FOI Release: Staff networks

Please include the following information for the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25:

1. A list of all the staff networks at the organisation

2. Whether each network receives internal funding and, if so, how much (please express annually for the last four financial years)

3. How much FTE equivalent staff time each network is entitled to. For example, a staff network may have a chair who’s entitled to spend 10% of their working hours devoted to the network (please express annually for the last three financial years)

4. A list of events that each network has held in this financial year so far (April to the present day), including the title of the event, information on any guest speakers and the time of the event

2023/24

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. The requested information on our staff networks for 2023/24 is published on our website as it was released under a previous FOISA request (CW-2024-152) on 03 April 2024: https://www.ros.gov.uk/about/publications/freedom-of-information-releases/2024/foi-release-staff-networks.

2024/25

1. Carers Network, Neurodiversity Network, Pride (LGBT+) Network and a new network was added this year for Younger Colleagues.

2. Our networks did not have an allocated budget in 2024/25. However, requests for expenditure could be made through the D&I Lead as part of our wider People & Change budget. No requests were made.

3. We do not set an entitlement in relation to time. Individuals agree their level of participation with their line managers. Our Carers Network has scheduled 1-hour monthly meetings, as well as an optional 25 minute weekly drop-in style session. The Younger Colleagues, Neurodiversity and Pride networks do not have scheduled meetings; members of these networks communicate through written digital communication channels, such as Teams.

4. The networks have not held any events. Their primary role is to provide peer support as well as advice and guidance to colleagues.

Further information about our networks can be found in our Equality and Diversity mainstreaming report  and our D&I strategy 2023-2028.