Now is the time for us to move from good intentions to meaningful action!
This year’s theme, “Now is the Time”, feels particularly relevant for us at Action Hampshire, as we’re at the beginning of our journey to embed equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. National Inclusion Week (15–21 September) is always a special opportunity to pause, reflect, and talk openly about what inclusion really means.
At Action Hampshire, we’ve always taken pride in “the Action Hampshire way” – reaching underserved communities, listening carefully, and supporting people to take community-led action. But true inclusion doesn’t stop with the communities we serve; it also has to shape the way we work together inside our organisation. If we want to support others to thrive, we need to make sure that our own workplace is one where every voice is heard, every person feels valued, and everyone can bring their whole self to work.
That’s why earlier this year we commissioned an independent EDI audit, giving us a chance to really look at where we are now and where we want to be in the future. The results were encouraging – our staff are inclusive and our work genuinely reaches a diverse range of communities. But the audit also reminded us that intentions aren’t enough. We need clear policies, consistent practices, and everyday actions that show we are living out our values. That’s the work we’re now committed to, with a practical action plan in place.
This National Inclusion Week, we’ll be sharing our story so far – through blogs, reflections from our team, and resources for VCSE organisations. We’ll also be inviting you to take part in conversations and workshops so we can learn together. Our aim isn’t just to improve Action Hampshire internally, but to share what we learn with the wider sector, so that inclusion becomes something we can all build into our work.
For me, inclusion means belonging and feeling that we all belong is really important. We see the negative impact of exclusion all the time but we also hear how the experience of being included and feeling like you belong can turn someone’s life around.
So, now is the time for us to move from good intentions to meaningful action. I’m excited about the journey ahead, and I’m even more excited that we get to do it alongside you – our colleagues, partners, and communities across Hampshire.
With warmth,
Nicky Judd
CEO, Action Hampshire
