Using awareness and understanding to help our community

What motivated you to become a Dignity and Respect Advisor?

When I saw the opportunity to become a Dignity and Respect Advisor, my motivations for participating were pure and simple. EDI is an area I feel very passionately about, and I wanted to expand my awareness and understanding of how we can create a truly level playing field for all regardless of background and status. The initiative was unlike anything that I had come across at the University and offered a new way of doing things.

Tell us about the role of a Dignity & Respect Advisor and what it involves?

My experience of being a Dignity and Respect Advisor, involves making yourself available for someone who wants to ‘think out loud’ and process what they are going through. As a Dignity and Respect Advisor, I make no judgements, I don’t talk over someone or launch into fixing their concerns. It’s simply listening and giving someone that space to gather their thoughts. As part of our Dignity and Respect Advisor training, we were given an understanding of key services available that we could signpost to if appropriate.

What’s your favourite part/ What have you learnt from being a Dignity & Respect Advisor?

My experience of being a Dignity and Respect Advisor has taught me being human first is key to any interaction. Using this as a basic starting point when engaging with anyone can be the kindest thing that you might do for someone that day. Everybody is going through something and you just don’t know their story, it costs nothing to be a respectful human.

What impact have you seen for colleagues who use the service?

There are staff and students referencing the Report, Support, Respect Tool and understand that there is somewhere to go to talk things through. I’m not suggesting that this a universal awareness across LBU, there is still work to do there. However, the tool offers the option to discuss specific instances of concern from colleagues and students who are willing to provide their contact details or anonymously. 

What would you say to other colleagues who might be considering becoming a Dignity & Respect Advisor? 

Do it! Genuinely, Dignity and Respect Advisors are a great network to be part of. There is ample support and commitment from our University community that want to make a positive contribution to our culture, working ways and practices.

To find out more about the work of the Dignity and Respect Network, please visit our webpage.

To report a concern, please use the Support, Report, Respect tool.