At Veterans With Dogs, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are fundamental. We know that getting this right is critical for us to live our values of respect, care and compassion.

Aims

We aim to be more inclusive, diverse and equitable. This allows us to follow our fundamental principles, whereby the support we provide is impartial, neutral and universal.

We aim to become an anti-racist organisation. We want Veterans With Dogs to be a place where people of all ethnicities feel welcomed to work, volunteer or seek help. 

Our vision for equity, diversity and inclusion at Veterans With Dogs

We want to be a safe and inclusive organisation that learns and grows to proactively dismantle barriers, eliminate discrimination and create equity. 

We want to be an organisation where:   

• our people learn, understand and take action to dismantle discrimination and create a safe and inclusive environment
• our workforce is built on diverse skills, experiences and capabilities at all levels
• we embed equity and remove barriers to participation across everything we do.  

Our equity, diversity and inclusion strategy sets out how we will achieve this. It gives direction for the improvements we want to see. It is guided by the principles of co-production, lived experience, power sharing and our values.

What do we mean by equity, diversity and inclusion?

Equity
Whilst equality means treating everyone the same regardless of their experiences, background or identity, equity recognises that people may have different advantages and barriers in society, and that we don't all have the same starting point. It is the ongoing process of acknowledging that inequality and taking steps to correct that imbalance.

Diversity 
Diversity is anything that makes us different to each other.  

Inclusion  
Inclusion is actively embracing people with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Inclusion can be felt, but can also be seen through systems, processes, policies, and behaviours.   

Our equity, diversity and inclusion policy  

The purpose of this policy is to set out our commitment to creating an organisation where people of all identities and backgrounds can thrive. It was created to ensure that people are aware of their responsibilities and know how and where to seek support.