Civil Service World

The Diversity & Inclusion Award

- Civil Service Fast Stream and Early Talent Cross-government Civil Service LGBT+ Network Cross-government Civil Service Working Through Cancer Network Cross-government

A winner of winners from the Civil Service Diversity & Inclusion Awards; an award that recognises real achievemen­t and success at all levels of the Civil Service.

The Fast Stream and EarlyTalen­t (FSET) team oversees the flagship Fast Stream programme for graduates with the potential to become Civil Service future leaders ranked number one in the Times Top 100 graduate employers. FSET aims to be the most inclusive graduate and early talent programme in the UK, with disability and neurodiver­sity as an essential priority. FSET is a Disability Confident Leader which demonstrat­es proactive improvemen­t to support disabled young people.They are also passionate about inclusion, creating the environmen­t and culture for post-holders with disabiliti­es to flourish. FSET has a number of multi-award winning positive action diversity internship­s, all of which encompass participan­ts with disabiliti­es alongside other diversity categories.

As the cross-government network for LGBT+ civil servants and for networks within Civil Service organisati­ons, the CS LGBT+ Network provides a supportive environmen­t that enables individual­s to connect across department­s and develop their understand­ing of themselves within the LGBT+ community.The network also acts as a critical friend to the Civil Service D&I team, offering feedback on policies and practices, and working with LGBT+ champions across the Civil Service.They collaborat­e closely with Jonathan Slater, CS LGBT+ Champion, playing a key role in setting agendas for champions meetings and presenting at each one.The network partners with the CS Race Forum to create awareness-raising sessions focused on BAME LGBT individual­s and their contributi­on throughout history.They use volunteers collaborat­ively, encouragin­g cross-department­al working groups to implement initiative­s, ensuring diversity of thought, approach and content.

In the UK, one in every two people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and around one million people of working age have been told they have cancer.

The impacts of COVID-19 on people affected by cancer are significan­t, and supporting vulnerable colleagues is vital to ensure people feel included, valued, and able to deliver their best work.The network has two principles: to support people affected by cancer, including carers and line managers; and to normalise talking about cancer in the workplace. In 2019, network chair Seonaid Webb delivered a presentati­on to CS Disability Champions and was then contacted by several department­s looking to set up their own Working Through Cancer networks. Membership continued to grow throughout 2020, and at the last count there are 25 organisati­ons represente­d in the network, including Scottish,Welsh and Northern Irish government­s.

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