Let us not sugar-coat it: if you are a voluntary sector organisation receiving funding from local councils, NHS trusts, or any other public body you are not exempt from the Equality Act 2010. In fact, through the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), those public bodies are legally required to ensure their funding only goes to organisations that are equality-aware and inclusive.
And yet too many small organisations are sleepwalking into risk, operating with outdated practices, unconscious bias, and untrained staff or volunteers. You might mean well. But in 2025, meaning well is not enough.
This is urgent. This is legal. This is reputational. This is financial.
If you have not yet invested in equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) training for your staff, board, and volunteers here is your wake-up call. Because ignorance is no longer a defence. And it has already cost some organisations dearly.
Real Cases – Real Consequences
Case 1: A community heritage group in the Midlands lost a £15,000 local authority grant after a volunteer was found to have made discriminatory remarks on social media. The group had no code of conduct, no training, and no safeguarding framework around inclusion.
Case 2: A youth mentoring charity in London was successfully sued for religious discrimination after failing to make prayer arrangements for a volunteer who practised Islam.
Case 3: A food bank partnership in the North West was removed from a regional funding network after two LGBTQ+ service users reported homophobic language by a trustee.
The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) Applies to You Too
Under the Equality Act 2010, public sector organisations must eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations. When they fund you, you become an extension of that duty.
So, What Training Should You Invest In?
- Unconscious Bias Awareness
- EDI Essentials for Voluntary Organisations
- Religion and Belief Inclusion
- Inclusive Volunteer Recruitment and Management
- Responding to Discrimination and Microaggressions
Key Messages Every Organisation Needs to Hear
- Funders are watching
- Good intentions are not enough
- Equality is everyone’s business
- Reputational damage is real
- Proactive beats reactive
Time to Act: Sign Up. Skill Up. Step Up.
Make it your mission this month to:
- Book an EDI training session
- Review your volunteer recruitment
- Build inclusion into service delivery
- Ask funders for support
- Share this blog
Training Opportunities Available Now
www.equalityanddiversity.co.uk
Because embedding equity is not a tick box. It is the foundation of trust. And trust is everything.