Enable Staff Network
Information on how the University of Sunderland's Enable Staff Network has run between 2022-23.
What is the Enable Staff Network?
The Enable Network aims to provide a safe space to share experiences and knowledge, discuss current topics, and make influence wherever possible.
The network has made great strides to address equality issues through monthly meetings with members and raises awareness of issues to a senior sponsor when necessary.
Our members attend the network for a sense of belonging, as they can experience peer-support as they discuss the challenges they might face. It allows allies to learn and understand information on the community, as well as creating solutions and helping the University to be more inclusive.
- 100% agree that this network gives them the feeling that they belong
- 100% agree that this network allows them to express their authentic self
- 100% agree that this network allows them to express their views without judgement.
Our Network Chairs
Meet the chairs of the Enable staff network.
Hafzah Zamir
Initiatives and actions that have impacted the University
Our network discussed the ways they have impacted the University positively. Our information sessions about disabilities have helped our staff to understand the needs of their students and relations in their personal lives and has helped them to support neurodivergent people better.
We also rolled out AccessAble, which are guides that inform people of disabled access around campus. This has helped staff and students to feel more confident while travelling around the University as they know what to expect.
This year we have also helped neurodivergent people within the network and across the University to feel acknowledged and validated by creating a strong community.
Aims for the next 12 months
The aims for our network in the year ahead include:
- Encouraging communication and collaboration between our members outside of our meeting spaces.
- Raising awareness of the impact of different conditions on everyday life, including not just the primary condition but secondary aspects as well.
- Continuing to provide resources and training to our staff, as well as asking staff what they would like more guidance on and trying to accommodate these sessions.
- Enabling more face-to-face meetings with the network and encouraging our members to be consulted as and when changes are made.
Our senior sponsors
We ask our sponsor to:
- Commit to using their connections and knowledge to support the network in delivering great events, widening membership, and inspiring staff across the University.
- Work together to feed in the views of the networks to the EDI group and Executive.
- Create better awareness with management about neurodivergent conditions to allow appropriate adjustments in the workplace.
- Help raise the profile of the network to encourage wider participation throughout the University.
- Be a presence and help spread the word of our events.
- Use their connections to continue to inspire change.
Does the network support the delivery of the University’s value of inclusion?
When our members were asked if the group support the delivery of the University's value of inclusion, 63.6% answered ‘Definitely yes’ and 36.4% answered ‘Probably yes’.
Our terms of reference
We asked our members their opinions on how we deliver our terms of reference:
Connections
To create connections, a safe space, shared purpose, interests, information, and sense of belonging for members.
Share
To share problems, knowledge, ideas, situations, and lessons.
Solve problems
To help to solve problems and challenges by bringing resources, processes, and influencing change.
Powerful voice
To be a powerful voice and source for positive change, embedded across the whole University.
Contact us
We welcome feedback on equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Please contact our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team, inclusion@sunderland.ac.uk or the Students' Union at yoursu@sunderland.ac.uk.