Public bodies pay thousands to join Stonewall’s LGBT ‘diversity champion’ scheme

Stonewall, at Pride London in 2017, has the Cabinet Office and Crown Prosecution Service signed up to its programme
Stonewall, at Pride London in 2017, has the Cabinet Office and Crown Prosecution Service signed up to its programme
BETTINA STRENSKE/ALAMY

Hundreds of employers including government agencies and police forces are paying thousands of pounds to become “diversity champions” for Stonewall.

The charity, whose transgender policy was recently questioned by one of its founders, runs a programme for organisations to ensure acceptance in the workplace for LGBT staff.

Thirty police forces, 57 local authorities and 50 NHS organisations are among those paying to belong to the programme, along with John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, the Post Office and dozens of universities.

The Cabinet Office, Foreign Office, Department for Education and Crown Prosecution Service are also signed up.

The amount that each organisation pays depends on its size but starts at £2,500 plus VAT and is estimated to cost the taxpayer at least