DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
#BRAVENOTPERFECT
Cancer has a devastating impact on the lives of children and young people, from all backgrounds, and all walks of life. We operate within a system of structural inequity, a system that provides advantages for some members and disadvantages for others. We cannot make sure that no family faces cancer alone if we aren’t doing our part to address the inequity that exists in our health systems and within our own organisation.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer it threatens everything, for them and their family. At a time when they should be busy being children, enjoying their rollercoaster teenage years or finding their feet at uni, life becomes full of fear. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, of overwhelming money worries, mental health stretched to breaking point, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.
The next step for Young Lives, following ‘Brave not Perfect’, must build on the journey so far, reflecting the organisational strategic commitment to dismantling inequity, and focusing on action.
BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE
Over the last few years addressing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging has been a major concern for the organisation. We were at the early stages of developing our approach to addressing DEIB, and had taken some steps toward doing so. On 2nd June 2020, following the death of George Floyd in police custody in May, along with millions of other individuals and organisations, we posted a black square on our Instagram account with the hashtag #BlackoutTuesday. It was a way of showing our support to taking action against racism and police brutality.
We knew it was not enough and this hit us even more when service user Enkay contacted us directly. She shared her concerns that the post was tokenistic and called us out for the lack of representation for young people on our social media platforms. We knew we had to increase the pace at which we were addressing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and make bigger and bolder choices. Enkay was brave in taking the steps to call us out, and has been a key part of our DEIB journey toward taking a brave and powerful leap into changing our culture for good.
MAKING REAL CHANGES
Since our first conversation with Enkay back in spring 2020, we have taken intentional steps towards building a culture that embraces diversity, priorities equity, values inclusion and fosters a sense of belonging. We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re proud of the direction we’re heading.
- We appointed a Head of DEIB to steward our organisational approach to DEIB
- Our Executive Leadership team went on a DEIB development journey that has helped them transition into becoming active sponsors of DEIB
- We recruited a Trustee with DEIB experience, so that we have DEIB expertise at a governance level
- We launched the Brave Space and Knowledge Hour, monthly one-hour sessions dedicated to DEIB discussions
- We published our DEIB Statement of Intent internally and externally, to demonstrate our commitment and hold ourselves accountable for change
- We created a DEIB steering group made up of staff, volunteers, young people and parents to help us create our DEIB strategy.
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
We have a clear understanding of our strategic priorities, commitments and DEIB enablers. These are organisational priorities and commitments, they span across all of our business areas and we’re all responsible for bringing them to fruition. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is everyone’s business and everyone’s responsibility.
DEIB in the workforce
We will build a workforce that is representative of the people and communities we serve and develop a culture where everyone is able to be themselves, and supported to be their best.
DEIB as a service provider
We will reach more of the people who need us by building stronger relationships with minoritised communities, better understanding their experiences and centering their voices in our decision-making.
DEIB in the wider system
We will speak bravely and loudly on systemic inequalities, amplifying the voices of minoritised communities, collaborating with partners in new and radical ways to promote health and social justice, so that the system works better for all children and young people and parents.