AccessABILITY at VodafoneThree

We know everyone has something to contribute. That’s why we’re committed to making our spaces and ways of working as accessible as possible and making adjustments that any of our people need to help them be at their best.

We are proud members of two schemes that are enabling us to support both our employees and our customers when it comes to disability:

• The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme. We recognise and raise awareness of people who use a sunflower to indicate they have a non-visible disability and may require support.
• Disability Confident Scheme. Being Disability Confident is driving us to think differently, increase accessibility, reduce barriers, and take action to improve our talent.

AccessABILITY at VodafoneThree

Our AccessABILITY people network supports all types of disability and wellbeing at VodafoneThree. This includes physical and mental disabilities, hidden disabilities, and neurodiversity. We work to create an inclusive workplace that enables every colleague to excel, without exception.

The network provides a platform to learn and understand the lived experiences of disabled people, helping break down myths and supporting colleagues with disabilities in the workplace. They support  colleagues directly or indirectly affected by disability, connecting them to people who can help and also raise awareness of the support and drive new initiatives to address any gaps.

Supporting mental health

We want to help everyone at VodafoneThree achieve and maintain good mental health. Everyone has access to a range of support across all areas of Mental Health and Wellbeing including We have lots of support systems a dedicated Employee Assistance Programme, which offers confidential 24/7 support for personal or work-related problems as well as further mental health support through our partner Nuffield Health. Support is free of charge for all colleagues and their immediate family members.

But we always want to do more to support our people to be at their best, and therefore have trained over 300 people across VodafoneThree as Mental Health First Aiders to have the confidence to spot signs of common mental ill-health, support it and signpost to appropriate professional services.

Celebrating Disability Pride Month

For the disabled community, Disability Pride Month encourages self-acceptance and embracing all disabilities. The month is a chance to focus on and celebrate the disabled community and their pride. Alongside the celebration, the month is also a chance to kickstart conversations about disability experiences and issues.

This month has also been described as a month to “accept and honour each person’s uniqueness” and “promote visibility and mainstream awareness” of positive pride felt by people with disabilities. Which is why in this blog, we've heard from people within our VodABILITY Network to hear what this month means to them.

Sian Baggaley - Service Designer

Career Story

I've been at VodafoneThree for 10 years now. I started in in frontline services in business mobile and built my way up to product and propositions. I'm now a Service Designer, where I design end to end customer journeys and process maps.

What made you want to be pat of the VodABILITY Network?

To drive positive change across the organisation and to ensure my peers are supported and grow our inclusive community to set the standard for the wider organisation.

What does Disability Pride Month mean to you?

Disability Pride Month to me means an opportunity each day to raise awareness from a new angle each day to the various forms of disability including non visible ones. It's also a perfect time to spotlight some of our colleagues and showcase how inspirational they are. Finally there is a real opportunity for education on how we can support one another throughout the organization and promote our available resources.

Sean Bladen - Operation Readiness Specialist

"When we allow individuals to be themselves, we unlock their full potential. This benefits the individual, their manager and VodafoneThree. Our teams gain new skills which inspire creativity. Once such skills are unlocked, you’re accessing a talent base that sees an issue from many different angles, offering solutions not typically thought of.

I’ve been with Vodafone for five years, and I can confidently say I’ve stayed this long because I feel accepted and supported not just in my role but in my personal life. I had applied for 17 different roles at the lowest point in my life. Only one offered me an interview, but the people who saw potential in me are now reaping the rewards of my drive, creative thinking and my can-do attitude.

We have great support communities and allies at work to help people get the support they require. I’m especially proud of our IDPD VodABILITY awards which were presented by our ambassadors, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid (both Wimbledon wheelchair tennis champions), an event watched live by over 1,600 people."

Find out more about working at VodafoneThree

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