Stonewall

Stonewall is a leading national LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) organisation that promotes equality and diversity. We are involved in several Stonewall programmes.

Workplace equality index

This is an important benchmarking tool that is used by employers to assess their achievements and progress on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans) equality in the workplace.

Employers are ranked by demonstrating their work in 10 areas of employment policy and practice. This includes:

• policies and benefits
• employee engagement and network groups
• allies and role models
• senior leadership
• procurement
• community engagement
• clients, customers and service users

Employees are also asked to complete an anonymous survey about their experiences of diversity and inclusion within the workplace. Each employer then receives feedback along with their scores. This enables us to understand what we are doing well and the areas where we need to develop. 

Our ranking

In 2019, 445 employers completed the Index. We are was pleased to be ranked at 61, with employer of the year being awarded to Pinsent Masons LLP. In 2018 we were ranked at 101 and in 2017 we were 65. A jump of 40 places reflects the positive work that has been achieved in the organisation in the last 12 months.

Being ranked at 61 makes us the top Local Authority in Yorkshire and Humberside and the 4th highest Local Authority within the Index.    

We remain strongly committed to LGBT+ equality and inclusion in the workplace and we will be looking at our feedback from Stonewall to identify areas for improvement.

Diversity Champions

The Diversity Champions programme was launched by Stonewall in 2001. It is a forum in which employers can work with Stonewall to promote diversity in the workplace. As a member of the programme, we have committed to working with Stonewall to improve our workplace for our LGBT staff.

Being a member of the Diversity Champions programme gives us access to one-to-one advice from Stonewall’s Workplace team and networking with hundreds of high profile employers.

Education Equality Index

Stonewall’s Education Equality Index is about celebrating difference, preventing and tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools and supporting LGBT young people in their local community.

We are proud that for the sixth year running we have been in the top 10 of Stonewall’s Education Equality Index 2016. We are ninth place overall and Stonewall singled out praise on mental health and social support being provided to vulnerable groups, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans students.

Every 2 years we survey schools to evaluate their progress in tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying and work to develop city-wide guidance on supporting trans children and young people.

Our staff, as well as staff across schools and our partners, continue to support our LGBT young people in the city as we know that they are still disproportionately likely to experience bullying and abuse. We know that too often LGBT young people lack spaces where they feel able to be themselves.

Education Champions

As part of Stonewall’s Education Champions programme, we work with other local authorities and Stonewall to establish ways in which we can address homophobic bullying in schools and promote a safe and inclusive learning environment for all young people.

More than a quarter of all local authorities in England and more than one third of the London boroughs are already members of the programme.