Staff networks

University staff networks offer a supportive space where colleagues who share circumstances or characteristics can come together, share experiences and socialise.

Members contribute to the development of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies and strategies while raising awareness of important concerns and issues.

By getting involved, staff play a key role in making St Andrews a beacon of inclusivity.

What staff networks do

Staff networks offer an opportunity for members to:

access a safe and supportive space for discussion and networking
access social opportunities with colleagues who share a protected characteristic
celebrate successes
raise awareness and understanding to help create a more open, supportive and inclusive culture across the University
contribute to institutional equality, diversity and inclusion discussions, initiatives and policies to help ensure inclusion is considered and embedded in everything the University does

Each network operates independently, with its own format and schedule. More details can be found in each network’s terms of reference.

Listen to what our staff have to say about the value of staff networks at the University of St Andrews

Video transcript

Hi, I'm Paulette Nhlapo, Head of EDI at the University of St Andrews.

The University is committed to making St Andrews a beacon of inclusivity, and places diversity and equality at the centre of everything we do in our efforts to create an environment in which all can flourish.

Our staff networks provide supportive spaces for colleagues who share particular circumstances to come together, share experiences and socialise.

Staff networks also make a valuable contribution to the creation of an inclusive environment by helping inform the development of EDI policies and strategies, and by raising awareness of key concerns and issues.

We therefore encourage you to consider joining a network appropriate to you and your experiences. Should you have any questions, please reach out to each of our networks directly.

I'm Akira O'Connor.

I'm a senior lecturer in psychology and neuroscience and also the Race Equality Charter Chair at the University.

We don't have formal positions within the Staff BAME network, but I'm a regular attendee.

I think I started coming to the network meetings maybe eight years ago. We spoke about whatever was on our minds and found solidarity with each other.

It was the first time I'd spoken honestly about what it was like to navigate St Andrews as a person of colour, and it was so liberating to know that there were other people at the institution who were carrying similar experiences around with them.

It's also a bit of an awakening, finding the group.

I realised that I didn't need to shut off the non-white part of me in order to work here, that it was possible to celebrate my experience of being a person of colour at St Andrews, and to find solidarity with other people as I did this.

It was magic.

I think it's really important that we use this group as a space where we build each other up again, celebrate ourselves and our experiences, and protect each other from some of the things that get thrown our way, too.

It's called the BAME Network, which stands for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic.

I know there are issues with this terminology, so I think it's important to say that it's open to anyone who identifies as being from a background that would be considered an ethnic minority in the UK.

Joining the network was the best thing that happened to me in my first ten years at St Andrews.

I met people from across the University. I got put in touch with people who have helped me in various aspects of my professional and personal life, and had a meeting to look forward to every few weeks.

If you'd like to be a part of the Staff BAME Network, come along to a meeting. We'd love to see you there.

My name is Maddy Haywood.

I work in the administrative and communications division of the International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute, and I'm one of the co-chairs of the Staff with Disabilities or Neurodiversity Network.

And I'm Rebecca Smith.

I am an education focused lecturer in physical chemistry and one of the other co-chairs of this network.

I joined the network to develop a support mechanism with other staff who are presented with similar challenges, so that I can work within an inclusive environment rather than being disabled by my environment.

Maddy: I wanted to find a community that would be easy to talk to about the difficulties of being a full-time employee and autistic.

The Staff with Disabilities or Neurodiversity Network provides a safe and supportive space to meet, share experiences, opinions and concerns, and take action to promote equality for staff with disabilities.

We also like to raise awareness and understanding to help create a more open, supportive and inclusive culture across the University for staff with disabilities.

Rebecca: Our network includes staff with disabilities, including physical differences like mobility issues and limb loss, hidden or invisible differences including neurodiversity such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia, learning disabilities, sensory differences or loss, hearing loss or deaf, and mental health and chronic illness conditions, whether or not you use the word disability to describe your differences.

Maddy: The network is a really lovely and supportive group of people.

From my own experience and talking with some others, I find that there is such imposter syndrome about joining the staff networks, so my encouragement would be, if you think you fit the description in any way, please come along.

Hi, my name is Kathryn Herschell.

My pronouns are they or she and I'm an interim coordinator of the LGBTQI+ Employee Network along with my colleague, Avery Hawkins.

I'm queer, disabled and neurodivergent and I've been working at the University for a little over three years as part of the EDI team.

The network is a welcoming community, and we're open to any member of staff who identifies with any part of the LGBTQI+ acronym.

You are valid and you are very welcome.

We're very much guided by what the membership wants the network to be. There's an active Teams group and we have in-person meetups after work in a local cafe for socialising.

We also have a film club where members share recommendations and opinions, and a book club where we pick a book with queer characters and or themes to read and discuss together.

I and the rest of the network look forward to welcoming any and all new members.

My name is Tim Childs.

I work in the Technology Enhanced Learning Department of the International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute. I am also one of the co-chairs of the Parents and Carers Network.

Since working for the University, I've had two children and I decided that joining the network would be useful for learning about the support available to parents.

One of the main objectives of our network is to provide representation at institution level on issues impacting the lives of parents and carers, both inside and outside the workplace.

The network also provides a community hub for members to share knowledge, experiences and resources.

The network welcomes all staff who are carers or parents, or about to become parents, or anyone considering parenthood.

I encourage parents and carers to join the network to gain access to a community of people who are at all stages of life in respect to both caring and parental responsibilities, and benefit from a wealth of knowledge and experience.

The more people we have in the network, the better our resources will become, and we can support even more staff to navigate working whilst being a carer, parent or both.

Get involved

Staff networks make a valuable contribution to the inclusive culture of the University. To stay active and effective, they rely on staff getting involved. By joining a network, you can:

share your experiences and ideas
take part in discussions
attend events
help raise awareness by promoting the network to your colleagues

Staff black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) network

Purpose

The staff black, Asian and minority ethnicity (BAME) network offers an opportunity for minoritised staff to access a safe and supportive space to meet, network, celebrate and share experiences of being a person of colour at St Andrews.

Activities

There is usually at least one in-person lunchtime meeting per semester, with an option to join online.

Membership

The staff BAME network is open to anyone who identifies as being from a background that would be considered an ethnic minority within the UK. There is a range of people that currently attend, including people who grew up in Britain, people who grew up overseas, and people who consider themselves bi-cultural or mixed race.

How to join

To be added to the network, please email diversity@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Staff with disabilities or neurodiversity network

Purpose

This network provides a safe and supportive space to meet, share experiences, opinions and concerns, and take action to promote equality for staff with disabilities.

Values and objectives

The main objective is to host a supportive space for staff members to share information and methods to overcome challenges, celebrate successes, network, and participate in social activities.

The network wants to raise awareness and understanding to help create a more open, supportive and inclusive culture across the University for staff with disabilities. This is done through communicating relevant key updates to members (for example, in relation to changes to laws and policy), and contributing to institutional discussions, initiatives, strategy and policies to ensure the voices of disabled staff are considered.

Working with other networks to support intersectional events and discussions is also important to the network.

Activities

There is usually a one-hour meeting every six weeks, either in the morning or at lunchtime.

Membership

Not everyone who would qualify as having a disability under the Equality Act 2010 will identify as disabled. Some may see themselves as neurodivergent or disabled by their environment using a social model of disability.

Our network includes staff with disabilities, whether or not you use the word disability to describe your differences, including:

physical differences (for example, mobility or limb loss)
hidden or invisible differences, including neurodiversity (for example, ADHD, autism, dyslexia or dyspraxia) and learning disabilities
sensory differences or loss (for example, hearing loss, d/Deaf, sight loss or visual impairment)
mental health and chronic illness conditions

How to join

To join the network, email disabilitynetwork@st-andrews.ac.uk or complete the new-members form. We will add you to the mailing list and, if you agree, to the Microsoft Teams site.

You can also email us if you have any questions.

Contact the network

For all enquiries about the staff network for colleagues with disabilities or neurodiversity, please contact the leadership team by emailing disabilitynetwork@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Network leadership team

The network is currently co-chaired by three members of staff:

Carina Evans (OSDS Web and Evaluation Officer)
Maddy Haywood (IELLI Deputy Operations Coordinator)
Rebecca Smith (School of Chemistry Lecturer)

LGBTQI+ employee network

Purpose

First established in 2016, the University’s LGBTQI+ employee network is a member-run affinity group that works to support, advocate for and celebrate the lives and experiences of LGBTQI+ colleagues.

The network works to develop an inclusive and equitable workplace for people of all genders and sexualities working at the University.

Read the LGBTQI+ employee network terms of reference (Word).

Values and objectives

The network holds three core values that guide the development of its objectives, actions and role within the University community. These values are advocate, celebrate and educate.

Activities

The network organises regular meetings, activities and resources for members. Current and forthcoming events and activities include:

regular online network meetings
café socials within semester
St Andrews Pride (in partnership with SaintsLGBT)
book or cinema club
information sessions
research and awareness seminars or discussion groups
University policy consultation
LGBTQI+ advocacy

Membership

All LGBTQI+ University employees can be members. This includes students who are directly employed by the University (for example, graduate teaching assistants, research assistants).

Membership to the network is confidential. Details of the network’s membership, including any personal information, will be held and handled by the current role holders of the leadership team only. The leadership team will handle all personal information in line with the University’s privacy and data protection policies.

How to join

To request to join, email lgbtqiemployeenetwork@st-andrews.ac.uk.

New members will receive a welcome email and will be introduced to existing members in the network’s private Microsoft Teams site.

Contact the network

All internal and external enquiries about the LGBTQI+ employee network should be made to the network leadership team by emailing lgbtqiemployeenetwork@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Network leadership team

The network will be led by an elected leadership team of three co-chairs, a network secretary and up to three leadership team members.

Pending the election, there are two interim network coordinators:

Avery Hawkins (OSDS Organisational Development Advisor)
Kathryn Herschell (EDI Equality and Diversity Awards Advisor)

Parents and carers staff network

Purpose

The network provides a community hub for members to share knowledge, experiences and resources, as well as representation at institution level on issues impacting the lives of parents and carers both inside and outside the workplace.

Values and objectives

The network will:

contribute to institutional discussions, initiatives, strategy and policies to ensure the voice of parents and carers is considered
support the University to create a more inclusive environment for parents and carers by raising awareness of key issues and offering ideas on resolving these
communicate relevant key updates to members (for example, in relation to changes to laws and policy)
provide a supportive community for those with parental or caring responsibilities, where members can share helpful information and recommendations
provide opportunities for members to participate in social and professional activities
work with other networks to support intersectional events and discussions

Activities

Formal meetings will be held twice a year, with the aim to schedule other informal events during the year.

Membership

The network welcomes all staff who are:

carers
parents
soon-to-be-parents
considering parenthood

How to join

Please complete the form to join the network mailing list, Microsoft Teams site or both.

If you have any questions, please email parentsandcarers@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Network leadership team

The network is currently co-chaired by two members of staff:

Liliana Martins e Caneco (Registry Manager for Digital Developments)
Bridget Bradley (Lecturer in Social Anthropology)