Are you interested in contributing to Religion and Belief inclusion work at Sussex? We are looking for interested staff to join the University’s Religion and Belief Forum.
By joining the Religion and Belief Forum, you will have the opportunity to help influence the University’s approach to religion and belief, which taken together are one of nine protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010. The purpose of the Forum is to strengthen the University’s commitment to creating a non-discriminatory inclusive environment where the religious and non-religious faiths and beliefs of all are respected, and where the values of open and respectful debate are upheld. The Forum also provides feedback and input into University activities relating to religion and belief. Participating in the Forum offers the opportunity for colleagues to gain experience and skills as part of an institutional committee.
The Forum typically meets for 90 minutes once a term. Recent meetings have seen a range of issues discussed, including religious accommodations for staff and students and a forthcoming Religion and Belief Code of Practice. The Forum is chaired by Tamsin Hinton-Smith, Associate Dean (Culture, Equality and Inclusion) for the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Our hope is that Forum membership will include a diverse range of religious and non-religious faiths and beliefs. We would particularly like to encourage members with a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim or Sikh background or faith, in order to diversify our existing membership. However, the role of a Forum member is not to represent a specific religion or belief but to contribute more broadly to conversations and work in this area. We also hope to recruit members from across different areas of the University and across different job roles.
Please email simone.webb@sussex.ac.uk by 16 January 2026 with a short Expression of Interest of no more than 300 words. These should say something about your role in the University, why you are interested in joining the Forum, and any relevant experience you have that may help the Forum achieve its aims. Please email Simone too if you have any questions about the work of the Steering Group or what membership entails.