RCN members are central to the continued development of the RCN’s five-year equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy and can now share their views and ideas via an , which closes on Sunday 24 March. The survey also has a section where you can express your interest in joining one of our strategy development workshops. Some member groups have already attended a workshop including RCN Council, various committees and several member networks, but we’re keen to hear from as many members as possible, because this strategy needs to be representative of the whole membership.
In the survey, members have the opportunity to tell us about the activities that will make the most difference to them. It’s these answers that will help inform what activities will form part of our EDI strategy and bring us one step closer to achieving our objectives.
Attending a strategy development workshop will give you an additional opportunity to engage and feedback on the direction of the strategy.
There will be 12 member events in total, 3 in each UK country held between 25-28 March. A random generator will be used to select 10 participants to attend each event from those who have registered their interest in attending.
RCN members will be able to register their interest for the events up until Sunday 17 March. Successful applicants will be informed in the week commencing 18 March.
RCN President Sheila Sobrany said: “Your feedback is so important to us, and intrinsic to our EDI strategy, so I urge members to take the time to complete this survey to help shape the future of the RCN.”
We have appointed consultancy , experts in workplace diversity and inclusion, to support the strategy’s continued development.
Sheila said: “We acknowledge and appreciate that the topic of EDI can be sensitive and can sometimes feel unfamiliar or unchartered, however specialist consultancy Half the Sky are skilled at leading and facilitating discussions around these areas to help draw out and consolidate our collective vision on what we want the RCN to stand for in relation to EDI for current and future members.”
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Pat Cullen said: “The development of this EDI strategy is crucial to the future of the RCN and will help consolidate our collective vision for current and future members.
“Our strength is in our diversity, and we are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring we give members the strong, professional and genuinely representative organisation they deserve.
“We’ve come a long way but there is still work to do in making sure we are representative and inclusive of the breadth of our membership. We welcome all members to bring their ideas and experience to the table to continue to help us strengthen our diverse College.”
Dr Zoe Young, Director of Half the Sky, said: "We’re delighted to be working with the RCN on an ambitious and important EDI journey. We’re here to facilitate the process and translate goals into actions on the ground. It’s our task to ensure this strategy makes a difference.”
The developed strategy will play a role in helping to mobilise the culture change recommendations outlined in the KPMG and Bruce Carr KC reports, both published in 2022.
