Equality and diversity

We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We strive to prevent discrimination in our services, in our groups and in our workplaces so that everyone feels welcome and at ease.

Diversity is also important at Rethink Mental Illness; we appreciate difference through inclusiveness. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world and the needs of the people we’re working with. By including everyone our organisation is a better place and we can provide better services.

As an employer, we understand the importance of diversity and difference and we aim to be a fully inclusive organisation. We draw on the experiences and expertise of our staff to help shape and enrich our practices and services.

Equality and diversity are fundamental to our core beliefs and values. That’s why we welcome people from all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, socio-economic classes, religions, disabilities and ages in everything we do.

From delivering mental health services, to campaigning for fairer treatment and equal rights, we aim to include the voices of people of from all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, socio-economic classes, religions, disabilities and ages in our work.

How do we do this?

• By challenging the stigma and discrimination that people living with mental illness face.
  
  
• By including the views of people living with mental illness and their carers in our campaigns, communications, and service provision.
  
  
• By attracting and supporting a diverse work force that represent the communities that we work with.
  
  
• By providing our staff with comprehensive training so that they can support a diverse range of people.
  
  
• By promoting activities that encourage diversity within the charity, for example celebrating pride month and International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
  
  
• By regularly reviewing the knowledge and skills of our staff and updating our diversity policies and practises so they best match the diverse range of people who use our services and the wider community.
  
  
• By being open and thoughtful when we talk to others and encouraging everyone to deal with complex issues with courage, skill, and grace.
  
  
• By encouraging openness and allowing staff to bring their authentic self to the workplace and equip them with the skills and tools needed in their day-to-day roles.

We support diversity amongst our membership, people who use our services, staff and carers. We have Investors in People, A Mindful Employer and Disability Confident Employer accreditations which recognises our efforts to promote staff and service initiatives that meet the needs of all members of society.

Becoming an anti-rascist organisation

Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, we made a firm commitment to become a truly anti-racist organisation.

We are at the start of our journey but have already adapted several initiatives which include

• We added Equity to the core values that underpin our work.
• We are committed to diversifying our staff at a senior management level
• We have created new roles with the specific aim of including the voices of marginalised communities in our workforce, in our campaigns and in our services.
• We have commissioned an extensive programme of work with an independent consultancy that works with organisations to assist them in becoming anti-racist.

Over the coming months we will also be working on the appointment of our people panel, a review of our recruitment and internal people processes and development of our management and leadership offering.