Employee Network Groups

About UWS Employee Network Groups

Armed Forces Family Network

The Armed Forces Family Network is for UWS colleagues who have an affinity with and support the armed forces community. This includes veterans, reservists, and family and friends of serving personnel. 

The Network provides a safe space for the discussion of issues, involving the armed force community generally, offers a collective voice for the workforce to management, and helps to raise awareness of issues relevant to the armed forces community within the wider organisation.

Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Network

The BME Network was set up to for employees from a BME background to come together to share their experiences and support one another. It promotes the interests of BME employees employed at UWS, by creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, comfortable, respected, and valued.

They also provide a safe confidential environment for BME Network members to communicate, share ideas and offer support and solidarity collectively and promote the cultural wealth of the BME network to non-members. The Network strive to support the broader race equality agenda to influence and inform policies and practices that are culturally responsive organisation.

Carers Network

The purpose of the Carers Network is to create a supportive working environment for UWS colleagues who are also carers. It also raises awareness amongst all colleagues of the issues surrounding caring responsibilities and what support can be offered.  

Anyone seeking support in caring for another person in an unpaid capacity is welcome within the network. Highlighting that the key focus of the network will be on those covered by the definition below: 

“You are a carer if you provide unpaid support and care for someone who has an illness, disability, mental health problem or addiction”.

Disability Action Network

The aim of the Disability Action Network (DAN) is to provide a voice within the University for disability equality & education. It's open to all members of UWS employees, regardless of whether they identify as being disabled or consider themselves to have an impairment or long-term health/medical condition.

The mission of the DAN is to work collaboratively, with colleagues and management, to raise awareness and educate all on aspects of Disability and Ability, whilst providing support to members. Some Network events will be restricted to those who identify as having a disability only.

HigHER Network

HigHER works in partnership with women working within Higher Education in a welcoming environment.

Through a supportive network, the Network aims to encourage and support women to take advantage of opportunities to enhance their personal and professional development and enable them to reach their full potential within the workplace.

The Network is open to all colleagues regardless of gender, but some Network events will be women-only.

Liberty Network

The Liberty Network is an inclusive LGBT+ employee group. It gives all employees, regardless of whether they identify as LGBT+, an opportunity to network, plan events and socialise in a safe environment.

Quarterly Network meetings provide a forum to discuss common issues and areas of interest, and a safe space for LGBT+ colleagues to access support, including those with intersecting identities. Some Network events will be limited to LGBT+ colleagues only.

Menopause Network

The Menopause Network aims to create a space to encourage conversations surrounding the menopause.

The Network is open to all genders who are interested in learning more about the menopause. However, some events will be limited to those who are experiencing, have experienced, or will experience, the menopause.