Our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing

At the British Red Cross, equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI) and wellbeing are important to us. 

We aim to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and supported. This helps our staff and volunteers be their best, so they can support others with a wide range of needs in different situations.

Our commitment guides how we respond to crises, in line with our Fundamental Principles: impartiality, neutrality, universality and compassion. It also reflects our core values of being dynamic, courageous, compassionate and inclusive.

By staying true to this commitment, we strengthen our organisation and improve how we deliver our mission, now and in the future.

Our Aims

We aim to be more inclusive, diverse and equitable, making sure our support is impartial, neutral and universal.

Our Vision for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We want to be a safe and inclusive organisation that actively removes barriers, stops discrimination and creates equity. Our current vision includes:

• Learning, understanding and acting to build a safe and inclusive environment.
• Growing a diverse workforce with different skills and experiences at every level.
• Making equity part of everything we do and removing barriers to participation.

Our EDI strategy explains how we will achieve this. It is guided by co-production, lived experience, power sharing and our values.

We are focusing on three priority actions:

• Fair Recruitment and Growth: Making sure recruitment and career development are fair for underrepresented groups.
• Dignity and Respect for All: Creating a culture where everyone is treated with fairness and respect.
• Being Anti-Racist: Tackling unequal outcomes and access to build an anti-racist organisation.

These actions aim to make improvements that benefit the most people.

We are also setting wellbeing priorities, which will help shape a refreshed EDI and Wellbeing Strategy in 2025. You can read our current strategy below.

Download an overview of our strategy (PDF)

What do we mean by equity, diversity and inclusion and wellbeing

Equity means understanding that people have different advantages and barriers, and working to make things fair for everyone.

Diversity is about all the ways people are different — like background, experiences, and identity.

Inclusion means welcoming those differences and making sure everyone feels valued and able to succeed.

Wellbeing is about our emotional, mental and physical health. It can be affected by things like work, life, and society. Barriers such as discrimination, poverty and exclusion can harm wellbeing and lead to stress, burnout or poor mental health.

Our equity, diversity and inclusion policy  

Our EDI policy shows we’re committed to being a place where everyone can grow and succeed, no matter who they are. It also helps people understand what they’re responsible for and where to get support if they need it.

Download our equity, diversity and inclusion policy (PDF)

Our EDI procedure explains our approach to using the EDI policy in all our work.

The procedure also explains specific commitments on:

Anti-Racism: We are working to end racism inside and outside our organisation. Everyone should have equal opportunities and be treated with respect, no matter their ethnicity.

Carers: We support people with caring responsibilities. We’re creating a culture of safety and acceptance, helping carers to perform at their best while fulfilling their duties.

Disability: We follow the social model of disability, focusing on removing barriers that disadvantage disabled people in society and at the British Red Cross.

Gender: We support all sexual orientations and gender identities. We’re providing a supportive environment for all trans, non-binary, intersex people and people who wish to transition.

The full EDI procedure is available on request from diversity@redcross.org.uk.

Diversity Networks at the British Red Cross

Our diversity networks are voluntary, people-led groups based on shared characteristics and identities. They aim to:

• Promote EDI and Wellbeing across the organisation.
• Create safe spaces for community building.
• Support the organisation to deliver on our EDI and Wellbeing goals.

We currently have eight networks:

• Carers Network
• Disability and Wellness Network (DAWN)
• Gender Equality Network (GEN)
• LGBTQiA+ Network
• Race & Ethnicity Equality Network (REEN)
• Young Staff Network
• Belief and Faith Network
• Neurodiversity Network

Our Inclusion and Wellbeing Accountability Forum

Our forum meets every eight weeks and brings together senior staff, the chair of the Anti-Racism Advisory Group and representatives from those who deliver Wellbeing services.

It aims to:

• Continue our EDI and wellbeing work.
• Make key decisions related to EDI and wellbeing.
• Report on challenges, explore problems and develop solutions.
• Hold the British Red Cross accountable and drive improvement.

If you have any questions about equity, diversity, and inclusion and wellbeing at the British Red Cross, please contact us at diversity@redcross.org.uk