creating confrontation.
NAME THE CONCERN
Drawing attention to potential impact can create an opportunity for reflection and a more constructive conversation.
KNOW WHEN TO ESCALATE
Some concerns require formal action rather than informal challenge. Champions need to understand the appropriate organisational route.
Champions may become people that colleagues approach when they have a question, want to discuss an experience or are unsure where to seek support.
The course explores how to respond appropriately without taking responsibility for matters outside the Champion role.
The Champion role is not only about responding when something goes wrong. Champions can also help make equality and inclusion part of ordinary workplace conversations.
Promote initiatives, resources, policies and conversations that help keep equality and inclusion visible throughout the year.
Recognise recurring themes, barriers and experiences and understand how these can be raised appropriately within the organisation.
Demonstrate the curiosity, respect, openness and inclusive behaviour that Champions want to encourage more widely.
Equality Champions are most effective when they are connected to the organisation's wider equality work rather than operating in isolation.
Delegates consider how they can work constructively with EDI leads, HR teams, managers, staff networks and other Champions while remaining clear about their own responsibilities.
By the end of the course, delegates should be better able to:
The course is delivered as a one-day interactive workshop using a mixture of trainer input, discussion, practical activities and opportunities for delegates to explore situations they may encounter as Equality Champions.
Open Courses are delivered live online via Zoom.
The course runs from 10.00 am to 3.30 pm.
We charge £395 per delegate.
If your organisation is establishing an Equality Champions network or wants to develop an existing group, our in-house course can be tailored around your Champion role, EDI priorities, policies and organisational support arrangements.
View In-House Equality Champions TrainingOver 25 years' experience delivering equality, diversity and inclusion training, consultancy and professional development.
Enter your email address and we'll send full details.