Building equity, diversity and inclusion at Two Ridings
At Two Ridings, our vision is simple: communities where everyone can flourish. But flourishing isn’t possible when people are excluded, unheard or held back. Across North & East Yorkshire, too many people still face barriers because of identity, circumstance or inequality.
That’s why equity, diversity and inclusion sit at the heart of who we are and how we work. They guide our decisions as a funder, shape how we bring people together, and underpin our mission to build strong, connected communities where everyone has a fair chance to take part.
We’re committed to:
- Equity — recognising that not everyone starts from the same place and actively removing barriers so people can access opportunities and support.
- Diversity — listening to and learning from the wide range of experiences, identities and perspectives across our region.
- Inclusion — creating spaces where everyone feels safe, respected and able to contribute, especially those whose voices are often excluded or ignored.
We hold ourselves accountable to these principles as an employer, a funder and a partner to communities. We aim to go beyond legal requirements and continually improve, so our work genuinely reflects and supports the people we’re here for.
How we put this into practice
A committed organisation
With a mission to inspire giving that brings people together, strengthens community, and makes life better for everyone, people are a priority in everything we do. For several years our EDI working group, made up of staff and trustees, helped us recognise blind spots, challenge ourselves and take meaningful steps towards being a more inclusive organisation. We now discuss and champion EDI team-wide. Each year, the staff and trustees review progress against an annual EDI accountability plan, and we set new objectives and priorities for the year ahead.
EDI shapes all our policies and practices, from recruitment and procurement to how we design and deliver our grant making.
We comply with equality and anti‑discrimination legislation, and our ambition is to build and nurture a culture that is inclusive and accountable.
Our people
We know our staff and board do not yet reflect the full diversity of our region. We’re gathering better data, listening to our teams and being transparent about where we are now and where the gaps are.
- Staff team (April 2026): 84% women (36–59), 18% men (36–59). We are currently exploring socio‑economic background and disability representation.
- Board of Trustees (April 2026): 62.5% women, 37.5% men. A more detailed diversity survey is planned with trustees and will be published in time.
A more detailed diversity survey is planned for Autumn 2026, with trustees, staff and volunteers. We are committed to publishing the findings of this survey, as well as the relevant regional benchmarks.
Inclusive grant making
We want our funding to be accessible to everyone. Applications can be made online or via Word documents, and we’re actively exploring other formats based on feedback from groups and volunteer assessors.
We’re phasing out PDFs in favour of more accessible formats and are working closely with applicants to understand how we can further improve the accessibility of our application process.
Participatory decision making
We’ve been using participatory decision‑making in several of our grant programmes since 2021, particularly in York and Scarborough. This approach puts people with lived experience of the issues we are supporting at the heart of the process, not just at the end when decisions are made, but right from the start.
People making the decisions help shape every stage of the fund: what it’s for, how the money is allocated, which issues should be prioritised, and who ultimately receives support. They sit on panels, review applications and make the final decisions about how funding is distributed.
It means the people who understand the issues best are the ones guiding the solutions.
Recruitment at Two Ridings
We want everyone who applies to work at Two Ridings feel welcomed, respected and able to show their best. Equity, diversity and inclusion sit at the core of who we are, and we’re committed to making our recruitment fair, accessible and free from discrimination.
We know diverse teams make us stronger. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those currently under‑represented at Two Ridings, including people from the global majority, refugee communities and LGBTQ+ people.
As a Disability Confident committed employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. We also encourage candidates to share any access needs so we can make reasonable adjustments throughout the process.
Contact Celia about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Two Ridings
Call Celia on 01904 929 500
Email [email protected]