There are many people and organisations working hard to ensure that all areas of the military are inclusive for everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, religion or any other reason.

So, who do you know that encourages inclusivity throughout the Armed Forces Community?

The Defence Inclusivity Award

What’s it for?

The first Defence Inclusivity Award in 2019 provoked a wonderful response, with numerous organisations and individuals being nominated for their tireless work to make sure no one is excluded from any area of the Armed Forces family. This Award recognises commitment in achieving greater diversity and inclusion throughout the Armed Forces Community.

Who’s won previously?

Our first Defence Inclusivity Award was won by Susan Coleman, National Diversity Champion for The Royal British Legion. Susan ensures there’s a safe environment for any serving personnel or veterans of any sexuality to feel valued and to be themselves. As the RBL’s Champion for LGBTQ, the fantastic work she first accomplished in Brighton is now being replicated nationwide, and across other minority groups too.

Susan recently told us, “Receiving the first ever Defence Inclusivity Award for my work within the Royal British Legion has been awe-inspiring!  An increased awareness of the Legion’s support services to all currently serving personnel, veterans and their families within previously underrepresented areas of our community has been realised.  This has resulted in more people who were previously unaware of their eligibility for these services, or didn’t think they would be welcomed by the organisation, approaching us for support.”

MoD Diversity Networks was a finalist in this category.  A collaboration of 25 Defence Diversity Networks, covering race, gender, LGBT, faith/belief, parenting and disability, each volunteer-run network helps the MOD to be is a better place to work, with everyone welcomed and valued.

Victoria Paterson, SO1 Networks Co-Ordinator, sums up a key benefit to being a Soldiering On Award finalist: “Being Finalists in the Defence Inclusivity Category has given the Defence Employee Support Networks a real morale boost that what they manage to do in their spare time and own time has been recognised as making a difference to their working environment.”

Our other 2019 finalists in this category were:

The Armed Forces Diversity Engagement Team, which creates safe spaces for open conversations around inclusion, challenges stereotypical perceptions and overcomes inclusion barriers with internal audiences.

Army LGBT+ Forum, a volunteer-run forum that raises awareness about issues of equality, diversity and inclusion, with social get-togethers, peer support and advice on the way Army policy affects LGBT people.

The Defence Inclusivity Award 2019 is generously sponsored by Landmarc. Steve Utley, Managing Director at Landmarc Support Services has said:

“Here at Landmarc, our responsibility as a partner to the Armed Forces extends across all our activities, whether it’s providing the best training facilities for our serving troops or providing employment opportunities when personnel return to civilian life. Our People Strategy reinforces our commitment to ensuring all employees feel valued, enjoy good health and rewarding work, have access to personal and professional development opportunities and most of all, are treated fairly. A key objective of this strategy is to look at ways of increasing diversity in our workforce so that it is more reflective of the communities in which we operate.”

So… Who do you know?

What now? 

If you know someone worthy of recognition, nominate them now to give them a chance of being a winner.

You can see all previous winners on our website by clicking on the Awards tab then selecting previous award from the drop-down menu and choosing a year.

It will be fantastic if you can help to spread the word by sharing this blog to make sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to nominate whoever they feel deserves an Award!  You’ll find us on all social media channels; these tags may help when you’re sharing info: #SOA2020 #soldieringonawards