The Council are committed to promoting the value of diversity and inclusion through education and awareness to achieve an inclusive culture where staff and customers are valued for who they are.
The Council’s Senior Diversity Champions actively and visibly support the Council’s staff networks: Allies; Disability & Carers; Neurodiversity; Perthyn (LGBTQIA+) and Spotlight (Race equality).
Our Diversity and Inclusion team support on Council policies and strategies, such as the Equality and Diversity Policy, Dignity at Work Policy, the Strategic Equality Plan and Equality Impact Assessments. They work with internal and external partners to deliver the Council's commitment to achieving equality for all. Some of the organisations they work with are listed below:
Business Disability Forum
The Business Disability Forum (BDF) are a not-for-profit organisation that work with businesses and government across the globe to champion disability inclusion. The BDF provide specialist partnership advice on how the Council can be more Disability Smart.
Business in the Community (Race at Work Charter)
Business in the Community (BITC) are a UK business charity that promote responsible, sustainable business practice. BITC provide advice and training on how business and government can make a positive impact on our local communities. The Council have signed BITC’s ‘Race at Work Charter’, which helps us to promote race equality across the borough, from our organisation to local businesses.
Disability Confident
Disability Confident is a UK government scheme that encourages employers to think differently about disability and employment. The Council are a Level 2 Disability Employer. For more information about the Disability Confident scheme, please visit the Government’s Disability Confident website
Disability Forum
The Disability Forum meet up several times a year and is open to all residents of Rhondda Cynon Taf. It offers a safe space to discuss any barriers that may have been experienced when accessing Council Services. Ideas on how to improve service provision are welcomed. Members are also given an opportunity to engage in consultations from various Council departments. We want to make the Council’s services as inclusive as possible and welcome views from RCT residents who have disabilities and those with an interest in disability issues. For more information, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion team on 01443 444529 or email
equality@rctcbc.gov.uk
Proud Councils
Founded in 2015, Proud Councils is a collective of Local Authorities across Wales dedicated to coming together to support LGBTQIA+ issues and events. More information on Proud Councils can be found on the Proud Councils section of the Council’s website.
Autism Aware
We want to make sure that our services are as accessible as possible. The Council are currently working towards becoming an Autism Wales certified Autism Aware organisation. Our Human Resources and Digital Improvement teams have completed the training and received their certification. More information about the Autism Aware certification can be found on
the Autism Wales website
Stonewall
Stonewall are a LGBTQIA+ Charity based in the UK. Stonewall support the rights and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer individuals and advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion and equality in a number of different areas.
RCT Council are a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champion scheme that aims to promote LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace and services that organisations offer. To find out more about Stonewall, or the Diversity Champions scheme, please visit Stonewall UK (website)
Texthelp
The Council use a Texthelp tool called ReachDeck on our main website – this is the toolbar that appears at the top of the page. This tool allows you to have our webpages and PDF’s contained in the website read aloud to you if needed, and also allows you to toggle the pages’ language if needed. For more information on how to use ReachDeck to browse our website, click the question mark icon in the toolbar at the top of the page.
Wales Interpretation and Translation Service (WITS)
The Wales Interpretation and Translation Service (WITS) is an all-Wales organisation that co-ordinates professional and specialist translators for public sector organisations like health boards, government and local Councils. WITS provide the Council with all translation and interpretation in any language other than Welsh, which is dealt with in-house.
Zero Racism Wales (Pledge)
Founded by Race Council Cymru, Zero Racism Wales is a pledge for individuals and organisations to come together with unity and purpose and say NO to racism in all its forms.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council signed the Zero Racism Wales Pledge in January 2021 and are committed to upholding a zero-tolerance policy towards racism in our services and workplaces.
If you would like more information on any of the above content, please email the Council’s Diversity and Inclusion team at equality@rctcbc.gov.uk or telephone 01443 444529.