The Athena SWAN Charter is supported by the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET
and by Equality Challenge Unit.
The
UK Resource Centre for Women in SET (UKRC) is based in Bradford and its mission is to establish a dynamic centre of excellence,
providing accessible, high quality information and advisory services to industry,
academia, professional institutes, education and Research Councils within SET
professions, whilst supporting women entering and progressing in SET careers.
Equality Challenge Unit supports the higher education sector in its mission to realise the potential
of all staff and students whatever their race, gender, disability, sexual orientation,
religion or age, to the benefit of those individuals, higher education institutions
and society. Its original development was made possible by funding from the European
Social Fund under the Equal Initiative.
The Charter was launched in June 2005. Until March 2007 the SWAN Charter was
managed by the Athena Project, based at the Royal Society. In April 2007 a Coordinator
was appointed to manage the Charter and awards process as a stand-alone project,
now based at the offices of Equality Challenge Unit.