Diversity Matters

November 2015

Movember November 2015
International Men’s Day
19 November 2015
What you need to know
Movembertakes place every November when men are encouraged to grow a moustache to raise awareness of men’s health issues and to fundraise.
International Men’s Day aims to celebrate men and their contribution to society. The theme for 2015 is “Make a Difference for Men and Boys”.
Why it’s important
Movember is focusing on funding for the following men’s health issues:
  • Prostate cancer
  • Testicular cancer
  • Poor mental health
  • Physical inactivity
International Men’s Day UK calls for people to consider the following issues:
  • men’s shorter life expectancy (including all men’s health issues, workplace deaths and homelessness)
  • the high male suicide rate
  • our collective tolerance of violence against men and boys (including sexual violence and domestic abuse)
  • the struggles that boys can face in getting an education
  • the unique challenges of the father-child relationship
  • the negative portrayal of fathers, and, men and boys
Information from:
International Men’s Day UK website -
Movember UK website - / What you can do
  1. For more information on Movember and how you can take part go to
  1. Information and a list of events for International Men’s Day can be found at
  1. The Leeds Men’s Health Network meet regularly and those interested in men’s health are welcome to attend. Contact Barry Ewart via email

World Diabetes Day
14 November 2015
What you need to know
World Diabetes Day is held every year on the 14 November and was introduced by the World Health Organisation and the International Diabetes Federation. From 2014 - 2016 the theme of World Diabetes Day is healthy eating with the focus this year on starting the day with a healthy breakfast.
Why it’s important
According to NHS Choices:
  • There are 3.9 million people living with diabetes in the UK. That's more than one in 16 people in the UK who has diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed).
  • This figure has more than doubled since 1996, when there were 1.4 million. By 2025, it is estimated that five million people will have diabetes in the UK.
According to Diabetes Info:
  • Diabetes can damage the many organs including tissue of kidneys, peripheral nerves, vascular tree, eyes (causing blindness) and be the cause of loss of limbs in the lower extremities due to poor circulation.
  • Type 2 diabetes is preventable in approximately 80% of all cases, making prevention a high priority in fighting against worldwide diabetes.
Diabetes.co.uk website:
Diabetes Info website:
NHS Choices website: / What you can do
  1. For more information on World Diabetes Day go to
  1. There is a Diabetes UK Leeds Support Group for patients who hold monthly meetings

15 - 21 November 2015
What you need to know
Interfaith Week takes place in England, Northern Ireland and Wales from 15 - 21 November 2015 with various events organised around the country.
Interfaith week aims to :
•Strengthen good inter faith relations
•Increase awareness of the different faith communities in the UK and celebrate the contribution they make
•Promote understanding between people with religious and non-religious beliefs
Why it’s important
According to a recent ITV news report there has been a 45% rise in religious hate crimes since 2013. Leeds has a diverse population with people following different religions or having no religious belief. The 2011 census shows the religious make up of Leeds to be:
  • 55.9% Christian
  • 27.7% No religion,
  • 5.4% Muslim
  • 1.2% Sikh
  • 0.9% Hindu
  • 0.9% Jewish
  • 0.4% Buddhist
  • 0.1% Agnostic
Information taken from:
Interfaith Week website -
Leeds City Council - file:///F:/Downloads/Faith%20Ward%20Comparisons.pdf / What you can do
  1. For more information on Interfaith Week go to
  1. Chaplains are based in the Trust and can provide religious, pastoral and spiritual care for patients as well as provide advice to staff.Chaplaincy volunteers are also available to visit patients on the wards. In addition, Chapel services are heldat St James’s and the LGI. For more information go to the intranet Chaplaincy Services pages
  1. Make sure to identify and meet as far as possible the religious needs of all patients if responsible for patient care. For example, make sure the Halal and Kosher menus are made available to Muslim and Jewish patients.
  1. Monitor patient satisfaction by religion to identify any difference in outcome amongst different groups of people that requires action. For further information, please contact the Equality and Diversity Team (0113 2065218 / )
  1. Carry out involvement and engagement that is inclusive and meaningful and that highlight any issues that are affecting particular groups of people that need addressing. For further information, please contact the Patient carer and Public Involvement Team (0113 2067077 / )

Universal Children’s Day
20 November 2015
What you need to know
In 1954 the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries hold a Universal Children’s Day to promote understanding between children and to promote the protection of children’s rights.
Why it’s important
It is 25 years since the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. According to the UN:
In spite of the overall gains, there are many children who have fallen even further behind. Old challenges have combined with new problems to deprive many children of their rights and the benefits of development.
Information taken from:
UN website - / What you can do
  1. The Safeguarding Team at LTHT can provide advice, support and training -

International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women 25 November 2015
What you need to know
The International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women was set up by the United Nations raise awareness and promote action to stop violence against women.
Why it’s important
The United Nations describes violence against women as a “global pandemic’ and says that:
  • 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence - mostly by an intimate partner
  • In 2012, 1 in 2 women killed worldwide were killed by their partner or family. Only 1 out of 20 of all men killed were killed in such circumstances.
  • More often than not, cases of violence against women go unreported.
In addition according to the Trust’s Safeguarding intranet pages:
  • It has been estimated that over 20,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of female genital mutilation in the UK each year
  • In 2013 the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) supported and advised on approximately 1300 cases relating to possible forced marriages; 6.8% of these were known to be from the Yorkshire and Humberside region.
  • On average there are 12 honour killings in the UK annually. Over 2800 incidents of honour based violence (HBV) reported to the police in the UK in 2013. The three areas with the highest number of reported HBV incidents are: 1.London - 495, 2.West Midlands - 378, 3.West Yorkshire - 350
Information taken from:
United Nations websites -

LTHT Safeguarding intranet pages: / What you can do
  1. The National Domestic Violence Helpline is available for women 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247
  1. Leeds Women’s Aid provide a range of services for women and children who are victims of domestic violence
  1. Useful information on safeguarding can be found on the intranet:
  1. Support for victims of honour crimes and forced marriage - Karma Nirvana-0800 5999 247

Management Roles
Managers have a duty to accommodate reasonable requests from staff for time off to participate in diversity events. Managers are encouraged to be flexible in managing how this is accommodated within the boundaries of overall Trust Policy and good practice.
Guidelines for staff leave: Time off to attend diversity events is not additional to standard entitlements, but rather can be taken from an employee’s annual leave entitlement, flexi leave, and time off in lieu or as unpaid leave.
Additional advice: To ensure that effective working relationships are maintained within teams, where there is an impact on the wider team, Managers are advised to brief all affected employees about the reasons for flexibility being given to colleagues who require time off for cultural events. The minimum amount of detail should be disclosed, advanced notice provided to the employee requiring the time off and where possible an approach agreed with the same individual.

If you require any further information or advice about this briefing, please contact the Equality and Diversity Team on either 0113 2066785/0113 2065218 or .

Briefing produced by Patient Experience.

Information in this document has been obtained from various reliable websites as set out in the content. Any queries regarding the facts are advised to be raised with the relevant organisation.