All Equality & Diversity courses

We would like to have more conversations going into the detail of how we can best support members and potential members of the Disabled Staff Network.

If you would like to take part, please sign up to one of the two Focus Group sessions running in January 2022.

More information to follow.

Working with Fatigue or Energy Impairment

Many disabled staff find ourselves trying to work while managing our Fatigue or Energy Impairment. Doing this is, at best, difficult, and made more-so by our sense that if we mention it, we risk being labelled “lazy”. Hence we tend to struggle on, alone and in silence.

As more colleagues with long-Covid return to work, now feels like a good time for us to begin talking openly about what it feels like and how we can start to improve things.

We are holding an Online panel discussion, beginning with Dr Anna Ruddock from the Chronic Illness Inclusion Project, plus members of the DSN talking about our lived-experience and opening into a wider conversation about working with Fatigue and /or Energy Impairment.

To maximise inclusion we invite you to join our 1 hour discussion over lunch time. Find a comfortable place to sit and feel free to bring your lunch.

We are pleased to be holding the first informal social event for members of the Disabled Staff Network during this year's Mental Health Awareness Week programme.

From the focus groups held when the Staff Network was first set up, social isolation was identified as an issue for the network members. We hope that by running regular drop-in sessions such as this, we can help individuals make connections, share experiences and provide peer support.

We look forward to seeing you at the Disabled Staff Network’s first event, which will be on the subject of loneliness.

Members of the DSN Committee will open the conversation by reflecting on their experiences of loneliness and isolation. This will be followed by an informal discussion where everyone is welcome to share their thoughts, in whatever format is most comfortable.

We hope that the event will be an opportunity to get to know one another, listen to and reflect on each other's experiences.

This event is for members of the Disabled Staff Network. To join, please sign up using this link

Is mindfulness training like physical exercise but for the mind, that will improve our health and wellbeing?

This is a frequent comparison, but how far can it be stretched?

We will discuss the scientific evidence available and explore its most critical issues before you decide to go for some mindful pull ups.

Dr Julieta Galante, Department of Psychiatry

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Delivered in a safe and supportive environment, this sexual harassment prevention training offers individuals the opportunity to learn about the different factors that might create and perpetuate a work environment in which harassment and bullying occur, and strategies for how to address this.

This session is only for MML staff.

Staff Review and Development (Appraisal) provides the opportunity for supervisors, managers and academics to engage in constructive discussion with their staff or academic colleagues about current and future work and their personal and career development.

This session is to clarify the nature of SRD and its objectives, and consider best practice for individuals and those supporting SRD more broadly in Departments.

Loneliness and isolation are increasing in societies all around the world, particularly in young people. Yet, the effects of loneliness on brain function and cognition are not clear. In this talk, Dr Livia Tomova, will present recent findings on how loneliness impacts brain function and cognition in young adults and adolescents. The implications of this research in the light of mental health problems will be discussed.

Dr Livia Tomova, Henslow Research Fellow and Director of Studies for Psychological and Behavioural Studies,

Have you ever wondered what training GPs receive about the menopause or how to discuss your menopause symptoms with your GP? We are delighted to welcome Dr Madeleine Lameris who will discussing her own medical training, how this has evolved and what current undergraduate medical students are now taught. Madeleine will also provide her top tips as a GP for accessing better menopause care.

Dr Madeleine Lameris is the General Practice Education Group Year 5 and Curriculum lead in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University, and also has a role at Cambridge Clinical School curating Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) content. Madeleine is in the process of completing her Masters in Medical Education, and she is a salaried GP at Buckden and Little Paxton Surgery. Madeleine has an interest in women’s health and menopause, and with her medical education hat on, is currently working with the team at the Newson Health Menopause Society to widen undergraduate access to menopause resources.

In this session, the Legal Services Office will provide staff in HR related roles with an employment law update, including the latest in case law and forthcoming legislation changes.

Listed after session from emailed list

Where Do You Draw The Line - Miriam Lynn

• This module introduces Equality & Diversity at the University

Equality Impact Assessments: Embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion The Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is the University’s mechanism for undertaking equality analysis of new, or changes to existing, policies, functions or practice. This helps us to understand the actual, or potential, impact of policies, functions or practice when assessed against the nine protected characteristics. This session will explain:

• what the process is
• what policies and functions should undergo an EIA
• who is responsible for undertaking EIAs

Examples will be given examples of situations where EIAs have been used.

Come and join Dr Susanna Unsworth for an informal discussion on all aspects of the menopause. Topics covered will include:

• What exactly is the ‘menopause’?
• When might it affect me?
• What can I expect?
• Self-care and HRT options

Followed by an open Q&A session Take the opportunity to find out the truth about the menopause!

Joining instructions will be provide on your booking confirmation email.

This will be an interactive workshop for those who would like to increase their understanding of race and racism.

The aim of the session is not only to enhance participants’ confidence in speaking about race but also to provide them with tools to reflect on their role in the circulation of racism, and to build their capacity to challenge racism.

VENUE: Donald McIntyre Building - Faculty of Education, Room 1S7

The Faculty of Maths is hosting “Respect at Work” workshops for ALL staff as part of the University wide E&D policy and training programme.

This session will be held in room MR3. (Please disregard the AL.01 part of the venue address)

The Faculty of Maths is hosting “Respect at Work” workshops for ALL staff as part of the University wide E&D policy and training programme.

This session will be held in room MR3. (Please disregard the AL.01 part of the venue address)

While the ‘imposter syndrome’ has been somewhat trivialised in social media recently, the impostor phenomenon (as it is more correctly known) is of key concern to those in higher education. Initiatives aimed at broadening participation of under-represented groups (e.g. women in STEM, first in family, BAME students) will be less than successful unless ‘feelings of intellectual fraudulence’ associated with ‘otherness’ is addressed and diminished. This of course, relates to both staff and students.

This introductory workshop, delivered by Dr Theresa Simpkin, aims to highlight the implications of impostor phenomenon in the higher education setting, highlighting how the often debilitating experience can adversely affect achievement, engagement and learning experiences on campus and into the workplace. The workshop also introduces some responses that may assist faculty and support services to address the experience faced by many students and staff alike.

This event is hosted and provided by the University of Cambridge Women’s Staff Network and is open to member and non-members

Dr Theresa (Terri) Simpkin BBA (HRM), BCom (Hons), PhD, PGCert(HE), MCIPD, CPHR, Churchill Fellow Terri Simpkin is an industry experienced academic, educator, researcher, public speaker and an authority on the impostor phenomenon.

Terri is an Associate Professor and Head of MBA Programmes (Int’l) at the University of Nottingham and a Visiting Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University. Her current research interest has developed into ‘Braver Stronger Smarter’ – a suite of initiatives designed to address personal and structural issues leading to workplace inequity and the under-representation of women in leadership, STEM occupations and higher education. As CEO of her own company, Mischief Business Engineering, she has worked globally with governments, industry associations, large and small business and is an accomplished international academic manager.

Flexible working gives employees flexibility on where and when they work, allowing them to balance home and career. A panel of managers from the Clinical School will provide insight into their experience of supporting staff who work flexibly and the benefits and challenges such arrangements can bring.

Coming back into the workplace after a few months off is hard at the best of times, but combined with new caring responsibilities and sleep deprivation, it can feel like a huge step.

In partnership with My Family Care, this session will signpost tools and tactics for getting back to work, building confidence and balancing career and family.

The Fitzwilliam Msueum is hosting “Where Do You Draw the Line?” workshops for ALL staff as part of the University-wide E&D policy and training programme.

Session Objectives:

• Know what the University has in place to support and sustain a positive and thriving working environment for all staff and students
• Clarify the expectations about professional behaviour in the HE context of a) what is acceptable and unacceptable? and b) the ‘grey’ areas
• Understand the terms bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct and know what is in place to deal with these with a zero-tolerance approach
• Know what you can do to create and sustain a positive and thriving environment for everyone.

Eton Fives is a hand-ball game, played in a three-sided court. It is only played as "doubles" (i.e. by two teams of two players).

Players wear padded leather gloves, since the ball (which is slightly large than a golf-ball and made of rubber and cork) is quite hard. Eton Fives can also be referred to as a game of hazards! Rugby Fives, first played at Rugby School, is essentially squash with your hands, but far quicker. Different from Eton Fives, it sees all obstacles removed, a back wall added and a lower line to hit the ball above. The ball is almost like a mini baseball and therefore thick padded gloves are essential for this game.

This session, run by the Sports Service Community Sports Coach will give you the opportunity to try your hand at the two versions of the sport. Changing facilities are available on site and participants are asked to wear trainers. The Sports Service will provide gloves.

This session is an opportunity to find out more about the work ourcambridge and colleagues in the HR Division are progressing on supporting flexible working opportunities.

You will hear about the different types of flexible working, the benefits, how to overcome barriers and how you can help build a flexible working culture within your area.

This webinar aims to recognise how diet and lifestyle impacts overall health and wellbeing especially in the ‘new normal’ academic workplace, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, we will discuss how the food we eat and lifestyle choices we make can have direct and indirect effects on our function, and speakers will access practical strategies to integrate healthy habits as part of daily routines.

Speakers: Professor Sumantra Ray, Dr Minha Rajput-Ray, Helena Trigueiro RD, Shane McAuliffe RD

You are invited to join one of two upcoming online focus groups on gender equality at Cambridge.

We want to understand more about people’s lived experiences of their working environment and work culture, and how those are affected by gender (and other protected characteristics).

The discussions are inclusive and open to individuals of all genders.

The University Gender Champions, Professor Sarah Colvin and Dr Liz Hide, will be in attendance to listen and guide the discussion.

The data from these focus groups will complement other data being gathered – for example by the Staff Culture Survey circulated earlier this year – as part of the University’s application to renew its Silver Athena Swan Charter.

This is an online session

Hear the story and see highlights of the largest collection of art by women in Europe with curator Harriet Loffler. Murray Edwards College

Joining instructions will be provided on your booking confirmation email.

A brief look at:

• the psychological impact of the COVID pandemic and lockdown on adults and adolescents
• the potential for mixed feelings as COVID restrictions lift
• taking care of our mental health as we go back to our ‘normal’ lives

Dr Zoe Martin, Principal Clinical Psychologist in Major Trauma & Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Staff Mental Health Service Dr Anna Conway-Morris, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist & Training Programme Director for Child Psychiatry

Our systems of recognition and reward play an important part in creating a positive research culture.

This session will look at the connection between recognition and research culture, and will encourage you to explore how you would like to be recognised, and how you can recognise others, in order to promote a positive and healthy research culture for yourself, your research group and department.

This session is being delivered by Liz Simmonds, Assistant Head, Postdoc Academy, Chair of the Research Culture Working Group

This session is for staff in HR related roles and will:

• Introduce the Global Mobility policy and associated guidance documentation.
• Explore the key considerations when sending or recruiting someone to work overseas on an Assignment.
• Discuss different types of overseas working and the processes applicable to each case.

Please note: The seminar will be very similar in content to the Global Mobility Seminar held in August 2019.

Join Museum Director Liz Hide for a women's history tour of the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, exploring some feminist themes within the museum's collections of rocks and fossils.

The 45 minute tour will introduce you to some of the hidden figures and pioneering women who have contributed to the study and understanding of Earth sciences.

This event is hosted and provided by the University of Cambridge Women’s Staff Network and is open to members only. To join the Women’s Staff Network, please visit our website

Limited places

The University’s work on race and racism has been acknowledged with the Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter (REC) Bronze award.

As part of the institutional work, we developed a three-year REC action plan to tackle racial inequalities.

The event will help departments make sense of the REC action plan, and to develop their own initiatives aligned with the institutional approach.

Homerton's dazzling gardens with over 25 acres of beautiful lawns create a calm, comfortable, and peaceful College environment in Cambridge. You can enjoy the beautiful grounds, orchards, and flowers with head gardener Helen Andre Cripps.

Anxiety and depression is high and we're looking for new ways to take back control of our lives.

New ways to become resilient and bounce back. Whether you've been dealt a good or bad hand in life, now is the time to take charge and bounce back to get closer to the life you want.

Dr. Olivia Remes will be sharing tips on overcoming obstacles in life and becoming resilient, based on research. This is especially important now that we're dealing with a second lockdown and our mental health has been affected in more ways than one.

Her work has been featured by the BBC and she's been invited to give TED talks on anxiety and loneliness.

Zoom joining instructions will be provided on your booking confirmation email.

Anxiety and depression is high and we're looking for new ways to take back control of our lives. New ways to become resilient and bounce back. Whether you've been dealt a good or bad hand in life, now is the time to take charge and bounce back to get closer to the life you want.

Dr. Olivia Remes will be sharing tips on overcoming obstacles in life, achieving wellbeing and becoming resilient, based on research. Olivia's research has been featured by the BBC and USA Today. She is also a life coach helping people let go of fear, tackle challenges and reach their goals in life. She is the author of the book, The Instant Mood Fix, which contains strategies for tackling anxiety, procrastination, and indecision, among others - she will be touching on some of these themes in her talk.

Dr. Remes has a PhD in mental health from the University of Cambridge, where she has also worked for the past decade.

You can read more about Dr. Remes here

Professor Barbara J Sahakian and Dr Christelle Langley will present evidence-based methods for improving cognition and wellbeing.

A key focus will be on how to get the perfect night's sleep. Many people have experienced considerable stress over the past couple of years as a result of concerns over climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine and the increased cost of living.

This talk will discuss research showing what you can do to ensure good cognition and wellbeing as well as better physical health.

Professor Barbara J Sahakian - Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology in the Department of Psychiatry.

Dr Christelle Langley - Research Associate in the Department of Psychiatry.

Now more than ever, there is a need for compassion in the workplace. But what do we mean by a ‘compassionate workplace’, and what are the benefits of being more compassionate – towards ourselves and others?

In this session, Jonathan Taylor, an Occupational Psychologist from Pearn Kandola, will explore compassion at work, and discuss what we currently know about the benefits of practicing self-compassion and of compassion towards others. We will also introduce the role of the ‘compassionate leader’ in the months ahead, and share some practical ideas that you can introduce to support yourself and others.

Highly recommended for people managers and anyone interested in supporting your own wellbeing and that of your colleagues.

This will be an interactive workshop for those who would like to increase their understanding of race and racism.

The aim of the session is not only to enhance participants’ confidence in speaking about race but also to provide them with tools to reflect on their role in the circulation of racism, and to build their capacity to challenge racism.

This will be an interactive workshop for those who would like to increase their understanding of race and racism.

The aim of the session is not only to enhance participants’ confidence in speaking about race but also to provide them with tools to reflect on their role in the circulation of racism, and to build their capacity to challenge racism.

Delivered in a safe and supportive environment, this harassment prevention training offers individuals the opportunity to learn about the different factors that might create and perpetuate a work environment in which harassment and bullying occur, and strategies for how to address this.

This training session is only open to I.C.E. staff members

Delivered in a safe and supportive environment, this harassment prevention training offers individuals the opportunity to learn about the different factors that might create and perpetuate a work environment in which harassment and bullying occur, and strategies for how to address this.

Delivered in a safe and supportive environment, this harassment prevention training offers individuals the opportunity to learn about the different factors that might create and perpetuate a work environment in which harassment and bullying occur, and strategies for how to address this.

This training session is only open to I.C.E. staff members

This session is for staff in HR related roles and will provide an overview of recent changes to the UK immigration system for non-EEA nationals, and an update on ‘Brexit’.

For the latter, practical guidance will be provided in respect of EU nationals and recruitment/immigration matters in the context of the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

Would you like a better understanding of your current physical health? 

If yes, book in for one of our free ‘Health Checks’ which will take you through some simple, non-invasive tests.

These checks will consist of: -

• Measurement of your height and weight
• Blood pressure test
• Body composition test
• Flexibility test

Please adhere to the following before attending:

• No eating or drinking 4 to 5 hours prior to the test
• No exercise 12 hours prior to the test
• No alcohol or caffeine consumption 24 hours prior to the test
• Wear clothes that allow access to your upper arm (e.g. short sleeved t shirt)

The duration of the health check should be around 20 minutes.

Please note: the results of the health check are not to be taken as firm medical advice. If you have any worries about your health, please consult a medical specialist.

Join Rachel Krys, Co-Director, End Violence Against Women to discuss current issues around sexual harassment and the challenges that wider cultural attitudes bring to issues of tackling abuse against women and girls.

Tackling sexual harassment and sexual violence – what has #MeToo achieved?

In the year #MeToo became a global phenomenon, with women in many countries speaking out sometimes for the first time about sexual harassment and sexual violence, are we seeing progress? Are our institutions prepared to make the changes needed to prevent and properly respond to sexual violence? Is our justice system fit for purpose and able to deliver justice? Are the powerful still able to act with impunity and use the system to silence their victims?

Rachel Krys, co-director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, will talk about her experience of campaigning to end sexual violence in the last year. Sharing the latest findings from new research into attitudes which reinforce victim blaming and allow rapists off the hook, Rachel will talk about the progress being made and the challenges which remain.

Rachel Krys Biography

Rachel Krys is co-Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, a UK-wide coalition of women’s organisations working to end all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic and sexual violence, forced marriage, FGM, trafficking, abuse related to prostitution, stalking, sexual harassment and more. The Coalition lobbies national and local government to improve its policy and practice in these areas (from criminal justice to welfare, education and health). EVAW’s campaigning for better prevention and response includes commentating in the media and using strategic litigation to challenge inequality and barriers to justice. EVAW successfully intervened in the Supreme Court challenge to the Metropolitan Police in their handling of the investigation of the rapist John Worboys, and has played a significant role in campaigning for a Whole School Approach to tackling sexual violence and harassment, including calling for statutory relationships and sex education. EVAW and members are currently campaigning for an end to end review of how the criminal justice system responds to sexual violence crimes.

Previously, Rachel worked for 15 years with employers, campaigning for inclusive workplaces and tackling discrimination at work. Most recently Rachel was part of the team which set up Equally Ours, a strategic communications campaign working to reframe the conversation about equality and human rights in the UK.

Gender Equality, Cambridge and Me! Past to Present.

The Women’s Staff Network and University Gender Equality Champions invite you to attend a panel discussion, chaired by Liz Hide, University Gender Equality Champion STEMM

Come and take part in this lunchtime panel discussion where we will consider gender equality in relation to what matters to us, what the bigger picture is for gender equality at the University and if/how the issues of gender equality have changed over the years.

Panellists include:

• Anjum Nahar, Postgraduate President, Cambridge Students’ Union
• George Cronin, LGBT+ Network
• Jenni Skinner, Co-Chair, Race Equality Network (REN)
• Jenny Rampling, Chair, Women's Staff Network (WSN)
• Miriam Lynn, Equality Diversity and Inclusion
• Sarah Colvin, University Gender Equality Champion AHSSB&L

Everyone is very welcome to attend, post questions to the panel and join the discussion.

European led initiatives have undoubtedly changed the nature of equality policies in the Member States. Women in the UK have benefited greatly from membership of the EU/EEC; thus, looking at Brexit as a process provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the relationship, and patterns of influence, between European and national legislation. For this year's Lecture, we warmly welcome Roberta Guerrina, Professor of Politics at the University of Surrey and expert in EU gender politics and policies.

Professor Guerrina is interested in understanding the impact of gender (hierarchies) on key policy areas traditionally seen as gender neutral, such as Brexit, Security and Defence. Currently, she is working on the unintended gender consequences of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. She has published in the area of Brexit; Women, Peace & Security; work-life balance; Identity politics and the idea of Europe. She is also Jean Monnet Chair and co-founder of the UACES funded collaborative research network "Gendering EU Studies".

She co-authored one of the leading articles on the gendered impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU: "Walking in the Shadow of EU Law" (with Annick Masselot) and during this talk she will explore the gendered nature of the process of withdrawing from the European Union.

Dr Emily Shuckburgh OBE is the Director of Cambridge Zero. She is also Reader in Environmental Data Science in the Department of Computer Science and Technology.

Dr Shuckburgh will share the extent of her work on climate change and communicating this to the public, and will discuss how gender plays a part in the bigger environmental picture.

The Women’s Staff Network (WSN) would like to invite our members to a discussion with Professor Kamal Munir to share our thoughts and discuss how we can work together to improve the working lives of women at the university. Kamal is keen to hear our experiences, where things are going well and where we can make improvements. The event is part of the WSN’s celebration of International Women’s Day.

This event is only open to members of the Women’s Staff Network – to join the WSN please visit the website

Professor Kamal Munir is Pro Vice Chancellor for University Community and Engagement, and Professor of Strategy and Policy. Prof Munir has published numerous articles in leading organisational and management journals. His work has been quoted and cited in several forums, including the BBC, CNN, ABC, World Economic Forum, Financial Times, the Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Wired magazine, and BusinessWeek among many others. Prof Munir has won several teaching awards and consulted for several public and private sector organisations. He is a Fellow of Homerton College, Cambridge and Academic Director of the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy.

Overall Aims:

• Help recognise your signs of stress and anxiety
• To ‘normalise’ stress, anxiety, worry
• To understand the power of our individual attitude towards stress & anxiety
• To foster resilience and coping with stress and anxiety
• Be given the time in our busy lives to consider our individual responses to stress and anxiety

This workshop will be an opportunity to learn about stress and anxiety and begin to think about our own experiences. Come prepared with a pen and paper as there will be some self-reflective exercises.

• Introduction to stress and anxiety
• Simple breathing technique
• Considering ‘good versus bad’ stress
• Sources of stress
• Difference between anxiety and stress
• Individual symptoms

Delivered by Euan Ambrose from the University Counselling Centre

Joining instructions will be provided on your booking confirmation email.