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Meet the Social Justice Team
As a member of the Cathedrals Group of Universities, Bishop Grosseteste University is committed to improving the life and educational opportunities of its members and working for the benefit of the wider community. Education and the possibilities it produces for transformation make it, according to the late Nelson Mandela ‘the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’. Education is a core building block of society and is central to how communities are structured and work now and for the societies and communities we will build for tomorrow. The ambition of a fair and just society must be all members of that society are given the support needed to ensure everyone has a genuine opportunity to realise their potential; be accorded respect; and valued as an individual of worth within an inclusive system. This is social justice. -
Publications (Social Justice)
For all the latest publications from the Social Justice team. -
Meet the Team (BRIDgE)
We are a diverse group of academics, widely published through both peer-reviewed and professional outputs and through conference and presentation. We work collegiately, supporting each other at the intersection of our interests, and we have a host of wider connections within our communities that enable us to implement a vibrant national and international network. -
Current & Recent Projects (BRIDgE)
Check out what the team’s working on and stay up to date with our latest and ongoing projects. -
BGU academic gives keynote for Beyond the Spectrum writing festival
Dr Clare Lawrence, Associate Professor of Participatory Autism Research at BGU, was delighted to give the opening, key-note presentation at Intense Fascination, an autistic-focussed writing festival, hosted by Beyond the Spectrum. Beyond The Spectrum is a UK wide autism arts and creative writing programme led by and for autistic writers. It aims to promote individual wellbeing, public awareness and representation through arts engagement. Clare said, “I was honoured to be asked to open the festival and to be part of such a positive, affirming and interesting day. It was great to be able to share my current research around autism and creativity with such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable group of people.” Clare is planning to build on BGU’s relationship with the organisation through a three-year, funded research project exploring the use of creative writing to support autistic communication. -
Community Resilience exhibition
Community Resilience, an exhibition by Lincoln-based Zimbabwean artist Tinashe Chipawe at Lincoln Arts Centre this week. -
BGU Autism Art Group donates collage to Tesco Community Room
On Wednesday 7th May, BGU’s Autism Art Group were delighted to donate a collage of their work to Tesco, to be displayed in the Community Room. The group, which is supported by funding from Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in the art studio on campus. The sessions are led by artist Dr John Rimmer, and the group is working towards an exhibition to form part of the Learning and Teaching conference in July.The collage was put together by John from work created by all the group members, and was described by Ann-Marie Hamson, the Community Champion at Tesco Lincoln Extra, as "fabulous!". Ann-Marie and John are pictured here, together with volunteer supporter of the group, Associate Professor Clare Lawrence. The group is open to anyone who identifies as autistic, and to supporters and friends. Sessions run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm in a warm, accessible and relaxed atmosphere. All are welcome, and there is no charge. For further information, please contact john at john.rimmer@bishopg.ac.uk -
University name change FAQs
Answers to questions from our students, alumni, applicants, and members of our local communities. -
Transforming the experience of students who are Trans
About 10 years ago, there was a growing recognition that trans students studying at our university – for many, their first experience of leaving home – often experienced discrimination, bullying, harassment and being subjected to negative stereotyping. Attempts to bring in some trans friendly signage failed and remained a source of contention. In response we set up a project team (with both trans and non-trans members) to carry out a piece of participatory action research – a method whereby people whose experiences and identities are central to an enquiry become involved as co-researchers on an equal footing– to try and bring about improvements. Our goal was to provide recommendations that might transform the environment (facilities and culture) – so that trans people on campus, students, staff and visitors, felt more welcome and able to fully engage as members of our learning community. All trans students interviewed as part of the research said they had experienced feelings of isolation and withdrawal, alongside anxiety about ‘passing’ (being perceived as not trans or ‘cis-gendered’). Interviewees also wished to avoid being publicly ‘outed’ as a trans person and hoped that neutral signage for bathroom facilities and some additional changing spaces for the health and fitness suite could be introduced. The project later came to the attention of internationally renowned scholar Professor Wendy Stainton-Rogers who cited it as a ‘world changing’ case study: ‘World Changing’ Trans Student Experience Project Included in International Social Psychology Text | Bishop Grosseteste University. Since then, our university has benefitted from some modest, reasonable adjustments, such as all gender toilet facilities (as well as single sex provision) across the campus, and a genuine desire to work for a culture of inclusion and sense of belonging. Fast forward ten years, and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has recently rushed to publish some ‘interim guidance’ (EHRC, 2025) hot on the heels of the UK Supreme Court judgement that provides an interpretation of certain (already existing) exceptions on the basis of sex in the Equality Act (The Supreme Court UK, 2025). The judges explicitly stated precisely what their judgement referred to, and that the law itself has not changed. Indeed, in the days that followed, Lord Sumption, a former Supreme Court judge, warned against misrepresenting the judgement as a requirement to exclude and discriminate against trans people, (Maddox, 2025). Amnesty UK described the ruling as having potentially concerning consequences for trans people and emphasised that the vilification of a marginalised minority group is absolutely wrong. In light of this and the social and mainstream media frenzy surrounding it, and the apparent growth of anti-EDI sentiment here in the UK and across the globe, we, the BRIDgE team, alongside Senior Leaders at the University and our new Vice Chancellor, Andrew Gower, would like to highlight our efforts, such as the one outlined above, to create a richly diverse and inclusive community, where all are welcome, valued and can fully belong. We emphasise that we will continue such work to establish a fully inclusive community and will strive to protect the rights of marginalised groups. -
Festival of Education Ticket Giveaway – Terms & Conditions
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