Belonging
A diverse Academy is an Academy with a rich culture of creativity and innovation. We want to be a place where everyone feels they belong.We want our students, staff and visitors to value what we have in common, and what makes us different.
We have therefore brought together our work in the areas of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) under the umbrella of Belonging.
Access and Participation
We know that not everyone has the same opportunities.
We are committed to making our educational programmes, facilities and expertise available to people from ethnically, economically and socially diverse backgrounds, and we are investing heavily in our widening participation and community-focused activity.
Access and Participation Plan.
Disability, Learning Difficulties and Neurodiversity
We want every student to participate fully in Academy life.
A wide range of support is in place for disabled students and students with specific learning difficulties.
The Academy is fully accessible for staff, students and visitors. Full details: Access to the Academy.
Mental Health
The new challenges of living away from home and studying in an intensive environment can affect your mental health.
A strong pastoral care system and confidential in-house counselling service are in place to support you throughout your studies. You can also report wellbeing concerns via our Report + Support portal (see section below).
The Students’ Union has details of peer-led support.
Safeguarding
All students, irrespective of age, are treated equally and provided with the same support facilities, both academic and pastoral. However, where it is felt that special arrangements need to be put in place for students under 18, the Academy will ensure that these are provided.
Report + Support
No student, member of staff or visitor to the Academy should ever be subject to any form of harassment, bullying or discrimination. Such behaviour is at odds with our values and the standards expected of our community.
You can report an incident that you have experienced or witnessed via the Report + Support portal. You can do this anonymously, or with contact details so that you can be supported.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We adhere to the Equality Act 2010, which aims to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and defines nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender, gender identity or reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.
We believe everyone at the Academy is responsible for:
- Understanding and committing to equity
- Helping to remove barriers, enabling all to fulfil their potential
- Challenging or reporting discrimination and harassment, should it occur
The Academy’s has highlighted 12 strategic aims to advance equity and these are detailed in our Belonging Scheme and Action Plan.
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy sets out the Academy's values and the framework of equality, diversity and inclusion in which we operate. It also highlights the individual roles we each have to play in ensuring the Academy is an inclusive and harmonious place to study and work.
If you have any questions relating to equality, equity and diversity, contact belonging@ram.ac.uk.
Equality Impact Assessments
The Academy assesses its policies, procedures and strategic plans for potential impact on equality. This enables us to identify potential issues and address them in a strategic way and to support and promote good practice throughout the institution.
More information: Equality Impact Assessments.
Language
And finally, a few words about language.
We are having open conversations about the terminology we use. We regularly review and refresh our language to ensure that it reflects the experiences of different groups and respects every individual’s identity.
We might not get it right every time, but we are listening and learning.