What does it mean to be an ally?
Allyship is the practice of emphasizing social justice, inclusion, and human rights by members of an ingroup, to advance the interests of an oppressed or marginalized outgroup.
Being an ally is a practice, it requires action.
What do we want to achieve by promoting effective allies?
- There is an increased demand for allyship training for students and staff who want to learn more about unacceptable behaviour and how they can play a role in shifting culture
- There is anecdotal evidence that marginalised members of the community have been encouraged to come forward and report issues, due to a surge in allyship and therefore feeling more safe, included and empowered.
- Improved sense of belonging from marginalised communities
- Increased representation from marginalised groups over time through senior roles and opportunities for students and staff
- Increased uptake and success of mentoring or sponsorship programmes