Diversity and inclusion at the Charlie Waller Trust

Diversity and inclusion

It is important to recognise how organisations can hold and, sometimes unconsciously, act on biases. At the Charlie Waller Trust we are aspiring to be a genuinely inclusive charity.  

As a mental health charity, we recognise that there are often increased mental health difficulties resulting from social inequalities, in communities that society has marginalised. The Trust has an obligation to deliver an inclusive service and to recognise how changing its own processes can help achieve this. Activities that engage all levels of the organisation are the key to creating truly inclusive services. 

In 2022-23, we worked with specialist consultant Laurelle Brown to broaden and implement our diversity and inclusion strategy. Our learnings from Laurelle’s training are helping us learn how to better engage with beneficiaries and staff from all ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds, disabled people, and individuals of all ages, genders and sexual orientations. Through this, our services can address the negative impact of discrimination on mental health. 

Just some of the things we’re currently working on are:  

• Introduction of a new Diversity and Inclusion Support Officer to give training and guidance on improving a number of our EDI processes  
• A more inclusive recruitment process 
• Providing more support for new staff 
• Making our social media, email and website communications more accessible and including greater diversity  
• Planning fundraising events to be more accessible where possible, and looking at ways to cater for a diverse range of people  
• And much more.