Inclusivity

The SWI is committed to creating inclusive, equitable environments across all activities and decision-making processes, and encourages fair representation in leadership roles, female-focussed opportunities and resources, and elimination of discrimination or bias.

We ensure equality within the SWI among diverse groups of women within our membership, addressing intersectional challenges, and promoting inclusion across age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, and geographic location.

We guarantee equal opportunities for leadership roles, and programming that reflects varied women’s experiences and needs. The SWI promotes accessible participation for women with different abilities or circumstances and regularly assesses whether all members can fully engage and benefit from SWI’s opportunities and community.

UK Supreme Court Ruling
The SWI is currently reviewing its diversity and inclusion policy, to ensure it continues to reflect the organisation’s values of respect, fairness, and inclusivity for all members. This review takes into account recent developments in the wider legal and regulatory landscape, and aims to provide clear, practical guidance that supports, our members, Institutes and Federations across Scotland. 

Below is the engagement timeline which highlights steps the SWI is taking to consult with its members regarding the recent UK Supreme Court Ruling:

March 2026 – Initial Discussions (Completed)
Continued discussions from 2025 took place within the Federation Office Bearer Peer Groups, where it was agreed that member consultation should begin with a survey to better understand members’ views, questions, and concerns.

March 2026 – Membership Survey (Completed)
Questions relating to the UK Supreme Court ruling were included within the membership survey to gather initial feedback and identify areas where further information and discussion may be helpful.

From June 2026 – Sharing Survey Findings (Completed)
Survey results were shared with members in June to ensure transparency and to help inform ongoing conversations across the organisation.

September 2026 – Member Briefing (Upcoming)
During September, a briefing paper and FAQ will be provided to members to explore the issues in more detail, discuss at Federation and Institute meetings, and invite further feedback.

November 2026 – Office Bearer Event (Upcoming)
Further consultation and engagement will continue at the November Office Bearer Event, ensuring members remain central to discussions as guidance and understanding develop.

December 2026 – Strategic Review (Upcoming)
At the end of the consultation period, the SWI Board will carefully review all feedback received and consider whether any strategic changes may be required in response to members’ views and experiences.