Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB)

Developing diverse trustee boards: more than a seat at the table

Founder of Board Racial Diversity UK, Malcolm John shares practical tips on how your board can be more diverse and inclusive going forwards

Why diversity matters

The LGBTQ+ human rights activist Stuart Milk once said: “We are less when we don’t include everyone.”

This quote, like many thought-provoking ones I have shared across my previous blogs since launching the Action for Trustee Racial Diversity campaign in 2019 (now Board Racial Diversity UK) , aptly underpins this piece.

Rae Bell, Director of Community Building at Gloucester Community Building Collective, explores their approach to creating a culture with a genuine sense of belonging for everyone, regardless of age

At Gloucester Community Building Collective (GCBC), our ‘bring and share’ lunches happen regularly.

There is a homemade lasagne on the table, with a bowl of curry, salads, cakes, dumplings, homemade bread, fruit, and dishes whose names some of us are hearing for the first time. Someone is explaining why their grandmother always made this particular recipe for celebrations and someone else is persuading a colleague to try a flavour they’ve never tasted before.

In this article from Inclusive Employers, Courtney Wright explores the challenges and benefits of managing an age-diverse workforce, with top tips on how employers can succeed in creating a thriving intergenerational work culture

Age diversity in the workplace is something to be recognised and celebrated, but to do this it is important to understand the challenges that age diversity can present.

Having this understanding will create opportunities for workplaces to harness the benefits of different generations working together and create a foundation for an improved and inclusive workplace culture.

Read on to learn more about age diversity in the workplace from Courtney Wright, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant at Inclusive Employers.

Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) have recently tripled the size of their trustee board – and increased its diversity and experience. Susanna Morris, Volunteer and Participation Co-ordinator, explains how they achieved this

When I started working on our trustee recruitment, I’d not recruited to a board before, and if I’m honest, felt a little out of my depth! I was relatively new to my role, coming from a predominantly clinical and training background, so I approached the task from what I know - encouraging involvement and making individuals feel welcome.

Read on to hear how Susanna and colleagues successfully adapted their recruitment process to help you do the same.