EDI Statement

TEDx Cranfield University’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement 

This EDI policy has been created using the C-DICE policy as a guidance and heavily borrows from it. Thank you to C-DICE for recommendations for creating a diverse, accessible, and inclusive conference. 

At TEDx Cranfield University we aim to advance inclusion for all our volunteers, speakers, and attendees, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity/ paternity, race/ethnicity, national origin, religion or belief/non-belief, sex or sexual orientation.  

We strive to provide an environment that is supportive and enables everyone to reach their full potential. To achieve this goal, we have developed an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) statement that will guide our activities in all C-DICE strands. 

Our goal is to ensure that all participants, speakers, and volunteers feel valued and respected. To achieve this, we are dedicated to: 

 

 

 

 

 
We invite all partners, stakeholders, and attendees to join us in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. By working together, we can create a TEDx event that is welcoming and inspiring for everyone. 


TEDx Cranfield University Behaviour Policy 

We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We expect all participants—attendees, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers—to adhere to the following behaviour policy to ensure a safe and enjoyable event for all. 

1. Respect and Courtesy 

2. Harassment-Free Environment 

Harassment, discrimination, or offensive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to: 

3. Inclusive Participation 

4. Safe and Healthy Environment 

5. Responsibility and Accountability 

6. Reporting and Consequences 

Contact Information 

For any concerns or to report an incident, please contact contact@tedxcranfielduniversity.com. 

By following these guidelines, we can ensure that TEDx Cranfield University is a welcoming and inclusive event for everyone. 


How TEDx Cranfield University plans to include EDI within our event!

Conference Planning

Embedding EDI from the outset

Embedding EDI at each stage of the conference process to host an equitable, diverse, and inclusive conference. Objectives, definition of concept or themes, format of programme, budget, venue, speakers, and team roles are all areas where EDI should be embedded in conference planning. 

Devising a representative programme. 

Expertise is essential but look beyond the “usual suspects” for your core programme of speakers and activities for a diverse range of speakers cutting across genders, race, and other EDI characteristics. Ensure reserve presenter list is also diverse. 

Review programme. 

Seek consultation from EDI forward institutions such as C-DICE, CSA and IGNITE+. Consider consultation with other EDI professionals.

Consider the venue(s). 

• Hearing loops in rooms. (Will be looking into this if venue allows it)

• Wheelchair accessibility. (Main hall is wheelchair accessible at both the front and back of stage. Livestream room will also take this into consideration. CSA is wheelchair accessible on ground floor.

• Ability to provide quiet space, breastfeeding room, prayer room etc. (Mosque and Chapple available within Cranfield Campus. We will be providing a quiet room for all guests. Breastfeeding facilities will be looked into)

• Availability of gender neutral and accessible facilities. (7 Gender Neutral Toilets, plus 1 gender neutral accessible bathroom adjacent to main presentation hall)

• Aim for sanitary products to be provided free of charge (to all genders).

Conference Preparation

Support your presenters. 

If possible, provide our presenters with optional training and/or support on making presentations accessible. Support C-DICE provided included: • One-to-one meeting with presenters, where we highlighted EDI aspects to note while presenting. • Provided EDI guidelines to presenters in written form. • Opportunity to partake in up to 3 dress rehearsals before the main event! 

Support your conference delivery team. 

• The names of speakers, and where possible guest, in phonetic format to avoid mispronunciations.

• A detailed list of EDI interventions including location of quiet rooms, etc.

• An identified point of contact for EDI queries 

Support your delegates 

It is important to make your delegates feel welcomed and supported in the run up to the conference as well as during the conference itself.

• Pre-conference information webinar and meet & greet sessions.

• Mechanism for delegates to provide us with information on dietary and accessibility requirements.

Pregnant women will need to have labelled food so they are aware of what they can and cannot consume.

We will accommodate any dietary requirements. We will send a pre-event survey to collect participants’ catering requirements. Vegetarian food options will be the standard option for our events

• Published a detailed programme that highlighting accessibility of sessions including information on availability of o British Sign Language translator. o Hearing loops. o Wheelchair access. o How interactive each session is.

To create an inclusive environment and a sense of belonging for disabled attendees we will ensure they are not disadvantaged physically by considering their accessibility concerns and facilitating their access requests. We will choose venues for our events that are fully accessible.
We will send a pre-event survey for access requirements and ensure the venue has step-free access from the pavement to the main room. Rooms will be set to ensure that enough space will be available for wheelchair users. Clear, detailed and updated accessibility instructions will be sent out to registered members well in advance regarding access the building, hearing induction loops, ramps to get onto stages and other relevant aspects.

• Option for delegates to add their pronouns to their attendee badges.

To actively facilitate their participation and raise awareness, we will include an optional gender neutral ‘Mx’ title option in the registration form or badges, or alternatively not use any pronouns at all. During events we will encourage the use of gender-neutral language where relevant, and ensure we are aware and use preferred pronouns. We will also indicate to attendees where the genderneutral toilets are located

Pro-actively identify and implement support for delegates.

Consider reasonable adjustments that delegates may require and proactively implement them. This is especially important if implementation has budgetary implications and/or has a long lead time. 

Re-actively identify and implement additional support for delegates. 

Collecting accessibility information at registration can help identify additional reasonable adjustments that could be adopted. Keep a list of these so at the next event they can be pro-actively implemented. 

Ensure website has been created and styled with accessibility in mind. 

Following the WCAG 2.0 guidelines can really help with this, plus including text like “should you find any issues please let us know and we will do our best to help” so you can be alerted to any issues.

Implement good behaviour policy 

Ensure attendees, speakers and volunteers are aware of our EDI policy. To write and make all attendees are of a good behaviour policy that ensures all attendees have a safe and pleasant event! 

On the day

Ensure good signage. 

Good signage can significantly reduce stress for delegates. Include signage to quiet room 

Have a nominated EDI person. 

Make sure this is person is prepared to answer questions on the day. It would also be beneficial for this person to have undergone active bystander training so that they can identify and react to any situations that occur. 

Make sure planning is put into practise. 

Have a list so you can easily check that planned interventions happen

Implement good behaviour policy 

Ensure good behaviour policy is implemented 

Follow Up

Post conference debrief. 

Get feedback from a range of stakeholders by holding separate debriefs from different stakeholder groups including: • Speakers. • Delegates. • Conference team. • Steering Committee.

Feedback questionnaires. 

Make these as easy as possible to complete, provide QR code on the day during closing session and include link in follow up after event email.

Create an action plan based on feedback. 

Once you have feedback it is important to plan how you will act it to make your next event even better!