Case study · Membership

Co-creating an Equity, Diversity and Belonging strategy with RCOT

A two-phase engagement and consultation programme helped RCOT develop, test and refine an Equity, Diversity and Belonging strategy with members, staff and wider stakeholders.

MembershipStrategy consultationFocus groupsOnline surveyStakeholder engagement

AudienceRCOT members, student members, staff, steering groups, and public contributors.

ApproachTwo-phase mixed-method programme using workshops, focus groups, depth interviews, survey research, and drop-in sessions.

Value to RCOTEvidence to shape the draft strategy, test its accessibility and clarity, and support final refinement.

The project

Moving from early engagement to a tested draft strategy

A staged programme designed to involve stakeholders throughout strategy development rather than consult only at the end.

The brief

RCOT wanted to create an Equity, Diversity and Belonging strategy with its members, staff and other stakeholders, supporting its ambition to be an inclusive professional body that values diversity and challenges inequity and discrimination.

The approach

Phase one involved three steering-group workshops, seven focus groups, and two depth interviews with public contributors. Findings informed development of the draft strategy. Phase two then tested the draft through an online survey receiving 1,483 responses, five further focus groups, and three RCOT-hosted drop-in sessions.

The outcome

Reports were produced after each phase, giving RCOT evidence to develop the draft strategy and then understand its perceived accessibility, clarity, and likelihood of achieving positive and lasting change.

Stakeholder involvement from early development through to draft consultation.
Quantitative and qualitative evidence from members, staff, and wider contributors.
Clear feedback to support refinement and finalisation of the EDB strategy.

Co-creating an Equity, Diversity and Belonging strategy with RCOT

Moving from early engagement to a tested draft strategy

The brief

The approach

The outcome

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