Change Grow Live (CGL) has climbed 36 places on this year’s Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, and are now ranked 251 out of 439 inclusive organisations.

The Index, created by LGBT charity Stonewall, features organisations who have done exceptional and pioneering work to help make sure that every LGBT employee can be themselves in the workplace.

CGL has worked to improve its equality, diversity and inclusion policies and is now in the top fifty per cent of third sector organisations on the Index. 

Key reasons for the climb in places include increased support for various LGBT Pride events throughout 2016, improved use of social media to promote LGBT inclusion, more visible LGBT role models within the charity and more explicit references to LGBT issues within the revised EDI workshop.

This year saw 439 organisations take part in the Index, the highest number in their 12 year history. In 2016, CGL were placed at 287 out of 415 participating organisations.

Shaun Kennedy, National Equality Diversity and Inclusion Lead at CGL said:

“We are pleased to be recognised by Stonewall as an organisation who makes LGBT employees feel comfortable in the workplace. We have worked hard this past year on our inclusion policies, and have an ongoing commitment to supporting diversity in our workplace and providing an inclusive environment for all employees.”

Stonewall’s third sector specialist, Alex Gwynne, said:

“It’s encouraging to see to such a strong performance for the third sector in this year’s Index. Despite facing challenging financial times, these organisations continue to lead by example, demonstrating a true commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and helping their lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff to bring their whole selves to work.”