Equality Champions
Practical Equality Champions training for organisations. Develop confident EDI advocates who promote inclusion, support colleagues and influence positive cultural change.
Practical Equality Champions training for organisations. Develop confident EDI advocates who promote inclusion, support colleagues and influence positive cultural change.
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.
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.
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.
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 the organisation.
However, simply giving somebody the title of Equality Champion does not automatically give them the confidence or clarity to perform the role effectively.
This course helps delegates understand what being an Equality Champion means in practice, what they can contribute, how they can influence others and where the boundaries of the role should lie.
The Equality Champion role can mean different things in different organisations. This course can support organisations that are establishing a Champion network for the first time as well as those that already have Champions and want to strengthen or formalise the role.
You are introducing Equality or EDI Champions and want staff to understand the purpose, expectations and boundaries of the role.
You already have Champions and want to increase their knowledge, confidence and ability to contribute effectively.
The course is designed primarily for employees who are Equality, Diversity or EDI Champions, or who are preparing to take on a Champion role.
It can also be useful for:
No previous experience as an Equality Champion is required.
Equality Champions can help keep equality, diversity and inclusion visible within everyday organisational life. Their role is not to take sole responsibility for equality, but to 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 the 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.
An effective Equality Champion needs to understand not only what they can do, but also what they should not be expected to do.
Champions can listen, encourage, signpost, raise awareness and promote good practice. However, 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 protect the Champion, the colleague seeking support and the organisation.
Champions do not need to be EDI experts, but they do 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 rather than unnecessarily escalating situations.
Remain open to learning, recognise personal limitations and reflect on how your own assumptions and experiences may influence your perspective.
Champions do not need to become legal experts, but they should have sufficient understanding of equality law to recognise important issues and know when specialist advice or organisational procedures may be required.
The course provides a practical overview of the Equality Act 2010 and explores how the legislation relates to the Champion role.
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 practical ways to respond according to 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 Champions can respond appropriately without taking responsibility for matters outside their role.
Equality Champions can contribute to cultural change not only by responding when something goes wrong, but by helping make inclusion part of everyday workplace conversations.
Promote initiatives, resources, policies and conversations that help keep equality and inclusion visible throughout the year.
Help organisations hear recurring themes, barriers and experiences while respecting confidentiality and agreed reporting arrangements.
Demonstrate the curiosity, respect, openness and inclusive behaviour that the organisation wants to encourage more widely.
Training individual Champions is only one part of developing an effective network. Champions are more likely to make a meaningful contribution when the organisation gives the role clarity, support and opportunities to influence.
By the end of the course, delegates should be better able to:
Equality Champion networks vary considerably between organisations. Some Champions focus primarily on awareness and communication, while others have a broader role in staff engagement, policy development, employee networks or organisational EDI initiatives.
We can tailor the course around the role you want your Champions to perform and incorporate your organisation's EDI priorities, policies, reporting arrangements and support structures.
We can use the training to help your new Champions develop a shared understanding of their purpose, responsibilities and boundaries, giving the network a clearer and more consistent starting point.
All our in-house courses are tailored to ensure the training reflects your organisation's goals and priorities.
The course can be delivered face to face or online via Zoom or Teams.
Equality Champions training can be delivered as a half-day or full-day course, depending on the level of detail, discussion and practical activity required.
Please note: the half-day rate is not always available for face-to-face sessions.
Whether you are creating an Equality Champions network for the first time or developing an existing group, we can tailor the training around the role you want your Champions to perform and the culture you want them to help create.
Discuss Your 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.