RankNet

In this article, Varsha Parmar, Chief Executive of Equality Action, writes about how the organisation has embedded equality, diversity, and inclusion in service provision across Leicestershire and Rutland with help from our Profit for Good Programme.

Equality Action applied for Profit for Good in 2021 because we wanted to set up a trading arm that would generate unrestricted income. Historically, we heavily relied on grant funding to deliver much-needed services to people from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds in Leicestershire. Over the last few years, the challenges everyone faces have highlighted the need for equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) to be embedded in service provision across all sectors. Through our work, we know health and well-being are vital areas in which to embed EDI so that people marginalised by society are less reluctant to access health services.

Our charitable aim is to build EDI capacity within communities. We do that by offering training to grassroots organisations, youth groups and the NHS. We work with them to ensure EDI is at the heart of whatever they plan and deliver. This includes ensuring they consider cultural and other barriers in service delivery. Course content includes things like:

• EDI terms and sensitive use of language
• Bias and microaggressions
• Equality Act 2010 and the nine protected characteristics.

Since our Profit for Good funding, we’ve helped embed EDI in many of the services and support provided here in Leicestershire and Rutland. The funding has enabled us to create a flexible pricing strategy so smaller organisations aren’t excluded, and it has covered the costs of some casework. It’s a tough sector to work in, but our relationship with Rank is fantastic. They understand the reality of being a small charity. With Rank’s support, we’ve strengthened our team with a Time to Shine leader, which has set us up for growth. Profit for Good has helped us open doors we didn’t think possible. Last year, we had seven commissions for our EDI training, and we’re aiming for 10 this year.

A significant achievement was reaching hundreds of local people by working with the Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR-ICB). We helped them identify ‘connectors’ with lived experiences of cancer, hypertension, respiration and long-term COVID-19. We work with connectors to support them in sharing their experiences and any barriers they may have faced in accessing services, raising awareness, and encouraging others to take up early interventions and manage their health.

We’re delighted to have seen an increase in the way service providers and professionals, particularly those in the health sector, take feedback from service users and incorporate it into their service delivery. Putting EDI at the heart of their service enables providers to better understand the needs of their target audience, address barriers around culture, language, and digital access, and tailor their services.

Listening to people share their experiences, both negative and positive, and listening to suggestions on what can be done to improve their services is making their services more accessible and increasing their use. It is a slow process, but we are seeing service users’ confidence grow, and they are now less reluctant to see health specialists. They are also more confident in self-care, spotting signs of health issues, and taking early interventions. More are now regularly checking their blood pressure etc., and staying on top of cancer screening, etc.. They can see that the professionals are tailoring their services to address cultural needs and sensitive matters in a more inclusive manner.

These results show how an enterprising approach can help increase social impact.

Varsha Parmar

Chief Executive of Equality Action