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Freedom of information request

Staff networks

Freedom of information request reference
CAS-336366
Request resolved

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the following information.

For the purposes of this request, “staff networks” includes any staff networks, employee resource groups, equality forums, or similar internal groups recognised, supported, facilitated, or coordinated by your organisation.

Please provide:

  1. A list of all such staff networks currently operating within the organisation.
  2. Copies of any terms of reference, constitutions, governance documents, or internal guidance relating to those networks.
  3. Details of any funding, budgets, or financial support allocated to those groups during the 2025/26 financial year.
  4. Details of any staff time formally allocated for participation in network activities during contracted working hours.
  5. Your organisation's estimate of the total staff working hours spent attending network meetings or activities in the 2025/2026 financial year
  6. Your organisation's estimate of the cost of that staff working time, using the average hourly employment cost normally used for internal estimates.
  7. Details of whether any such groups are consulted on policy, recruitment, communications, equality impact assessments, or organisational strategy.

Outcome

Information provided.

Response

I can confirm that The National Archives holds information relevant to your request and we are pleased to be able to provide this information to you.

Your request and our response

1. A list of all such staff networks currently operating within the organisation.

The National Archives currently has eight staff networks and forums operating: LGBTQIA+ network, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Forum, Menopause Network, Mental Health and Wellbeing network, Neurodiversity forum, Racial Equality Network, Intersectional Support Network and Young Professionals Network.

2. Copies of any terms of reference, constitutions, governance documents, or internal guidance relating to those networks.

Documents are available as PDFs upon request, by emailing our team. Please also note that the LGBTQIA+ and Racial Equality network do not have any terms of reference.

3. Details of any funding, budgets, or financial support allocated to those groups during the 2025/26 financial year.

Staff networks are entitled to funding of up to £400 per annum, which is taken from The National Archives Diversity, Equity and Inclusion budget. All Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) expenditure is in line with the EDI Expenditure Guidance.

4. Details of any staff time formally allocated for participation in network activities during contracted working hours.

Time for participation in staff network activities is not formally allocated and attendance is discretionary.

5. Your organisation's estimate of the total staff working hours spent attending network meetings or activities in the 2025/2026 financial year

This information is not held. Please note that a public authority is not required to create new information in response to an FOI request. FOI requests cover recorded information held by the public authority at the time the request was received.

6. Your organisation's estimate of the cost of that staff working time, using the average hourly employment cost normally used for internal estimates.

This information is not held. See question five above for further information.

7. Details of whether any such groups are consulted on policy, recruitment, communications, equality impact assessments, or organisational strategy.

Staff networks are sometimes consulted on matters of policy and organisational strategy. Such consultation is carried out on an informal basis. Please see the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Forum and Intersectional Support Network Terms of Reference for further details.

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