Our work and programmes
This document explains the work and programmes that we have planned, and our progress in delivering them. It will be updated as our plans change and work develops.
About this publication
The Civil Service LGBT+ Network helps to create a more diverse, inclusive and equal place to work for civil servants with minority sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and variations in sex characteristics.
We are an employee network created to ensure LGBT+ staff can be themselves, be their best selves and help to deliver great public services. We do that by:
- building local and national communities of LGBT+ civil servants
- supporting the development of strong LGBT+ employee networks in Civil Service bodies
- representing the interests of LGBT+ staff across the Civil Service
This document explains our priorities and our programmes of work. It also records our progress in delivering against those priorities.
Latest updates
This business plan was updated to reflect our latest plans and performance on 26 October 2022.
How this will be delivered
The work detailed in this plan will be delivered by a volunteer team of LGBT+ people and allies from across the Civil Service.
If you’d like to volunteer to help deliver this plan, or have another idea you’d like to lead, please contact us at: info@civilservice.lgbt
All of our work is delivered on a volunteer-led basis. If you feel there’s something missing from this plan, we’d love to have you join the team to deliver it.
Our plan
Mentoring programme
Conclude the existing mentoring programme for LGBT+ civil servants, and run the programme again in 2022 and 2023.
-
Complete
Recruit a lead vice-chair for this work
December 2021
-
Complete
Recruit and mobilise a mentoring programme team
December 2021
-
Complete
Create a digital tool to improve the speed of the matching process
February 2022
-
Complete
Conclude the 2021 mentoring programme
May 2022
-
Complete
Survey participants in the 2021 mentoring programme
May 2022
-
Complete
Open registrations the 2022 mentoring programme
May 2022
-
Complete
Publish lessons learnt and changes to the 2022 mentoring programme
June 2022
-
In progress
Update resources and guidance for mentors and mentees ready for 2022 mentoring programme
June 2022
-
Complete
Close the registration window for the 2022 mentoring programme
June 2022
-
Complete
Run induction events for mentors and mentees
July 2022
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Complete
Concluding speed matching and send information to participants
July 2022
-
Complete
Survey participants before speed matching has taken place
July 2022
-
In progress
Conclude the 2022 mentoring programme
December 2022
-
In progress
Survey participants in the 2022 mentoring programme
February 2023
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Civil Service LGBT+ conference
Hold an annual conference for LGBT+ civil servants focused on workplace inclusion and career development, starting in 2022.
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Complete
Recruit a lead vice-chair for this work
November 2021
-
Complete
Agree approximate date and approach for the conference
November 2021
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Complete
Recruit and mobilise a conference project team
December 2021
-
Complete
Agree a venue (if in person) and finalise date
April 2022
-
Complete
Scope out content of conference
May 2022
-
Complete
Begin securing speaks and facilitators
May 2022
-
Complete
Open registrations for the conference
June 2022
-
Complete
Publicise conference across the Civil Service
June 2022
-
Complete
Agree an agenda and outcomes for the conference
July 2022
-
Complete
Design and produce conference materials and communications products
September 2022
-
Complete
Close registrations for the conference
September 2022
-
Complete
Finalise agenda, sessions and logistics
September 2022
-
Complete
Hold the 2022 conference in person
October 2022
-
In progress
Hold the a similar conference online for those who were not able to attend in person
October 2022
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Face-to-face socials and networking
Put in place a range of social and networking opportunities across the country.
-
Complete
Restart regular, in-person socials in London
October 2021
-
Complete
Restart regular, in-person socials in the North West of England
Socials to take place in Liverpool and Manchester each month
October 2021
-
Complete
Restart regular, in-person socials in the South West of England
February 2022
-
Complete
Restart regular, in-person socials in Scotland
Socials to take place once every one or two months in Glasgow and Edinburgh from February 2022
February 2022
-
Complete
Restart regular, in-person socials in Wales
February 2022
-
Complete
Establish regular, in-person socials in the North East of England
February 2022
-
Complete
Establish regular, in-person socials in the South East of England
February 2022
-
Complete
Establish regular, in-person socials in the West Midlands of England
February 2022
-
In progress
Establish regular, in-person socials in the East Midlands of England
June 2022
-
In progress
Establish regular, in-person socials in the Yorkshire and Humberside
June 2022
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Digital socials and networking
Put in place a range of social and networking opportunities online.
-
In progress
Create an online space for LGBT+ civil servants and allies to discuss things relevant to them
December 2021
-
In progress
Put in place a regular programme of online social and networking events
July 2022
Bi+ inclusion
Continue to run our ‘BiSpace’ programme for bi+ civil servants.
-
Complete
Develop a plan for BiSpace in 2022
December 2021
-
Complete
Run a BiSpace virtual social
January 2022
-
Complete
Events and activities to highlight bi+ identities during LGBT History Month
February 2022
-
Complete
Run a BiSpace virtual social
March 2022
-
In progress
Events and activities to raise awareness of and tackle biphobic bullying, harassment and discrimination at work.
May 2022
-
In progress
Run a BiSpace virtual social
July 2022
-
In progress
Events and activities for Bi Visibility month
September 2022
-
In progress
Events and activities for Ace Awareness month
October 2022
-
In progress
Run a BiSpace virtual social
November 2022
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Women’s inclusion
Investigate the needs of LGBT+ women in the Civil Service, and create a bespoke programme of work similar to ‘BiSpace’ for LGBT+ women.
-
Complete
Recruit a lead vice-chair for this work
July 2022
-
Complete
Investigate the needs of LGBT+ women civil servants
July 2022
-
Complete
Develop a new programme for LGBT+ women
January 2023
Minority ethnicity inclusion
Investigate the needs of LGBT+ people with minority ethnicities in the Civil Service, and create a bespoke programme of work similar to ‘BiSpace’ for LGBT+ people with minority ethnicities.
-
Complete
Recruit a lead vice-chair for this work
February 2023
-
In progress
Develop a new programme for staff who are LGBT+ and who have a minority ethnicity
June 2023
Trans and non-binary inclusion
Investigate the needs of trans and non-binary staff in the Civil Service, and create a bespoke programme of work similar to ‘BiSpace’ for trans and non-binary staff.
-
Complete
Recruit a lead vice-chair for this work
November 2021
-
Complete
Carry out a consultation with trans and non-binary members to understand their experiences and asks of the Civil Service LGBT+ Network
January 2022
-
Complete
Present a draft trans and non-binary inclusion plan to the Civil Service LGBT+ Network and a:gender leadership teams
February 2022
-
Complete
Publish a trans and non-binary inclusion plan
June 2022
-
In progress
Recruit a team of volunteers to deliver the plan
June 2022
-
In progress
Begin delivering the new trans and non-binary inclusion programme
June 2022
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Allies
Create a programme of work to engage allies across the Civil Service.
-
In progress
Recruit a lead vice-chair for this work
July 2022
-
In progress
Conduct a survey and series of workshops to understand what LGBT+ people need from allies
July 2022
-
In progress
Publish the findings of the survey and workshops
September 2022
-
In progress
Recruit a team of volunteers to develop the resources and activities for ally engagement
September 2022
-
In progress
Begin delivering the new ally engagement programme
September 2022
Pride
Plan and deliver Pride activities across the UK and online.
-
Complete
Recruit a lead vice-chair for this work
October 2021
-
Complete
Agree proposals for Pride participation in 2022 with LGBT+ Champions and Network chairs
December 2021
-
Complete
Recruit a team to help deliver Pride 2022 activities
January 2022
-
Complete
Publish our plans for Pride 2022, including details of whether this will be online or in-person, locations, and how to get involved
March 2022
-
Complete
Open registrations for in-person events (if applicable)
April 2022
-
In progress
Submit business cases for approval
May 2022
-
Complete
Confirm registrations for Pride events with participation limits, for example Pride in London (if applicable)
June 2022
-
In progress
Publish online events programme
June 2022
-
Complete
Take part in Pride events across the UK (if applicable)
August 2022
-
In progress
Hold a set of online Pride events during Summer 2022
August 2022
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Data on LGBT+ civil servants
Provide insights into the demographics and experiences of LGBT+ civil servants that can be easily used by networks and HR teams internally.
-
Complete
Recruit a lead vice-chair for this work
April 2022
-
In progress
Build a prototype tool using publicly available data from the Civil Service People Survey
June 2022
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Supporting local delivery
Put in place a range of interventions to support activities in local areas.
-
Complete
Recruit a lead vice-chair for this work
December 2021
-
Complete
Develop a plan for events and activities in each of the English regions and devolved nations, covering socials, networking, learning and development, and workplace inclusion
February 2022
-
Complete
Develop a role description and guidance explaining the tasks, expectations and responsibilities of a local organiser
February 2022
-
In progress
Create a volunteer toolkit explaining common activities and how to do them
February 2022
-
Complete
Improve how local events and activities are publicised across the Network
March 2022
-
Complete
Expand the local organiser team, recruiting volunteers for Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England and Northern Ireland and increasing the number of organisers in each region
June 2022
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Volunteer deal
Improve the support and recognition that volunteers receive when giving up their time for network activities.
-
In progress
Create a volunteer toolkit explaining common activities and how to do them
March 2022
-
In progress
Create a volunteer resources pack making it easy to create documents, digital assets and more for network activities
March 2022
-
In progress
Establish quarterly “all hands” meetings where the whole volunteer team can come together to share their work.
January 2023
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Networks
Create regular ways for leaders of departmental networks to input to pan-Civil Service priorities and provide feedback on the work of the Civil Service LGBT+ Network.
-
Complete
Hold January 2022 Leaders of Networks forum
January 2022
-
Complete
Restart a quarterly Leaders of Networks forum
January 2022
-
Complete
Hold April 2022 Leaders of Networks forum
April 2022
-
Complete
Hold July 2022 Leaders of Networks forum
July 2022
-
In progress
Hold October 2022 Leaders of Networks forum
October 2022
-
In progress
Hold January 2023 Leaders of Networks forum
January 2023
-
In progress
Hold April 2023 Leaders of Networks forum
April 2023
-
In progress
Hold July 2023 Leaders of Networks forum
July 2023
-
In progress
Hold October 2023 Leaders of Networks forum
October 2023
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.
Making the network work
Operational changes to the way the network is organised and operates, to make things work better for the future.
-
Complete
Update the design and core functionality of the network website
October 2021
-
Complete
Publish a new business plan
November 2021
-
Complete
Expand the Civil Service LGBT+ Network's team of vice-chairs
November 2021
-
Complete
Change bulk email provider from MailChimp
December 2021
-
In progress
Establish a regular Chair's question time
January 2022
-
In progress
Update the Network's constitution
March 2022
Team members involved in this work
These are the members of our volunteer team that are delivering this programme of work. Contact them directly if you'd like to get involved.