The Buddy Bag Foundation (BBF) launches new book, Buddy Bears His Soul to help children in emergency care.
Karen Williams OBE
Buddy Bag Foundation Founder. Charity | Speaker | Networker | Charity Consultant
Karen Williams OBE
Karen Williams OBE
Member Details
Details
Karen Williams OBE
Buddy Bag Foundation Founder. Charity | Speaker | Networker | Charity Consultant
Area of Expertise
Charity
Related Member Business
The Buddy Bag Foundation is a charity providing essential items for children on arrival in emergency accommodation
Founder of Buddy Bag Foundation to supply buddy bags to children who find themselves in emergency care after a traumatic incident. These bags help make a difference by ensuring a child has the essential items they need for their immediate well being and comfort. We are 100% volunteer led organisation. We are passionate that 100% of monies raised go into providing our Buddy Bags back in to the local community.
We are the home of inclusive employers
Why Join Includability?
If you are a company that is committed to creating an inclusive, sustainable and mentally healthy workplace culture, we understand the potential challenges that you may come up against.
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Our 6-call verification process, conducted by expert Verification Partners, meticulously analyses your organisation’s practices. This is followed by a Verification Partner Report that identifies areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
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As an organisation, the key to making meaningful progress is communicating effectively, regularly and with transparency. Our community, who are all passionate about our key pillars, are available to offer you advice, support and guidance when needed.
Collaboration
Individually we can make a difference, but together we can instigate meaningful and positive change. The Includability team is here to make introductions, encourage the sharing of best practice and support each other as we navigate our way to the inclusive and sustainable workplace culture we are all striving to achieve.
Don’t underestimate the power of collaboration.
To create an inclusive workplace culture takes expertise and knowledge which is why we encourage our members to work together. Our regular community networking sessions will provide you access to our directory of Ambassadors, members and advisors so you know that the people you are working with will not only give you the right advice but also share the same values as you.
Relationships
Relationships are more than just about completing a job or task which is why we use the word community. What we think you’ll love most about Includability is that every person and business has the same values and is working towards the same goal - to create a society that is free from discrimination, that cares for our planet and has genuine focus on our colleagues, friends and employees’ Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Join the Includability community today
Find out about the benefits of becoming part of our inclusive community
Whether your business is an international brand or a small local company Includability can help benefit you and your team. Our membership offers exclusive unlimited access to our job board, special discounts, community webinars and great support for your business as you grow. Find out why organisations choose Includability to help them offer a more inclusive workplace
“Holland & Barrett are thrilled to be recognised as a committed employer in inclusivity by the Includability team and their verification partners. Being an EPIC place to work is a core part of our values and we pride ourselves with iterating our offering by putting our colleagues at the heart of all that we do. Working with Includability has been a fantastic experience and would recommend other companies to do the same.”
Holland & Barrett
Melissa Sterling (She/Her), Wellness and Belonging Manager at H&B
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Holland & Barrett
"We are over the moon to be the first recruitment agency to pass Includability’s 6 Star verification process! We have always been committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, both as an employer but also as leaders in improving representation within insights and removing barriers to disadvantaged or under-represented talent. We want ENI to be a great place to work, but also work with and guide clients on best practice around inclusive hiring – always striving to influence positive change and enabling everyone to succeed in Insight. Working with Includability highlighted the areas we have been doing well, and those areas where the partnership can give us that additional layer of support and guidance needed to champion equality, diversity and create inclusivity within insights - and we’re so excited about the journey ahead."
Elizabeth Norman International
Letitia Oglesby, Marketing Manager at Elizabeth Norman International
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Elizabeth Norman International
“The Forestry Commission is pleased to have passed the 5 Star Verification process to become an Includability Committed Employer. We’re happy with the feedback we received for our work in the areas of mental health, wellbeing, sustainability, talent management and diversity and inclusion. We hope this partnership will help us to achieve our broader strategic goals to diversify our workforce and visitors and help us to continue to be an organisation where everyone is valued and welcome, regardless of their background.”
Forestry Commission
Richard Stanford CB, MBE | Chief Executive Officer Forestry Commission
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Forestry Commission
CRM Students are absolutely delighted to have been awarded 5 stars and become a recognised Includability Committed Employer. The verification process was a great way for us to discuss and reflect on the amazing things we are doing within CRM for our people and has given us some incredible contacts within the Includability network to enable our vision to progress further. We can’t wait to see what else we can do on top of what we have already achieved!
CRM Students
Steph Robey, HR Director at CRM Students
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CRM Students
Achieving the status of Includability Committed Employer reflects our ongoing mission to optimise diversity and opportunity within our firm. Inclusion is an important part of this, and we look forward to connecting with others in the Includability community.
Becketts Investment
Lesley Delaney, Operations Director
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Becketts Investment“We are thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with Includability because of their unwavering commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We believe that by joining forces with Includability, we can effect meaningful change and pave the way for a more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and we are eager to contribute our skills, learnings and look forward to seeing the positive impact we can make together.”
Noble Foods
Louisa Hogarty, HR Director at Noble Foods
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Noble Foods
"We are very proud to have gone through the 5 Star Includability Verification Process . We have always been committed to promoting and enabling a positive culture where everyone at ascensos can be themselves. We believe that we all have a role to play in championing Equality and Diversity - by partnering with Includability we believe that we can build a great place to work, learn and grow."
Ascensos
Jo Regan-Iles, Chief People Officer at Ascensos
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Ascensos
“At Business Disability Forum we are excited to be Includability’s official disability partner. As part of that we are very pleased to be accredited as an Includability Committed Partner via its thorough 5 Star Verification process, in the areas of accessibility, diversity and inclusion, mental health, sustainability, and wellbeing. This helps us to evaluate what we are doing well and where we can grow. We look forward to continue working with Includability and to spreading the word on the importance of reaching the widest possible talent pool.”
Business Disability Forum
Diane Lightfoot CEO of Business Disability Forum
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Business Disability Forum
"We look forward to continuing to champion diversity and inclusion, and to welcome more applicants from diverse backgrounds. With Includability’s support, and being led by our strong club values, we will win in our aim to do the right thing in creating in a more diverse and inclusive talent pool across the business."
Chelsea Football Club
Sarah Atkinson, Senior HR Business Partner at Chelsea FC
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Chelsea Football Club
"At CGI we are proud of being a Responsible Business and are committed to a more inclusive and sustainable world. Joining Includability and gaining the Committed Employer accreditation enables us to continue to proudly share and grow our commitments with like-minded organisations and also support our goal to inspire a diverse range of candidates to come and join us at CGI. "
CGI
Donna Kelly, Senior Vice President and Business Unit lead for South & Midlands Business Unit & Senior Sponsor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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CGI
“We are delighted to have passed Includability’s 5 star verification process to be recognised as an Includability Committed Employer. It’s great to be acknowledged for the work we’ve already done, and this partnership also supports our ongoing dedication to inclusivity in everything we do - including employee attraction, development, progression and engagement.”
Wiltshire Council
Georgi Bliha | Talent and Resourcing Manager at Wiltshire Council
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Wiltshire Council
We are delighted to be working with Includability as a Committed Employer. As an organisation that is committed to creating an inclusive, sustainable and mentally healthy workplace culture, this partnership is the perfect match. We have access to resources, experts and an entire network of support. We can be part of a community of like-minded people all striving for the same goal and sharing the same values.
City Gateway
Diane Betts – CEO of CityGateway
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City Gateway
I am immensely proud of the work of my whole federation team in embodying this ethos throughout the schools, and I am especially proud of Lizi Pravato for leading on this project with Includability. Diversity and equality are areas of utmost importance to our schools and we are proud to trail blaze with such an amazing group of people in our schools and now with our partners in Includability.
Moorland Federation Somerset
Naomi Philp, Executive Headteacher
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Moorland Federation Somerset
"There is lots to consider when building your business and creating the conditions for success for you team. Working through the assessment process for Includability has been great, meeting with their partners offered insight, guidance and practical advice on building a responsible inclusive work environment for your people, helping measure where we are on the journey and to plan for our future at Ecologi"
Ecologi
Joel Baynes, COO at Ecologi
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Ecologi
Liverpool are pleased to announce that they have become an Includability Committed Employer and achieved six stars in their verification process in the areas of D&I, Sustainability, Mental Health, Wellbeing, Leadership and Governance and Inclusive Recruitment
Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC, HR Director
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Liverpool FC
“At The Myers-Briggs Company, people are our passion. We aim to inspire everyone to lead more successful and fulfilling lives, and that means including everyone. As such, we’re thrilled to have passed Includability's 5-star verification process and to be recognised as an 'Includability Committed Employer'! As a B Corp, we’re committed to building an inclusive economy that works for everyone and going through Includability's verification process has been a great way to help us recognise where we’re on the right path.”
The Myers-Briggs Company
Jeff Hayes, President & CEO of The Myers-Briggs Company
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The Myers-Briggs Company“We are very proud to have received this commendation and reinforces our vision and mission that there is more to football than 3 points on a Saturday. The work we have done with Includability has been incredible and has opened many doors allowing us to get a look at the practices in a diverse range of businesses and environments. Sport, particularly football, has always lagged well behind the business world in many of the issues Includability focuses on and we felt strongly that we wanted to be at the forefront of the conversation and hopefully leaders for change.”
Fairford Town FC
Jody Bevan, Director of Football
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Fairford Town FCWonderful things our members say about us
Our purpose is your progression
Includability –Introducing you to the three P’s that guide us
pur·pose [ˈpəːpəs]NOUN - the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists
pro·gres·sion[prəˈɡrɛʃ(ə)n]NOUN - the process of developing or moving gradually towards a more advanced state
posi·tiv·ity[pɒzɪˈtɪvɪti]NOUN - the practice of being or tendency to be positive or optimistic in attitude:
We believe that the best way to help our members is through education and collaboration. That's why our principles are to help businesses work towards the goal of an inclusive workplace and workforce whilst breaking down barriers to diversity and encouraging individualism. To find out more about our values click on the link below.
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News & Articles
Includability News & Articles
Our news and articles section is designed to help you find information about all areas of the Includability community. We have collected articles from the experts at the forefront in developing a diverse, inclusive and sustainable world. We have news, expert articles, case studies and advice.
Megan Bissett, an Organisational Psychologist and Co-Founder of Cword, is a pioneering force in the realm of workplace culture and climate. Specialising in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), as well as trauma-informed workplaces, Megan's approach to organisational transformation is both innovative and impactful.
In November, the Includability community came together to celebrate the incredible achievements of our finalists and winners at the 2024 Includability Awards. This event wasn’t just about trophies – it was about honouring the organisations, teams, and individuals driving meaningful change in workplace inclusivity, wellbeing, and diversity.
Paired with the return of our popular Links and Drinks networking event, it made for an unforgettable week filled with camaraderie, recognition, and a shared commitment to inclusivity.
As we step into 2025, there’s no better way to embrace the new year than with RED January. RED January’s 2025 campaign launched on World Kindness Day to reach as many people as possible before the New Year.
Welcome to the Includability Committed Employer (ICE) Spotlight Series, where we celebrate the trailblazing efforts of our ICEs in fostering sustainable, inclusive, and mentally healthy workplace cultures.
Today, we shine the spotlight on Elizabeth Norman International (ENI), a leading recruitment consultancy known for its expertise in data, analytics, and market research talent acquisition. ENI’s commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and its innovative approach to talent management has made it a key player in shaping the future of the insights industry.
In 2024, there have been several legislative changes to workplace law. April saw changes to flexible working from the previous government. And in October, changes to sexual harassment reporting, action and penalties came into effect under the new Labour government.
This blog explains the recent changes with the help of our wonderful Ambassadors and signposts to further details for business looking to get to grips with the changes.
Accessibility
Building Inclusive Communities for Neurodiverse Students in PBSA with Includability in 2025
Includability is driving inclusion in PBSA through partnerships with CRM Students, iQ Student Accommodation, and DiSRUPT Property Recruitment. From simplifying communications to team training, we help PBSA providers support neurodiverse students and create thriving communities. Our certification ensures continuous improvement, empowering inclusive environments for students and high performance teams for providers.
International Men’s Day is an important occasion that highlights the positive contributions of men to society and addresses the challenges they face.At Includability, we believe in creating inclusive work environments that promote the wellbeing of all employees.
In this spotlight, we turn our attention to Bristol, a company that has built a global reputation for excellence in global mobility management. Their journey showcases a deep commitment to connection, sustainability, and ethical business practices, all while fostering a supportive and dynamic work culture where everyone can thrive.
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