AcSS & ESRC Project: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Project is a joint programme between The Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS), its member Social Science Societies and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Its purpose is to encourage and facilitate greater awareness of, and actions to support, EDI across member social science societies, by working together to share resources, learning and to maximise the potential to effect real and positive change.

Drawing together good practice from across the Academy, our member societies and other organisations, this hub provides advice and guidance on how to embed and prioritise EDI across six workstreams: governance and leadership, funding, membership, events, publishing and research groups and networking communities.

This month's recommended resource

This month’s recommended resource is the Progressing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the social sciences report, which showcases the outcomes from the initial three-year EDI programme between the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS) and the Economic and Social Research Council of UKRI (ESRC), including the outputs from the project’s knowledge sharing stream of work, the inclusivity interventions and initiatives supported through the project’s small grants programme, and a top-level summary of the systematic data monitoring that took place.

EDI Small Grants Fund

As part of the Academy’s collaborative EDI Project, the Academy and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) have small scale grant funding available to support inclusivity initiatives and interventions put forward by social science societies. Find out more about the funding available and past initiatives we’ve supported.

Useful accessibility-related resources

These resources provide advice and guidance on how to ensure design is inclusive and accessible to everyone. They sit across all our workstreams. Use the left column below to change categories. See the right column for a summary and link to each resource.

Communicating with the world in mind

This quick reference guide by The Institution of Engineering and Technology highlights key accessibility considerations and provides transferable support and guidance in how to utilise inclusive language and design in your communications.

View communicating with the world in mind

Digital guide: an introduction to online accessibility

This guide outlines how people with a range of disabilities use online content. It offers advice and resources to help heritage organisations make their digital content accessible to everyone. While its target audience is heritage organisations, the advice and guidance it contains is transferable across sectors.

View digital guide: an introduction to online accessibility

What is an accessible colour palette?

This website offers accessible colour palette templates, including advice on how to ensure content is accessible to those with colour blindness or sight impairment. The handy FAQ section is packed with useful tips!

View what is an accessible colour palette?

Accessibility guide 

This guide, from Newcastle University, explores what you can do to create accessible content. This includes information on imagery; hyperlinks; use of colour; language; videos; bullet points; headings and structures; documents; and Microsoft Accessibility Checker.

View accessibility guide

Guidance note: introduction to accessible communications

This document, from the Biochemical Society, is intended to provide guidance on the introduction of accessible communications practice to include all stakeholders across the organization and the supporting community. While its target audience is members of the Biochemical Society, the guidance it offers is transferable across different disciplines.

View guidance note: introduction to accessible communications

The AcSS & ESRC Project: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is kindly supported by