Deeds Not Words 2026

Using the Policy Design Guide

Download Guide

Deeds not Words 2026 is all about helping YOU use The Deeds Not Words Policy Design Guide. The DNW Guide gives you six short, practical questions to ask yourself and colleagues when writing or reviewing policies, interventions and action plans.

The DNW Guide is rooted in three years of international research on what works to improve women’s equity in Film and TV over the long term and at scale. The Guide aims to encourage systemic change.

The Guide was developed through a collaboration between 10 industry leaders and the University of Glasgow. The Deeds Not Words Guide is not a legal checklist, nor a list of actions you MUST take. It’s designed to be used alongside what’s already working. It’s a modest but effective tool to help us all do a bit better, one step at a time.

From researchers to industry leaders, these are some of the people who helped shape the Guide and why they think it matters.

I'm proud to have been part of the team drafting and testing this Guide. It encourages practical, collaborative action.
Sara Putt
Talent agent and BAFTA Chair | 2023-2026
At Pact we’re always looking for evidence- based best practice to use ourselves and to recommend to our members. I’m glad to put my name to the Guide
Anjani Patel
Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Pact
We must do more to ensure genuine gender equity is achieved. The Guide - rooted in 6 simple questions – is a necessary tool for helping us assess approaches to programme design.
Sara Whybrew
Director of Skills & Workforce Development at the BFI
Right now, we are in danger of losing the gains women have made. The Guide is a brilliant practical framework that employers of big and small organisations can use to sense-check policies and initiatives.
Su-Mei Thompson
CEO of Media Trust
Women working in the UK television sector are still more likely to be in non-senior jobs and are heavily outnumbered by men in some of the more influential roles. The Guide provides valuable insights to help us turn this situation around and address the multiple barriers that hinder career progression
Miranda Wayland
CEO, Cultural Diversity Network

I'm proud to have been part of the team drafting and testing this Guide. It encourages practical, collaborative action.
Sara Putt
Talent agent and BAFTA Chair | 2023-2026
At Pact we’re always looking for evidence- based best practice to use ourselves and to recommend to our members. I’m glad to put my name to the Guide
Anjani Patel
Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Pact
We must do more to ensure genuine gender equity is achieved. The Guide - rooted in 6 simple questions – is a necessary tool for helping us assess approaches to programme design.
Sara Whybrew
Director of Skills & Workforce Development at the BFI
Right now, we are in danger of losing the gains women have made. The Guide is a brilliant practical framework that employers of big and small organisations can use to sense-check policies and initiatives.
Su-Mei Thompson
CEO of Media Trust
Women working in the UK television sector are still more likely to be in non-senior jobs and are heavily outnumbered by men in some of the more influential roles. The Guide provides valuable insights to help us turn this situation around and address the multiple barriers that hinder career progression
Miranda Wayland
CEO, Cultural Diversity Network

Process

Use the Guide in five simple steps.

The Guide is designed to fit into the way you already work. Whether you're creating a new policy, reviewing an existing programme or refining an action plan, these five steps will help you get the most from the six questions.

Choose what you're working on

Select the policy, intervention, programme or action plan you'd like to review. Start with something real that you're already developing or improving.

Choose what you're working on

Select the policy, intervention, programme or action plan you'd like to review. Start with something real that you're already developing or improving.

Open the Guide

Download the Guide and begin with the six questions. They are designed to help you reflect on different aspects of your work, one step at a time.

Open the Guide

Download the Guide and begin with the six questions. They are designed to help you reflect on different aspects of your work, one step at a time.

Work through the six questions

For each question, ask yourself: Is this relevant to what I'm doing? Am I happy with my current answer? If the answer is yes, you're on the right track. If not, use the question as an opportunity to rethink, improve and strengthen your approach.

Work through the six questions

Refine your approach

Talk to the people you're designing for, learn from others and make small improvements where needed. The Guide is designed to support better decisions—not prescribe fixed answers.

Refine your approach

Talk to the people you're designing for, learn from others and make small improvements where needed. The Guide is designed to support better decisions—not prescribe fixed answers.

Put it into practice - and keep learning

Once you're happy with your approach, put it into action. Revisit the six questions over time to reflect on what's working, what could improve and what you've learned.

Put it into practice - and keep learning

Once you're happy with your approach, put it into action. Revisit the six questions over time to reflect on what's working, what could improve and what you've learned.