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New EEDI resources and policy
We’re pleased to share our updated Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy (EEDI) with you. You can find it here, on our new EEDI page. There, we’ve pulled together all our key EEDI resources, plus other interesting reads, watches and listens. Whether you want to browse our latest initiatives or find tips on making your volunteering activities more accessible and inclusive, you can find everything you need in one place.
We’ll keep it updated, so check back for updates and new resources!
Equity and equality: what’s the difference?
You might’ve noticed that we used to use ‘EDI’, whereas we now use ‘EEDI’. EDI stands for equality, diversity and inclusion. The extra ‘E’ stands for equity.
Equality means everyone gets the same things. Equity means everyone gets what they need to achieve the same outcome.
The image below can help to understand this difference.
In the top picture, everyone gets a bicycle. They're treated equally. But equal treatment doesn’t mean equal results. We’re all different, and we all need different things. If someone has the same thing as everyone else but they can't use it, they’re put at a disadvantage. It means only some people's needs are met.
In the bottom picture, each person has a different bicycle that suits their needs. This means the result is the same for each: they can all use a bicycle. This is equity.
Embedding EEDI in everything we do
We believe everyone affected by MS, regardless of background, identity or circumstance, deserves to be seen, heard and supported in a way that is meaningful to them. And everyone should have the chance to get involved and make a difference.
From 2021-2024, we had a standalone EDI strategy. Whilst we made progress through the strategy, we also learnt that to make more meaningful change, EEDI needs to be integrated throughout all our work and core to everything we do. That’s why we’re putting EEDI at the heart of our refreshed organisational strategy rather than having a separate EEDI strategy.
Our updated EEDI policy
We invite you to read our updated EEDI policy, which applies to everyone at the MS Society, including volunteers. It explains our approach to EEDI and sets out the following five principles, which we ask everyone to uphold:
Accountability
Authenticity
Humility
Partnership
Self-reflective
Our new EEDI page
If you’ve not come across our new EEDI page, check it out here. On it you’ll find:
monthly calendars and tips on getting the most out of them
our EEDI resource bank, containing lots of useful external resources like blogs, videos and case studies of organisations that have cultivated diverse and inclusive volunteering cultures
links to our courses ‘Creating inclusive communities’ and ‘A practical guide to making your social media welcoming to all’
our updated EEDI policy
Asian MS’ flyer, which you can share in your communications
our fasting and MS factsheet
the latest EEDI-related MS Society updates
how we’re celebrating our community, including a selection of our community blogs
We hope you’ll find this useful! If you have any questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].
