Royal Trinity Hospice has been awarded the Investors in Diversity accreditation at stage 2 by the National Centre for Diversity.

The Investors in Diversity award is recognised as the national equality standard for organisations looking to improve fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion and engagement (FREDIE) practices in the workplace. Trinity’s accreditation will continue until June 2021.

In her report, National Centre for Diversity Advisor Caroline Wells said: “FREDIE really is everywhere and in everything Trinity does – more than anywhere else I have ever seen… it [has] helped them to be more mindful, more understanding… there has been a cultural shift around equality, diversity and inclusion to a place where FREDIE is becoming second nature.”

Dallas Pounds, Chief Executive at Trinity said: “I am thrilled that Trinity’s commitment to FREDIE has been recognised with this accreditation from the National Centre for Diversity.

“This has been a real team effort, led by our Investors in Diversity steering group to embed FREDIE across the Trinity family. We are looking forward to finding new and engaging ways to raise more awareness about all things FREDIE in 2020 and will continue to celebrate our staff and volunteers so they can bring the best version of themselves to work.

“We want Trinity to be an inclusive, fair and welcoming workplace where our people can fulfil their potential. We hope this award will be a further sign to current and future colleagues, volunteers and patients that they are free to be themselves and everyone is welcome”

Stakeholders across the hospice have been involved in this process, including employees, volunteers and patients. The FREDIE steering group’s action plan has included improving awareness and training around mental health, unconscious bias and other protected characteristics through “FREDIE Fortnights” a programme of internal training and education, dedicating a fortnight to each legally protected characteristic, and updates to policies and strategic documents.

Royal Trinity Hospice was awarded Investors in Diversity at stage 1 in December 2017 and has been working towards achieving stage 2, which involves delivering an action plan to achieve even more measurable improvement in its FREDIE practices, since January 2019. Trinity is currently nominated for National Centre for Diversity Grand Awards in the most Innovative EDI Initiative and Diversity Steering Group of the Year categories. Dallas Pounds is also nominated in the Chief Executive of the Year category for the awards, which take place in January 2020.