National Inclusion Week 2020 - What inclusion means to me: Savannah Sturridge

As part of National Inclusion Week (28 September to 2 October 2020), and in line with the recently established Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, BASES will be sharing stories from the EDI Committee Members on what inclusion means to them, to help raise awareness about Inclusion in the workplace.

National Inclusion Week 2020:

What does inclusion mean to me?

To me, inclusion means embracing everyone regardless of their background and circumstances to feel valued and respected. By creating a safe environment, inclusion offers all of us a sense of empowerment. An example of this is, those of different ages, genders, ethnicities, religions, disabilities, and medical conditions, to name but a few, can collaborate with others with a sense of belonging. By removing any potential barriers that could hinder opportunity, we all should have access to the same facilities and information and allow everyone’s voice to be heard.

Inclusion should involve listening to a variety of perspectives to not only further our learning but understand the wider world around us. For me it is vital that everyone feels as appreciated as those around them. If we achieve this, we can improve happiness and have the confidence to be ourselves without fear of discrimination or prejudice. Having a welcoming environment is important to empower individuals to reach their full potential, and therefore we should all support this. Healthy change such as this will promote more effective communication and problem solving between each other.

Inclusion should not be a privilege, instead should be a basic human right demonstrated across all settings, which means every individual person matters.

As a student on the EDI committee, I want to encourage and support others to lead this change where possible. 

Savannah Sturridge
Student Representative, BASES Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee                                       Third Year BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, Birmingham City University