Disability Network at Sanctuary

In 2021, we assessed Sanctuary against the Disability Confident standard and made clear our desire to work with Disability Confident suppliers. We also developed an inclusive approach to recruiting new members to our Resident Panels and set out plans to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of our communications.

One year later, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2022, we celebrated the official launch of our employee Disability Network. Made up of colleagues with lived experience of disabilities or long-term conditions and their allies, the network is a platform to raise awareness of disabilities of all kinds and effect positive change for colleagues across Sanctuary.

In this short video, created for Disability History Month 2023, some of our colleagues talk openly about their disability or long-term health condition and how it impacts them. We find their honesty and openness moving and hope you do too.

Sanctuary is a Disability Confident Employer, registered with the Government as an organisation which recognises that many disabled people have the skills, talents and experience that we are looking for.

This voluntary scheme, which replaces the previous Two Ticks standard, aims to help employers value the work of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions and ensure they have opportunities to fulfil their potential.

As part of our commitment, we conduct self-assessments to ensure that we are meeting our responsibilities in recruiting and retaining disabled people, and that we are also:

• actively looking to attract and recruit disabled people
• providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process
• flexible when assessing people so that disabled applicants can demonstrate that they can do the job
• making reasonable adjustments (such as adaptations to premises or equipment) as required
• supporting staff to manage their disabilities or health conditions
• encouraging suppliers to be Disability Confident

We are also members of the Business Disability Forum. We meet regularly and seek to make good use of their advice and services to improve our performance and deepen our capability as a disability confident employer.