Purple Network
Th Purple Network aims to provide staff with support and an opportunity to network and feed into Surrey’s work towards disability equality.
About the Purple Network
The Purple Network is a safe space for those with experiences of disability and chronic illness. Millions of people around the world face so many challenges, inequalities and discrimination because of a condition or illness they cannot control.
We work to provide a supportive environment for all LGBTQIA+ staff through the organising of University-wide events as well as informal meetups.
Our mission
Our network has given us a voice to support one another, incite change and advocate for our needs – helping ourselves and our University grow together. We are working alongside the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team to build a cohesive response to the issues faced every day by those in our community – especially considering our campus is built on a hill!
Our aims
Our logo
The Purple Network is proud to display its logo of a purple Stag representing Surrey’s commitment to its staff with disabilities or long-term health needs within the community. Purple has been the representative colour for disability over many years and we have chosen to embrace this colour as a symbol of our identity and our solidarity with the wider purple movement.
Find out more about the story of purple.
Meet the Chair
Alice Spencer
Event Co-ordinator
Biography
The Purple Network is a cause especially close to my heart and I am honoured to be able to use my experiences of chronic illness and disability to amplify the voice of our community.
To give a bit of background on me, I work for the Conference Team “by day” and am studying part time for a BSc in Social Sciences along with my network commitments. When I’m not burning the candle at all ends, I enjoy being outside, cooking and music. My passion for inclusion and accessibility has always been there but really ramped up as my mobility has decreased over the years and my eyes were opened even more to the inequality people like me experience on a daily basis. The opportunity came along to help push forward the needs of the disabled and chronically ill community at Surrey and I could not turn it down.
It is my privilege to be able to chair this network, collaborate on projects and advocate from within a group of fantastic people.
Networks and organisations
PurpleSpace
PurpleSpace is the world’s only networking and professional development hub for disabled employees, network and resource group leaders and allies from all sectors and trades.
Scope
Scope is the disability equality charity in England and Wales which promotes information and campaigns to create a fairer society.
Business Disability Forum
Surrey is a member of the Business Disability Forum which is the leading business membership organisation in disability inclusion.
Resources
The following are links to some resources that you may find useful. The University does not endorse any views expressed or products or services offered therein.