This year’s D&I funding winners

Eight projects that promote diversity and inclusion at Reading have received funding to help achieve their goals.

The scope of the funded projects is wide, including research into disabled students’ experiences of University life, events celebrating and educating audiences on diversity, and training and resources for staff to help them be more inclusive in their own practice.

The central Diversity and Inclusion team accepts bids between £300 and £1000 for projects aligned with key priorities including disability and neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, racial equity and sex equality, and their intersections.

Through these initiatives, we support projects that tackle barriers to participation, enhance accessibility, promote understanding across differences and create lasting change. 

This year’s winning projects

Here is the list of projects that have been funded for the 2024-25 academic year.

In Conversation event for Black History Month

Project lead: Nicola Abram (Associate Professor, English Literature)

An event to take place in Black History Month 2025 featuring an award-winning author.

Digital Accessibility: Sampling key user journeys with a pan-disability lens

Project lead: Tharindu Liyanagunawardena (Digital Accessibility Officer)

Student-led testing of University systems to improve digital accessibility.

Training staff in understanding and implementing reasonable adjustments

Project lead: Danie Woodbridge (Head of Disability & Inclusion)

Enhancing our staff training programme, incorporating student lived experiences.

Exploring the impact of gender training on psychological therapy trainees: an extended follow-up study

Project lead: Natalie Meek (Lecturer, Charlie Waller Institute)

Research into psychological therapy trainees' approach to transgender and gender-diverse clients.

Violence against Women and Girls: Raising Awareness and Empowering Action

Project lead: Anna Ziomek (Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes and Co-Chair of Women@Reading), working with Sarah Ifidon, Welfare Officer, Reading Students’ Union

Funding to support an event for students and staff at Reading Students’ Union, with self-defence workshops and talks on women’s safety ahead of White Ribbon Day.

Accessibility in Sport

Project lead: Chrissy Nazif (Senior Sports Coordinator, Reading Students’ Union)

Campaign to reduce barriers to sports participation through adapted sessions.

Accessibility and Accommodation 

Project lead: Gabe James (Inclusion and Communities Officer, Reading Students' Union)

Research project examining disabled students' experiences of housing on and off campus.

Wellbeing Week

Project lead: Tasha Easton (Executive and Governance Manager)

Staff-led activities promoting mental well-being and community connection.

Hear from last year’s winners

Join the University’s Diversity and Inclusion Community of Interest to find out how three of last year’s successful bidders put the funding to good use. The meeting takes place at 12:30 – 14:00 on Tuesday 19 November, in person and online. Register online now.