Royal Trinity Hospice has become the first hospice in the UK to be included in the Investors in Diversity Top 100 Index, in recognition of its commitment to fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion and engagement (FREDIE) practices.

The Investors in Diversity Top 100 Index is an annual list celebrating the contributions of employers whose staff returned the most positive results when surveyed about their organisation’s approach to FREDIE. In the first year that Trinity could be included in the index, it was listed in 84th place, the only hospice in the list and one of only two healthcare providers.              

Investors in Diversity is an equality standard awarded to employers by the National Centre for Diversity in recognition of an employer’s commitment to FREDIE methodology and practices throughout their workforce. The index is intended to highlight those organisations most committed to good FREDIE practice.

This is the latest acknowledgement of Trinity’s commitment to challenging and overcoming barriers to equality, diversity and inclusion in its service delivery and as an employer. The hospice is also a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a founding member of the London LGBT Hospice Network.

Dallas Pounds, CEO of Royal Trinity Hospice said:

At Trinity we are wholeheartedly committed to celebrating and recognising the diversity of our workforce, volunteers and the community we serve and we have worked hard to exhibit our commitment to fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion and engagement in all we do. This is a fantastic achievement for everyone at Trinity and we are proud that our commitment to FREDIE practices are leading the way and setting the standard in the hospice sector – both as an employer and a service provider.

Trinity achieved an Investors in Diversity Stage 1 Award in December 2017 and is currently working towards achieving Stage 2, which involves delivering an action plan designed to bring even further measurable improvement in its FREDIE practices. Stakeholders across the hospice have been involved in this process, including employees, volunteers and patients.

Hazel Borthwick, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development at Trinity, said:

I am absolutely delighted that Trinity has been included in the national Centre for Diversity Top 100 Index. Our inclusion in the index demonstrates how we value and respect our colleagues and those who we support. It’s a huge motivation for us as we work to further embed great FREDIE practices across Trinity and achieve our Investors in Diversity Stage 2 award.