AVUK believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) matters, and strives to be an organisation that explores and promotes EDI. We are committed to fostering an organisation where everyone feels valued, and respected, regardless of background or identity. We recognise that diversity strengthens our organisation, bringing new perspectives, experiences, and ideas that help us grow.

We actively challenge and review our practices, identifying areas for improvement and taking action. We value the importance of lived experience and work in partnership with families, professionals, and colleagues to continuously enhance our knowledge, understanding, and impact in relation to EDI.

Over the past year, we have taken concrete steps to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion at AVUK. In 2024 we established an EDI working group, with representation from all the different teams at AVUK, to boost diversity of thought and progress towards the goals of our EDI Action Plan. Our key areas of focus have included:

 Enhancing Awareness & Lived Experience Engagement

• Providing regular opportunities for staff and trustees to learn about the rich diversity of deafness directly from a range of individuals, gaining insight into different lived experiences around deafness and other protected characteristics.
• Creating safe spaces for conversations with colleagues who identify with or have lived experience of different protected characteristics to deepen our understanding of their experiences and what we can do to support them.
• Is it our intention to foster and embrace a cultural transformation of EDI through these frequent learning opportunities.  

Embedding Inclusive Language & Communication

• Reviewing and updating our Language Guide to ensure respectful, inclusive communication across our organisation.
• Implementing a quarterly review of AVUK’s website and other communication channels, as well as a larger yearly review, to ensure content is aligned with our EDI Language Guide.

Promoting Fair & Diverse Recruitment

• Practicing anonymised recruitment processes and advertising roles through diverse job platforms and agencies to attract a wider talent pool.

Increasing Representation in Therapy Resources

• Expanding our collection of toys, books, and therapy materials to reflect a broader range of cultures, identities, and experiences.

 

Measuring Our Progress & Listening to Families

• Conducting our annual Family Survey to assess inclusivity, with:
• 95% of respondents agreeing that AVUK respects and celebrates diversity (representing a 12% improvement on the previous survey).
• 91% agreeing AVUK to be an inclusive organisation (representing a 10% improvement on the previous survey).
• Using feedback from families to further improve our inclusivity and ensure that every family feels welcomed and represented in our work.

 

While we are proud of our progress, we acknowledge that our journey is ongoing. We remain committed to continuing this journey and to the ongoing implementation of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.

 

Published:17/03/2025