Staff Network Groups at Northumbria University

Northumbria University supports several Staff Equality Networks which have been established to provide an opportunity for colleagues to connect, socialise, and find support, as well as to share experiences and exchange knowledge. They encourage discussion and increase staff involvement in improving equality, diversity, and inclusion at the University.

Our Staff Equality Networks are an essential part of Northumbria University as they provide consultation and feedback on the University’s strategy, policies, and practices and help make the University an inclusive environment for employees from all different backgrounds.

LGBTQ* Network

Northumbria University’s LGBTQ* Network is a fully inclusive community for staff and postgraduate researchers. The group supports and welcomes all staff at the University who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Non Binary, and other sexualities and gender minorities as well as any staff members who may wish to support their LGBTQ+ colleagues.

The main purpose of the group is to create and support an LGBTQ+ staff community at the University and work with the University to continually ensure there are up to date inclusive policies in place, creating further inclusive spaces and ensuring LGBTQ+ visibility across all our campuses.

Northumbria Women's Network

Northumbria University has a women's network that aims to raise the profile of women at Northumbria;create a supportive, collaborative and motivational space;be a forum for discussion and a voice to raise issues that affect members;provide informal mentoring and networking opportunities and look at ways to support career development. It is a network run by members, for its members and is open to all staff that identify as female.

Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network

Northumbria University's Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network was established for colleagues from Black and minoritised backgrounds to create a voice and contribute towards creating an inclusive and equitable culture within the University.

The BAME Network provides a supportive forum for Black and minoritised academics, professional support services staff, and PGR students to talk openly about issues regarding race equality and their lived experiences of racism and to implement Network- led initiatives that assist in making improvements for Northumbria University. The network seeks to translate discussions into visible actions to help create a culturally inclusive campus and to improve the staff experience for those from racial minority ethnic backgrounds at the University.

Parents and Carers Network

The Parents and Carers Network provides a supportive space in which staff and student members from across the University can meet, discuss and share ideas and experience without judgement. A complementary aim of the Network is to provide a collective voice for working families across the University. It recognises the shared experience of all staff and students with caring responsIbilities, and explicitly includes carers (such as colleagues with adult caring responsibilities) within the membership of the network. There is no formal committee structure nor terms of reference, instead the network remains an informal, egalitarian structure that has grown organically through word of mouth and affiliations with other networks.

Disabled Staff Network

The Disabled Staff Network is open to all staff members and Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) at Northumbria University who self-identify as having a disability, an impairment, cognitive difference, or long-term health/ medical condition, and/or those with an interest in disability issues (professional or otherwise).

The group is dedicated to giving members a safe space where they can openly share their concerns, fears, and experiences related to disability and provide each other with moral support and practical advice. The network encourages members to share information and best practice with teams, colleagues, and the University to improve the experiences of disabled staff and to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people and raise awareness of disability equality. A Neurodiverse subgroup was established in December 2023 by the Network chairs in response to growing demand from members.