Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at PAC-UK
PAC-UK is committed to providing services which are fair, accessible and inclusive for all and to ensuring that service users are treated with dignity and respect.
We strive to eliminate all forms of discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Through a programme of EDI work and embedding a culture of inclusion, we endeavour to provide a workplace where everyone can thrive, regardless of identity, background or protected characteristic. Having a diverse and included staff and volunteer base can only make our services more accessible and culturally competent, ensuring we reach those who need us the most.
PAC-UK is proud to have received an eQuality Award for our commitment to supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community – you can find out more about how we support LGBTQIA+ parents here and the work we’re doing internally here.
As part of Family Action we are a Disability Confident Employer, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, and a signatory of the Race at Work Charter. Our premises in Leeds, Liverpool and London are wheelchair accessible.
You can download our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy by clicking here.
Email: equality.diversity@family-action.org.uk
EDI Manager & PAC-UK EDI Champions
Sirri Rånes
Family Action Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager. Sirri Rånes is the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Family Action, based at our Head Office in London. Sirri’s experience as a gay woman shaped her interest in, and passion for, creating equitable and inclusive environments, where diversity can thrive. Sport was the arena in which Sirri first faced inequality and discrimination as early as primary school, where she was forbidden from joining the school football team. When her mum fought to overturn the sexist policy, this experience also taught her that positive change is possible when people are willing to take a stand. Such lived experiences led Sirri to study Equality and Human Rights at the University of Glasgow, followed by five years working in the field of sports equality. Sirri is now the organisations EDI lead, and covers a variety of tasks, including embedding EDI into key organisational processes and support for EDI Champions.
Ayshah Essat
PAC-UK EDI Champion. Ayshah is an Adult Counsellor at PAC-UK, based at our Head Office in London. Her personal experiences as a Muslim, British-Indian woman provide a deeply personal perspective on the importance of equality, inclusivity and diversity. Her academic background in social anthropology has also been foundational for her interest in carrying out EDI work. She is keen to contribute to the production of democratic spaces within the organisation, which can counteract the unequal structures in society that impact us all. As a systemically trained practitioner, she is a firm believer in the notion that everyone is an expert in their own right, and that within the world of adoption, value should be placed on knowledge not only from professionals, but also from families, parents and children.
Yvette Collier
PAC-UK EDI Champion. Yvette is our Business & Admin Manager, based at our Leeds Office. Her interest in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion stemmed from her ongoing learning through her apprenticeship, which she started back in 2014 and most recently, her ILM Level 3 in Team Leadership in Management. In her role as PAC-UK EDI Champion, Yvette works closely with Ayshah, delivering EDI Circle engagement events for staff, where EDI topics are discussed and resources shared. A summary of each EDI Circle (with links to useful resources) is shared to staff in our EDI Newsletter, which also includes an EDI calendar for awareness days and upcoming events.
