THE University of Chester has been recognised for supporting LGBT+ staff and students.

It is one of just two higher education institutions in the North West to have been awarded a charter mark from the Navajo Merseyside and Cheshire LGBTIQA.

Gaining the mark is said to be an indication of “good practice, commitment and knowledge of the specific needs, issues and barriers facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people”.

By gaining the recognition, the university becomes part of the Navajo community, working with other organisations to support and promote LGBT+ rights.

Around a year ago, Kathryn Leighton, an HR manager at the university, spoke with the Staff LGBT+ Group about gaining recognition for all the work they and other colleagues do to support LGBT+ staff and students.

Amy Lacamp from the Staff LGBT+ group said: “We wanted to achieve the Charter Mark to show our customers and stakeholders that the university is dedicated to LGBT+ inclusion and that we are a leading employer and place of study in this respect.”

Group members Sandra Hopkins and Ian Sudlow-McKay attended last year’s awards and were so impressed with the range of organisations involved that they recommended the university apply for the Navajo Charter Mark.

Kathryn and Amy led on the written stage of the application while staff and students at all levels in the university were interviewed and consulted during the two-stage application process.

Sandra and Ian were pleased to not only be awarded the Navajo Charter Mark on Friday, May 17, but to also be commended by Tony Griffin, Chair of the Navajo Partnership.

Sandra, who is a senior lecturer in the university’s Centre for Work Related Studies, said: “We are one of two universities in the region to have the Chartermark and are part of a small group of educational institutions to have this award.

“It means a lot as it recognises the hard work and activism done by staff above and beyond their day jobs to fully embed these changes into practice and make the organisation a more inclusive and accepting place.”

Ian added: “The university has a strategic action plan to continue enhancing our excellent practice and working towards making the University a place of choice for LGBT+ staff and students. We want to work collaboratively with our local, national and international partners.”