Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Supporting our university community
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to flourish in an inclusive environment. We take a proactive approach to advancing equity and inclusion for all our students, staff and stakeholders, regardless of age, disability, race/ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, religion or belief/non-belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. We actively encourage engagement from our staff and student community to inform our EDI work.
We have four staff equity fora (disability, LGBT+ staff, multi-ethnicity and women’s) that offer opportunity to share lived experiences, provide mutual support and raise awareness about equity within the University.
A wide range of support is available for students and staff.
Students
AccessAbility
Provides support for any student at the University who needs help because of dyslexia (or any other specific learning difficulty), a disability of any sort or a long-term condition.
Learn more about AccessAbility
Carers and Parents Network
A space to exchange experiences and provide mutual support to staff and students with caring and parenting responsibilities.
carers_parents@leicester.ac.uk
Student societies
Leicester Students’ Union affiliated societies. Over 200 societies available to students to join, whether you are looking to connect with others, try something new alongside your studies or want to pick up a hobby or interest you already have.
Get more information about student societies
Student support services
Information and support available to students from the moment you arrive until the day you graduate to ensure you get the most out of your time at Leicester.
Browse our student support services
Student support and wellbeing
Student wellbeing service offers a wide range of free and confidential services to any students who need them. The service can be accessed at any time, before you arrive and during your time at Leicester.
Find out more about support and wellbeing
Students’ Union Liberation Officer
Leicester Students’ Union contact representing students for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Learn more about the Students' Union Liberation Officer
University of Leicester Chaplaincy
A place of welcome for students and staff of all faiths and none.
Staff
Staff Disability Adviser
Provides advice and support to disabled staff on workplace reasonable adjustments including applying for access to work, strategies to manage a disability or condition in the workplace and using assistive technology software provided on the network (such as Inspiration and Read and Write).
staffdisability@leicester.ac.uk
Staff equity fora
Staff equity fora are inclusive of all staff who have an interest and commitment to championing and advancing equity and inclusion. The following staff equity fora are open to all staff who share the relevant equality characteristic and provides a platform and opportunity for staff to share lived experiences and offer mutual support, exchange information, ideas and raise awareness about equalities within the University in a confidential and safe space:
- Disability staff forum
- LGBT+ staff forum
- Multi-ethnicity staff forum
- Women’s staff forum
Carers and Parents Network
A space to exchange experiences and provide mutual support to staff and students with caring and parenting responsibilities.
carers_parents@leicester.ac.uk
Staff health and wellbeing
Provides a holistic and comprehensive package of advice, support, resources, and events. The Occupational Health Team provides specialist occupational health advice to staff and managers on maintaining a safe and healthy working environment, and ensuring that the health needs of staff are accommodated within the workplace.
Learn more about staff health and wellbeing
Reasonable adjustments
In addition to proactively removing barriers to ensure a disability inclusive environment, we are committed to making reasonable adjustments and providing support for disabled staff to enable them to undertake their role and to develop in their career. This includes our recruitment process for disabled candidates, new and existing disabled members of staff, and those who acquire a disability whilst working for the University.
Read the reasonable adjustment guide for staff (Word, 256kb)
University of Leicester Chaplaincy
A place of welcome for students and staff of all faiths and none.
Inclusive campus facilities
Assistance animals on campus policy
We welcome assistance animals on to our campus. We recognise the role assistance animals have in supporting and assisting disabled people.
Learn more about our policy (docx., 51kb)
AccessAble
Access guides available for University campus buildings and services, including faith spaces.
Baby changing facilities
Available to all staff, students and visitors.
- Charles Wilson Building: Mezzanine Level, unisex accessible toilet
- College House: Ground Floor
- Danielle Brown Sports Centre: Women's Changing Room
- David Wilson Library: Café, unisex accessible toilet
- George Davies Centre: Room Z0.19, Ground Floor, unisex accessible toilet
- Maurice Shock Building: Café, First Floor, unisex accessible toilet
Infant feeding rooms
Available to all staff, students and visitors.
- Attenborough Seminar Block, first floor, room 103
- Access can be arranged via Estates and Campus Services: +44 (0)116 252 2319/ecs-service@le.ac.uk
- Charles Wilson Building, mezzanine floor, pod 14
- Access can be arranged via Estates and Campus Services: +44 (0)116 252 2319/ecs-service@le.ac.uk
- George Davies Centre, room 2.42
- Access can be arranged from the reception desk, ground floor of the George Davies Centre
- Percy Gee Building, first floor, room 1.12
- Open space, no access arrangements needed.
Prayer Spaces
Available to all staff, students and visitors.
There are a number of prayer spaces available across the whole of the campus, with ablution facilities in some areas, we are working to ensure that all prayer spaces have ablution facilities made available.
Opening hours 8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday. Out of hours (6.00pm to 8.00am and weekends) ID swipe access only, arranged via Estates and Campus Services: 0116 252 2319 / ecs-service@le.ac.uk
Locations:
- Charles Wilson Building, mezzanine floor
The brothers’ prayer room is located immediately to your left, whilst the sisters’ prayer room is at the end of the corridor on your right. - Maurice Shock Building, University Road, Room G07
ID cards to be shown at reception when entering the building - Brookfield Campus, London Road, Brookfield House, Room 0.06
- Freemen’s Common Campus, Reception Building, Welford Road
Staff Quiet Room
The Staff Quiet Room is available exclusively to neurodivergent and disabled colleagues, and those with a long-term health condition. It offers a quiet space to go to during the working day, for a brief period of rest, to escape from sensory overload, or to manage a health condition.
Location:
Charles Wilson Building, Mezzanine Floor, within the Student Study Pod Area, Pod 2.
Operates on a drop-in basis for flexibility, and can be accessed via staff swipe card at any time during the working day. The room is designed for use by one person at a time, to allow for undisturbed rest.
Toilet facilities
Accessible and gender inclusive toilet facilities are available across campus.
External support
Autism Space Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
A central hub of information specifically for autistic people and family members living in Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicester LGBT Centre
A voluntary organisation established to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Find out more about the Leicester LGBT Centre
The Learning Support Centre
Provides a range of specialist disability support services that are tailored to individual needs.
Get more information about the Learning Support Centre
The Race Equality Centre (TREC)
Provides support and guidance around racial harassment and discrimination issues.
University Security
Available 24/7 and will respond directly to incidents on campus. Call +44 (0)116 252 2023 or in an emergency +44 (0)116 252 2888, this can also be done via the SafeZone app.