We鈥檙e听strengthening our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion听by shaping a new strategy that will听build on our progress听and听drive听even greater impact.听
We launched听our听Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy in March 2023, which has been the driving force behind all the workstreams and projects we've undertaken to embed change in the profession. Over the last few years, our EDI strategy has really came to life, and we鈥檝e seen some amazing pieces of work come from it. We鈥檙e really proud of the positive impact some of the workstreams have had on people鈥檚 lives. You can find out more about this work听here.听However, we know听there鈥檚听a lot more work to be done, and we know we听can鈥檛听stand still.听
The current strategy ends this听spring,听and we want to continue our journey by working on our new strategy, which will be called鈥�Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and听Belonging (DEIB).鈥�This strategy鈥�will shape our focus moving forward to allow us to better reflect what听drives听fair access to counselling and psychotherapy.鈥�听
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We added the terms equity and belonging because it recognises that people have different challenges and needs, and encompasses the right for people to be respected, accepted and feel empowered to show up authentically.鈥疍EIB will help us move forward from treating everyone the same to ensuring everyone has fair access, support, and a genuine sense of belonging.鈥�听
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We want to ensure that anyone who needs counselling听is able to听access听equitable,听ethical听and effective practice.鈥疶o help us on that journey we听want to hear from听you听and听make sure that you've a chance to input鈥�on what our priorities for our next strategy should be.听听
Help us to shape our听new听strategy听听
To support us in developing our new听Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)听strategy,听we鈥檙e听opening a consultation with members so you can have your input.听You can share your feedback in听a number of听ways:听
- through email听
- at in-person events throughout the year听
- with a short questionnaire听听
- through some member focus groups starting from the end of March 2026.听
We听can鈥檛听do this important work without听your input,听so please share your thoughts by completing our听听or emailing us directly. The survey should take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete and your responses are anonymous. We really appreciate your input, and your views will help to strengthen our new strategy, 听
If听you鈥檝e any questions or would like to receive this questionnaire in a different format, please contact the team听at鈥�edi@bacp.co.uk.鈥疶his consultation听will close on鈥�Tuesday 30 June 2026.听Your responses will be shared with the EDI/DEIB team and will help us inform the听direction and approach for the听new strategy.听