Shaping an Inclusive Future: Our Ongoing Journey

CG’s Co-Director Tracey Thomas recently contributed a powerful post on equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) to the Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance website, reflecting on CG’s journey towards becoming a truly inclusive organisation.

Tracey shares that, although organisations are becoming more careful with EDIB language, inclusion is not just about words but also action. It is a continual practice requiring time, resources, and leadership willing to be challenged. Without this effort, systems default to existing power structures. She talks about the risks of performative inclusion, where policies create the illusion of progress without meaningful change, and that true inclusion involves redistributing voice, power, and opportunity in visible, practical ways. At CG, this is lived through reflective meetings where diverse experiences shape decision-making. It means really putting our values into practice: equity of voice - continually asking who else needs to be heard- ensures space for underrepresented perspectives. And creative collaboration emphasises trust, generosity, and collective learning as the basis for change.

Tracey shares that inclusion is ongoing and sometimes uncomfortable work, but it is through these everyday, relational practices that people feel safe to bring their full identities and truly belong.

You can read her full article on the Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance website