Shine a light on Stonewall (again!)
It’s time to ask again for information from public-sector organisations that participate in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index scheme. We’ve made it easy – will you help?
Last year, many Sex Matters supporters took part in a freedom-of-information campaign initiated by Legal Feminist asking public-sector organisations to disclose information about their dealings with Stonewall. While some organisations disclosed the information (and some of it was very interesting and we were able to generate media and political attention), many refused to disclose the feedback they had received from Stonewall, citing confidentiality or commercial sensitivity.
Now, following appeals, the Information Commission’s Office (ICO) has said this is not good enough and told Oxford and Huddersfield universities that they must release the information. This decision is likely to apply to other organisations too. We have written a briefing about it which you can attach to any request.
It is time to ask for information again!
What we are looking for is information from public-sector organisations that participate in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index scheme (WEI) and submit detailed answers about their policies which are rated and given feedback by Stonewall.
Not every organisation that is part of the Diversity Champions Scheme takes part in the Index, and there is no comprehensive public list, but we have an idea of who does, based on previous responses. If there are other organisations you think are involved you can ask them too.
What to do
- Go to www.whatdotheyknow.com and register as a user – the name you give will appear on your FOI requests when they are published, so you may want to use just an initial, or another name you are known by. (Keep that tab open.)
- Look at our our lists of organisations below and choose one, and note whether they need letter 1, 2 or 3. (Those
struck throughhave been done; highlighted have not.) - Go back to www.whatdotheyknow.com. Type the name of the organisation you chose into the search box. Scroll down the results page a short way to check that someone else hasn’t already chosen it – if it hasn’t had one of these requests since July 2022, click on “Make a request” by its name.
- The site gives you a blank request form starting “Dear [name of authority]”. Underneath that, paste the text of the request from one of our template letters (which are slightly different depending on how the organisation has responded before – they all include a link to the briefing):
- There’s a box for a summary of your request above that, so paste in there: Information about Stonewall Workplace Equality Index (WEI).
- Ignore the warning that your request is getting long (it’s fine – it’s focused!), and click on “Preview your public request”. Check everything is in order. Once it is, click on “Send and publish your request”.
- Copy the web address (URL) from your browser window for your What Do They Know request (it will look like something like: www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_stonewall_work_2), then come back here and fill in the form at the bottom of this page to say you’ve done it (that way, we can cross the organisation off the list, and keep in touch with you in case you need to appeal the decision).
- Wait and see what comes back, and update the status of your request on www.whatdotheyknow.com as appropriate.
Organisations that refused to disclose feedback last time (template 1)
Use template letter 1 to ask them for 2021/22 submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, Stonewall feedback, and previous years’ feedback.
Aberystwyth UniversityAvon and Somerset ConstabularyBank of EnglandBBCBelfast City CouncilBrighton & Hove CouncilBritish ArmyBrunel University LondonCabinet OfficeCAFCASCardiff and Vale University Health BoardChannel 4Cheshire East CouncilCity of London CorporationCivil Aviation AuthorityCompetition and Markets AuthorityDepartment for Business, Energy & Industrial StrategyDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media & SportDepartment for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)Department for International TradeDepartment for Work and PensionsDepartment of Finance Northern IrelandDVLAFinancial Conduct AuthorityFinancial Ombudsman ServiceForeign Commonwealth & Dept OfficeGlyndŵr University/Prifysgol Glyndŵr WrecsamGoldsmiths, University of LondonGovernment Legal DepartmentHistoric Buildings & Monuments CommissionHM Courts & Tribunals ServiceHM Revenue & CustomsHM TreasuryHouse of LordsHS2Hull City CouncilIndependent Office for Police ConductKing’s College LondonLancashire ConstabularyLeeds City CouncilLondon Borough of EnfieldLondon Borough of HaringeyMinistry of Defence PoliceMuseum of LondonNatural EnglandNHS Blood and TransplantNorthumbria PoliceOFSTEDPlymouth UniversityPortsmouth City Council (Children & Young People’s Services)Queen’s University BelfastRoyal College of Veterinary SurgeonsRoyal NavySalford City CouncilSport EnglandStaffordshire UniversitySwansea University/Prifysgol AbertaweTate (museum)Teesside UniversityThe London School of Economics and Political ScienceTorfaen County Borough CouncilUniversity Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS TrustUniversity of OxfordUniversity of South Wales GroupUniversity of the Arts LondonVale of Glamorgan Council/Cyngor Bro MorgannwgWales Audit OfficeWelsh Ambulance ServiceWelsh Parliament
Organisations that did disclose feedback last time (template 2)
Use template letter 2 to ask them for 2021/22 submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, and Stonewall feedback.
ACASBerkshire Healthcare NHS TrustCardiff Metropolitan UniversityCardiff University/Prifysgol CaerdyddCentral London Community Healthcare NHS TRustCounty Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue ServiceCumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation TrustDorset County CouncilIntellectual Property OfficeLeeds City CollegeLondon Borough of CamdenLondon Borough of CroydonLondon Borough of Tower HamletsLondon Metropolitan UniversityMiddlesex University LondonMidlands Partnership NHS Foundation TrustMinistry of JusticeOxfordshire County CouncilRhondda Cynon Taf County Borough CouncilScottish GovernmentSkills Development ScotlandSlough Borough CouncilStockport Metropolitan Borough CouncilSunderland CollegeUlster UniversityUniversity College London (UCL)University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Foundation TrustUniversity of EdinburghUniversity of SalfordUniversity of SurreyUniversity of SussexWest London NHS Trust
New organisations on Stonewall’s “Top 100 Employers 2022” list (template3)
Use template letter 3 to ask them for submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, and Stonewall feedback for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation TrustCheshire Fire and Rescue ServiceDe Montfort UniversityGreater London AuthorityGreater Manchester Combined Authority (Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service)Imperial College LondonInsolvency ServiceLeicestershire PoliceMI5MI6NHS Business Services AuthorityNHS England and NHS ImprovementNorth East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT)Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue ServicePublic Health WalesSurrey & Borders Partnership NHS Foundation TrustSurrey PoliceSussex PoliceUniversity of BristolUniversity of GreenwichUniversity of ManchesterUniversity of RoehamptonWrexham Glyndwr University
Tell us you have done it
By submitting your name and email address you consent to our keeping in touch with you about this project. We won’t make your name or email address public.