Nesta had noticed that specific, outdated terms were repeatedly being used in reports, blogs and emails. So the foundation’s EDI and communication team decided to design an add-on tool to Google Docs which scans documents for specific words we want to avoid and suggests alternatives with an explanation.

The tool supports staff learning and improve the language of our internal and external communications.

More Diverse Voices supported by collating an extensive inclusive language database, which covered a range of lived experiences across gender, sexuality, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, disability, neurodiversity, mental health and age.

This is just one of the many projects implemented by Nesta over the past year, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive world.

Others include:

• Improving the accuracy of reporting EDI goals with Flair Clusivity
• Updating their people policies to increase inclusion and support in ways that matter – including updates around paid parental leave, harassment, anti-discrimination, domestic violence and hybrid working
• Reviewing equitable investment strategy with Diversity VC

You can read more about this in Davina Majeethia‘s reflection on Nesta’s EDI strategy.