Asda Dundonald recognised for their approach to inclusivity
Asda Dundonald has been given the seal of approval by a Northern Ireland charity for its positive approach to diversity and inclusion.
Stepping Stones NI visited the store to present the team with a ‘Be Inclusive’ sticker for display after colleagues completed a workshop on supporting people from all backgrounds to thrive in life, work and the community.
Sharon Wilson, Community Champion at Asda Dundonald, heard about Stepping Stone NI’s positive work through her son, Sam McBratney, who recently joined the team.
“The work they do is really wonderful,” said Sharon. “From training employers and workplaces in how best to support autistic staff or people with ADHD to helping the long-term unemployed get back into work, it’s really impressive stuff.
“And when Sam spoke to his colleagues about the work I do as an Asda Community Champion, they thought we could be a good fit. Lots of people don’t know what Community Champions do, but we’re in Asda stores right across Northern Ireland, working every week with community groups and charities in our areas.
“I jumped at the chance to go along to the workshop because creating a nurturing and encouraging working environment for people – both at our store and in the groups we support – is crucial.”
Along with Sharon, Jenny McBeth, who has been at Asda Dundonald for 17 years, attended, and impressed the Stepping Stones NI team with her input.
Jenny said: “I’ve had my own experiences with a range of issues, so the idea of a course on diversity and inclusion was really interesting. I work as a People’s Clerk, so the more insights I have in supporting people in the workplace, the better.”
Jane Gilmore, Training Manager at Stepping Stones NI, who delivered the Diversity and Inclusion Workshop in partnership with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council as part of a wider ‘Be Inclusive’ programme, added: “The team from Asda were fantastic. They shared lots of ideas with the group, things they’re already doing at their store, which was exactly the point of the workshop.
“The idea is that sharing a range of approaches can help more and more organisations work effectively with people from different backgrounds, empowering workers at every level to support one another and create positive workplaces for all. It was great to meet the team at Asda Dundonald, and we hope to work with them again in the future.
“The representatives from Asda Dundonald were fantastic, and we were delighted to hear some brilliant insights from them both. Jenny had a huge amount to offer, and her colleagues should be very proud of her.”
To find out more about Stepping Stones NI visit steppingstonesni.com or contact [email protected] for details about the Be Inclusive programme.