Osborne Clarke has launched a new Inclusion Allies Programme which aims to empower its people to take meaningful action to support peers, colleagues and team members to proactively drive an inclusive culture.
The programme is open to all colleagues who wish to advocate for inclusion and amplify the voices and experiences of marginalised or under-represented groups. Participants will develop the tools to become active allies through informative sessions, exploring what it means to be an effective ally and productive, open discussions in safe spaces.
Over 10% of all Osborne Clarke UK colleagues are currently signed up for the programme, which will run on a continuous cycle welcoming colleagues to join at any time.
Bola Gibson, Head of Inclusion & Corporate Responsibility, said: "At Osborne Clarke, we're proud of our culture, but there's always room for improvement. Launching the Inclusion Allies Programme is a key step in our journey to breaking down barriers and becoming an even more inclusive place to work and a great firm for our clients to work with."
The first session offered an introduction to the programme, encouraging participants to reflect on why they signed-up and their understanding of allyship. The group also welcomed guest speaker Deepika Mahajan from Talking Talent, experts in consulting and coaching businesses to build inclusive and equitable cultures, to shed light on the allyship journey and prepare colleagues for upcoming workshops.
Each month, participants will be invited to join hour-long sessions hosted by expert facilitators. The sessions will help to build knowledge around topics related to the firm's six diversity strands: gender, social diversity, mind and body, age, ethnic diversity and LGBTQ+, while also equipping allies with practical skills to support their ongoing journeys of learning and self-awareness.
Peter Day, Partner at Osborne Clarke, said: "Being an ally is a journey. It's sitting with your discomfort, taking the time to listen and consistently educating yourself to develop understanding for others' lived experiences."
"Many of us have the motivation and intent to support our peers, but are often unsure on how to turn this into action. The programme will be a powerful way to educate, prepare and empower colleagues to recognise non-inclusive behaviour and how best to intervene when it occurs."
