5 minutes with Matt Lloyd, Communities @One Broker and Diversity Champion
Q: What diversity training have you recently taken part in?
A: Both Michelle and I recently took part in training from Race for Opportunity – part of Business in the Community. The speakers at the event came from the Wales Refugee Council who gave us an overview on refugee and asylums seekers in Wales and the UK.
Q: Are you enjoying the diversity work? What parts do you enjoy most and why?
A: We are all really enjoying the diversity work and find learning more about different aspects of diversity very enjoyable and interesting. So far we’ve learned about diversity generally as a topic in itself and also about diversity in the workplace, asylum seekers and refugees. The key message is about recognising people as individuals and respecting the way they choose to live their lives.
Q: What are the key things you have learned so far and what further diversity topics would you like to learn more about?
A: I’ve definitely learned a lot from getting involved as a Diversity Champion. Not only the importance of the topic but how far-reaching it is and how it’s important to recognise that everyone is an individual.
Q: Is diversity work helping you in your daily work for the Centre?
A: I am now more aware of cultural differences between clients, food requirements at events, different ‘holidays’ and annual events which may affect the scheduling of meetings and so on.
Q: Finally.. is there any information which staff members may wish to be aware of?
A: We are sending ‘diversity dates’ by email to all staff on a monthly basis. The dates help keep diversity issues at the forefront of Centre staff members’ minds. We hope that staff members are now more aware of the impact which diversity has upon our society. As diversity champions we are glad to have taken on this role and hope we can do our best to act as a source of information – should anyone wish to find out more.
