Page 11 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023

GENERAL NEWS
GENER A L NE W S

RVC renews Athena Swan

Bronze award

e have successfully renewed Swan action plan, a detailed survey of achievement and bringing our renewed
its Athena Swan Bronze opinion across the organisation, a review action plan to life.”
award, given by Advance of policies affecting career development,
WHE in recognition of its analysis of data and the development of Stuart Reid said: “Retaining our Athena
SWAN bronze status is an immensely
commitment to promoting gender equality. a renewed action plan. important achievement for the RVC.
The award is a framework used globally Vice Principal for Equality, Diversity Promoting and enacting equality and
to support and transform gender equality and Inclusion, Dr Christine Thuranira- diversity requires the whole organisation
within higher education and research.
McKeever, was delighted with the to engage and commit to making a
Led by co-chairs Professor Nicola achievement of the Bronze renewal: “I difference. I am enormously grateful to
Menzies-Gow and Dr Sharon Kendall, am very pleased that we have maintained Professor Nicola Menzies-Gow and Dr
the RVC Self-Assessment Team (SAT) our Bronze award status. It is heartening Sharon Kendall, and their team, who
worked over a period of 15 months to have our progress in advancing have worked assiduously in preparing
to consider and develop the RVC’s gender equality acknowledged and our our submission. In doing so, they have
ongoing efforts in ensuring the continued commitment to continuing our efforts renewed our focus on sustaining change
improvement of the recruitment, in doing more to support progression as we continue our journey towards being
retention, and promotion of female and every aspect of gender equality, a place where all are welcome, valued and
academic, research and professional recognised. I thank the SAT for their provided opportunity to develop.”
services staff. This involved a reflection wholehearted dedication to this work
of progress made against the first Athena and look forward to building on this

LGBT+ History Month

Revd. Andy Marshall, Chaplain and Interfaith Advisor

GBT+ History Month, celebrated publicising this year’s gatherings. These “We are committed to being an inclusive
in the UK in February, is an photos are a very visible way of showing community and we are proud to support
opportunity to celebrate the our support for and solidarity with LGBT+ History Month and to join in
Lachievements of the LGBT+ LGBT+ students and staff – and that the celebrating the significant achievements
Community, past and present, and to RVC is committed to being a safe space and contributions of the LGBT+
commit to educating ourselves and where they can flourish. community. Inviting the whole RVC
others about that history. community to take part in events, such as
As the Chaplain and Interfaith Advisor,
To mark LGBT+ History Month, it brings me great joy to organise these the fabric photo, is an important part of
raising awareness and encouraging all to
colleagues created a Padlet (electronic public displays and spread the message take action to become active allies.”
bulletin board) with information from of welcome and inclusion to all. I asked
historical facts on LGBT+ people to a few staff and students to send in their – Dr Christine Thuranira-McKeever
real-life LGBT+ stories, educational comments about what LGBT+ History
publications, current local and wider Month means to them, and what they
events, exhibitions and performances and think of our events.
the LGBT+ Student Society arranged a “At the RVC, we celebrate and recognise
trip to National Student Pride.
the importance of the contributions of
Over the last four years at the RVC, LGBT+ people – past and present – to
we have organised large community our community. In continuing our efforts
photoshoots as one of our events for to make the RVC a safe space where
LGBT+ history month. After doing virtual everyone can grow and flourish, it has
photos for the last two years, it was a been a pleasure for us to support this
pleasure to gather again in person for month’s events as visible allies of our
this year’s photos. It has also been a joy LGBT+ staff and students.”
to work with staff from the Equality and – Stuart Reid
Diversity Committee on arranging and

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