BCT Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement of Values
Hugh Clark
Our vision for the future is of a world rich in wildlife where people and bats thrive together. We want everyone, everywhere to have opportunities to connect with bats and nature and get involved with conservation.
We know that diversity matters, not just within the natural world. We believe including and welcoming a wide range of people will bring new ideas and benefit both people and bats.
We recognise barriers.
We recognise there can be many barriers to connecting with nature and engaging with conservation and that systemic issues and systems of oppression impact different groups in different ways. We are working to understand and remove barriers to participation and build new knowledge into our decision-making. We will continue to challenge inequity and will not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment.
We are evidence based.
We rely on research and evidence, including the lived experiences of others, to inform our next steps as we nurture an inclusive culture within the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and with everyone with whom we work. We will closely monitor our progress and responsively adapt our approach.
We are collaborative.
We actively seek out diverse partners, conversations and opportunities to foster change within the bat conservation community and the wider environmental sector. We will listen and share experiences, expertise and resources so we can all learn how to do better.
We are committed to our responsibilities.
We are committed to championing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) throughout all our work; including but not limited to:
- BCT recognises that discrimination, privilege and oppression can relate to and intersect with other factors beyond protected characteristics* as recognised by the Equality Act 2010.
- BCT is a signatory to the Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL) diversity and anti-racism statement and the WCL Route Map.
- BCT has signed up to The Race Report and contribute data to help monitor racial diversity within the sector as well as monitoring our own progress.
Our community
We will continue to foster an inclusive culture of respect where we listen, support each other and value our differences.
- Staff and Trustees: We will embrace a work and social environment where people can be themselves and use their talents to contribute fully towards BCT’s mission.
- Members, supporters, and bat workers (volunteer and professional): We will collaborate to grow a bat conservation community where everyone feels safe and respected and able to contribute.
- Wider environmental sector: We will promote sector-wide cultural change to ensure everyone feels welcome, able to connect with the natural world and participate in its protection.
We are learning.
Our EDI activity is ongoing. We are learning all the time and welcome feedback. We are keen to hear from potential collaborators trying to improve access to bats and nature for under-represented groups or looking to improve EDI within the bat conservation community and the wider environmental sector.
Any feedback or questions, please get in touch with us by emailing: inclusion@bats.org.uk
* Protected characteristics: Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Version 1 Developed by the BCT EDI Working Group, approved by the Senior Management Team August 2023
More on BCT's EDI work
BCT is committed to champion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion throughout all our work.
You can watch a talk given at our regional bat conference in March 2023 by our Education and Engagement Officer "Equity, diversity and inclusion - how can we do better?"
You can read our blog post "Supporting Neurodiverse Attendees at BCT’s Events – what more could we be doing?"
Find out more about the Count Bat Project and download the Bats for All project resources here.
