By Beth Owen, Chair of All Women in EEAST (AWE) Network and Helen Vine, Assistant Director, AACE
We spend so much of our time at work, but the busy roles, varying shift patterns and diverse geography of ambulance services can make it difficult to connect with like-minded colleagues, other than those you might see over a quick cup of tea in the break room.
And if you have ideas to share or experiences you think others might relate to, it can be hard to know where to take them, or who to talk to about it.
That’s where the staff support networks come in, creating a safe and inclusive environment for staff to connect from across the organisation, to share ideas and concerns, advocate for change and feel empowered through their collective voice.
Most staff networks are shaped around protected characteristics such as disability, faith, race, gender or sexual orientation. While the structure may vary between ambulance trusts, their purpose remains consistent: bringing people together to make the workplace more equitable and inclusive for all.
The networks also serve as a much-needed bridge between staff and leadership, which enables more informed decision making and better insight into the experiences of our workforce. Staff support networks may also have an opportunity to feed into policies and training for the organisation – to drive that positive change we all want to see.
Through workshops, mentorship programmes and training, network members have the opportunity to learn new skills, develop their confidence and take part in a variety of projects focused on wellbeing, inclusivity and diversity, both within their organisation and across the country.
Staff support networks are all chaired on a voluntary basis by staff who are passionate about inclusivity, and promoting the needs of our people. They come from different job roles and bands and are supported by colleagues and their organisation to develop skills and build confidence in chairing meetings, producing information and presenting on behalf of their network.
Trust staff network chairs have gone on to chair national groups, become heads of departments and present at conferences across the country. Joining the network committees may open doors for you that you didn’t even know existed.
To celebrate our staff support networks, what they bring to the organisation and all that they have achieved, the East of England Ambulance Service held a week-long virtual conference in June 2025, with external speakers and a variety of webinars and workshops from The Power of Neurodiverse Thinking and Building Mental Resilience to Understanding Gender Bias in Healthcare and Embracing Religious Diversity. Our Equality Networks | EEAST
Resources:
To explore staff support networks in your trust, visit your local intranet.
For wider national networks, find out more here:
National Ambulance LGBT+ Network | About Us
National Ambulance BME Forum | National Ambulance BME Forum
Welcome to the National Ambulance Disability Network – aace.org.uk
For more information please contact helen.vine@aace.org.uk
