Our staff networks

We know that diverse teams offer more ideas and help us to understand and support the borough we serve better. Diverse teams help us to grow and look at the world in a different way. One person's unique take on something can help us to create a better service.

We want to make sure that our colleagues have a voice in the workplace and we have five staff network groups that represent key people within the organisation.

Our staff networks provide colleagues who have a collective heritage, experience or characteristic with an opportunity to come together monthly and support each other within the organisation, as well as providing a voice to raise concerns to NTC in a productive appropriate way.

DisLoc (Disability, Long Term Health Conditions and Carers)

Our DisLoC network group provides a supportive community for colleagues with a disability, long term condition or are carers, offering advice and guidance in a confidential setting as well as discussing new ideas and raising awareness on improving best practice in the organisation. DisLoC has helped to introduce a designated support hub for carers and colleagues with a disability to access information and been involved in the design of awareness training for colleagues.

We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Diversity of Thought

The Diversity of Thought network celebrates and supports neurodiverse colleagues and their allies in our workplace. They aim to raise awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace and influence policy and practice to best support neurodiverse colleagues. They are involved in working with NTC’s neurodiversity taskforce to develop policy to support colleagues, customers and residents who are neurodiverse.

Ethnic Diversity

Our Ethnic Diversity Staff Network focuses in increasing cultural awareness and celebrating diversity across the organisation, The group discusses ideas to make positive cultural changes as well as methods to increase diversity. The group have led several Tea and Talks promoting allyship in the organisation.

The group has been instrumental in developing our Anti Racism Promise and its action plan as well as supporting the Council in our successful application to be a Race Equality Matters Bronze trailblazer.

Gender Equity

Gender Equity is a group of colleagues who are passionate about gender equality. All colleagues are welcome to join the group. The group focuses on a number of gender issues and has participated in the development of some of our new initiatives such as our more flexible leave options process, the development of family policies and the availability of sanitary products at our offices.

Pride (LGBT+)

Our Pride network is open to all LGBT+ colleagues and aims to offer support to their colleagues in a confidential setting as well as promoting LGBT+ equality and advising on policy to support the community. The aim of the group is to help NTC to adopt a working environment where everyone is welcome. Recently the group supported our People Team in creating trans, non-binary and gender diverse awareness guidance for colleagues. The group also participates in annual LGBT+ events across the North East in line with our equality calendar.

Inclusion Allies

Our Inclusion Allies support all colleagues, especially those who may feel excluded, marginalised or lonely by listening to their concerns and offering signposting for support. They work with our ED&I team to promote, support and educate colleagues on equality as part of our ongoing programme of work.