Tim Mulvenna, CEO of The Barnet Group, recognised that to be an inclusive employer, we needed a dedicated staff member to lead on
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to foster creativity, fresh perspectives and an understanding of a diverse workforce and the diverse community that we serve.

EDI Lead role and responsibility
So, in May this year, I joined The Barnet Group. My name is Deborah Blyth, and I am the newly appointed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead for The Barnet Group. I champion equity, equality, and inclusion, to support people of different backgrounds including
race, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation and other diverse backgrounds to thrive in the workplace and those that live in our homes. This includes:

  • Leading on or supporting the development and delivery of our key equalities strategies, initiatives, and projects
  • Providing advice and guidance on the equalities agenda
  • Promoting good relationships and practices towards different minority groups
  • Supporting the delivery of continuous improvement throughout the organisation and encouraging the use of best practice

A few highlights of recent celebrations include

  •  Commemorating Windrush 75, remembering the contributions of Caribbean people who came to help rebuild Britain after WWII
  • Pride Month in June, reflecting on the political movement for equality for the LBGTQIA community, and in July and recognising Disability Pride to bring awareness of the positive pride felt by those within the disability community.
  •  From mid-July through to mid-August, we celebrated South Asian Heritage Month with personal stories from our British Asian staff and allies

We are looking forward to Black History Month in October. The theme being ‘Celebrating our sisters/Saluting our sisters/matriarchs of movements’ #WEMATTER.

I am excited to see a representative workforce in the future as we have started an amazing inclusive journey that can only get better!

If you would like to know more about the work we have planned or contribute in helping us improve how we can be more of an inclusive organisation that best serves our communities, email getinvolved@barnethomes.org or get.involved@opendoorhomes.org. Alternatively call 020 8080 6587.