Seeking Expressions of Interest – EDI Engagement Panel Spring 2025
Dorset Council is merging the work of the EDI Reference Group and Trusted Voices to form a new EDI Engagement Panel. The panel will act as a critical friend to the council and provide feedback on our policies, strategies and service delivery.
We are currently seeking expressions of interest from Voluntary and Community Sector Groups who represent local and national protected characteristics who would like to be part of this work.
Successful organisations will be contracted for a minimum of 30 hours over twelve months and be expected to attend at least four meetings. Each organisation will be offered a grant agreement of £1000 and have the opportunity to represent their user groups, have their voice heard, and help shape the future of Dorset Council services.
If you would like to find out more about the EDI Engagement Panel, please contact the EDI Project Officer, Katherine Locke (katherine.locke@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk), or apply directly via this form: https://bit.ly/452kj8h
Deadline for applications is 14th June 2025
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The role of the EDI Engagement Panel is to:
- ·Act as a critical friend to Dorset Council (and other statutory bodies as agreed).
- Provide valuable feedback and insight on wide ranging Council consultations strategies and service development/improvement.
- Share result of consultations and support Dorset Council in making direct contact with forums and networks as appropriate.
- Enable network and relationship building between communities.
- Establish positive relationships between communities and Dorset Council.
- Build an understanding of the needs of those with protected characteristics.
- Widen the scope of Dorset Council to engage with underserved and underrepresented groups.
Members will work towards supporting Dorset Council to:
- Positively position itself as a body of influence in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion across the council area and beyond.
- Champion change to raise ambitions on the equality, diversity and inclusion agendas for residents, communities and the workforce.
- Contribute to the delivery of responsive and equitable council services.
- Represent their organisation and peers on the EDI Engagement Panel and feedback the key emerging messages to them as appropriate.
All EDI Engagement Panel members contribute to the work of Dorset Council by:
- Attending EDI Engagement Panel meetings (minimum of 4 x per year).
- Contributing positively to meetings in a fair and unbiased manner and look beyond personal interests for the benefit of the broader community they are representing.
- Providing clear strategic direction, challenge and innovation to the work of the Council; providing ongoing insight and a broad range of perspectives.
- Providing ongoing involvement, support and strategic direction to the work carried out by the Council.
- Championing the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda; engaging the whole system in delivering positive and sustained change.
- Ensure links with community networks/forums/members are maintained and ‘community intelligence’ is used to feed back to the Council to help it prioritise and improve outcomes.
- Share results of consultations and support the Council in making direct contact with these forums as appropriate.