A Statement from your President Team on the long awaited EHRC Code of Practice

Yesterday afternoon, the government published the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s long-awaited draft Code of Practice. At 340 pages long, this is a massive and complex document that will require rigorous review by institutions nationwide. Yesterday’s publication is a draft code that has been laid before Parliament for a forty-day scrutiny period. We know that this announcement, arriving after years of a deeply polarising national debate, has caused immediate anxiety, distress, and fear for trans and non-binary students at UWE Bristol.

We want to be completely clear: The Students’ Union (SU) stands firmly in solidarity with our trans and non-binary community. Our commitment to inclusion is absolute. The primary purpose of the Equality Act is to protect individuals from discrimination so that everyone can live and study freely. Every single student at UWE Bristol has the right to feel safe, to be authentically themselves, and to thrive in their education without the fear of being excluded.

To handle this responsibly and to ensure we protect both our community and our values legally and effectively, The Students’ Union Officer Team and SU staff will be attending the national NUS forum next week. This space will allow us to digest the fine print of the draft code alongside sector experts and determine the best ways to keep our campus as trans-inclusive as possible.

We are here to continue to listen, we want to understand your perspectives, and we will continue to fight for a campus where everyone belongs. If you are feeling overwhelmed or unsafe, please remember you are not alone. Our Advice Centre, your Students’ Union elected leaders, including the Trans Welfare Officer and LGBT+ Officer, are here to support you.

https://www.uwe.ac.uk/about/values-vision-strategy/equality-diversity-and-inclusivity/support-for-trans-and-non-binary-students

The Students’ Union at UWE President Team 

22/05/2026