Our commitment to inclusion
In April 2025, the Supreme Court ruled on the legal definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010. You may have seen the news that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has now produced an updated draft Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations. The draft Code is subject to review by the UK Parliament and, if there are no amendments, will become law after 40 days (from 21 May 2026).
The draft Code, when in force, provides statutory guidance on how the Equality Act 2010 should be interpreted in certain contexts and will impose obligations on the university in relation to single-sex spaces and services. Importantly, however, both the judgment and draft Code reiterate protections for trans people under the protected characteristic of gender reassignment and confirm that trans individuals, whether or not you have a Gender Recognition Certificate and as defined in the Equality Act 2010, remain protected from discrimination. That does not change.
What also does not change is that we are a trans-inclusive university, and we want to reassure you of our commitment to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all staff and students.
We are now carefully reviewing the detail of the draft Code and will work together internally to understand the implications for the university, taking into account any associated guidance/sector advice from other universities and/or our membership organisations, including Stonewall, AdvanceHE and Universities Human Resources (UHR).
We acknowledge that, for some of our community, this will be a worrying and uncertain time. Please remember that the following support and advice is available:
We believe that everyone deserves to work and study in a space that is safe, respectful, and free from discrimination, bullying, or harassment. If you experience or witness anything concerning, Report + Support is available for anyone wishing to raise an issue or access support.
Our inclusive environment places respect for one another at the heart of our values; please be respectful of others, even in disagreement. We all have a personal responsibility to treat each other with respect and dignity; there is more that connects us than divides us.
Our Staff Network, Pride, offers support and allyship. Staff can also explore the Health, Safety and Wellbeing section of the People Hub, which includes resources to support your mental health and overall wellbeing. This includes the Employee Assistance Programme - a free and confidential 24-hour service available to all BU staff. In addition, the LGBT Foundation has a range of useful resources which includes a support line.
There is also a range of health and wellbeing support available for our students. These include our Student Wellbeing service and the University Front Room, which is open Monday to Saturday, 2pm to 9pm. The Student Assistance Programme provides a free, confidential helpline 24/7 (with support available in over 200 languages) and other resources for all students. Our team of chaplains and faith advisors in our Faith & Reflection centre also offer confidential and non-judgemental support and a listening ear, regardless of whether you have faith or not.
Thank you for helping us maintain a supportive and inclusive community.
