In the EDI spotlight videos, leaders and staff from City Lit, Colchester Institute, Hopwood Hall College and Walsall College share their experiences of thinking deeply about EDI, planning and taking strong action. They focus on the following strategic topics: Getting started, Leading EDI, Doing things the right way, Creating inclusive spaces and Making sustainable change. Other videos focus on the following aspects of EDI: Allyship, Intersectionality and Unconscious bias.
It is important to note that the videos are not necessarily explainers but provide ideas on how to take EDI work forward. They can be used in staff training to provide context, share stories from the sector and motivate people to take part in EDI development work. We are indebted to all the people who spoke so openly and generously about their work and everyone who took part is introduced as they appear in the videos.
Allyship
Allyship is central to an inclusive culture. Hear from people who have needed and appreciated allies in their workplace. Others explain how to become allies for their peers, for example, through participation in EDI groups. We also hear about allyship training and the importance of building on lived experiences to help people learn about other people’s lives and experiences.
Create Inclusive Spaces
Hear about why it matters to create safe, inclusive spaces and how to do this in practical ways. The speakers explore the importance of learning from people with lived experiences within such spaces, and how those inclusive spaces can influence colleges/organisations, as well as wider community life.
Doing Things the Right Way
EDI work needs to be done in the right way to be effective. Hear about how to do this values-based work through practical, inclusive approaches. We learn about how to ensure people in minority groups can lead change alongside their allies. Critically, we also hear about what to do if things go wrong and the importance of taking a tolerant approach to EDI issues.
EDI Leadership
EDI leadership is not a simple process, but is necessarily complex. We hear how it requires careful consideration of development processes, like reporting and oversight, in order to empower people and help them be accountable for EDI work. We also learn how leaders need to make policies inclusive, as well as processes, and how it is critical to nurture trust in what leaders are trying to do.
Getting Started
It can be hard to know how to get started on EDI work. Hear some practical strategies to do this, in terms of systems/infrastructure, as well as how to bring people along with you. We hear from people who have drawn on their lived experiences and interests to initiate EDI development work. We’re also invited to think about how important it is to take a ‘whole organisation approach’. Finally, we hear about the impact that EDI training can have on people and how the work is a journey that does not end.
Intersectionality
‘Intersectionality’ means we all have different aspects to our identities and this can sometimes ‘stack up’ to create more exclusion and prejudice (e.g. black women facing racism and misogyny, or ‘misogynoir’). Hear stories of how people’s intersectionality has affected their lives and what FE and Skills leaders can do to address intersecting issues, such as race, gender and sexuality.
Making Sustainable Change
It is important that EDI work is effective in changing people’s attitudes and behaviours in the long term. We hear the significance of communicating the outcomes of EDI work so people can appreciate and build on this. We also see that whole organisation approaches can have a sustainable impact on people in their communities, inside and outside their college/organisation’s walls.
Unconscious Bias
‘Deeper Thinking, Stronger Action’ invites you to first look at yourself in order to effect change. Understanding our unconscious biases are key to this. We hear how FE and Skills teams are doing this and seeing changes in their own and others people’s attitudes and practices. Leading from this, we hear how people are taking strong action to develop more inclusive college/organisational communities.