EQUALITY & DIVERSITY POLICY
This policy applies to all directors, members, employees, freelance workers, volunteers and organisations/ individuals who use our services.
Date agreed: 1st July 2021
Review frequency: Annual
Last review: 29/12/23
Designated Equality & Diversity Lead:
John Marker – john@cocreateexeter.co.uk
Our Aim
1.1 To working towards a more equal society and promoting equality of opportunity for all.
1.2 To ensure that no individual is discriminated against in the planning and delivery of any of our activities.
1.3 To encourage participation, through proactively understanding the needs of our community to remove existing and potential barriers to participation.
1.4 To uphold the human rights of everyone, working to eliminate unlawful discrimination and tackling prejudice.
1.5 To create an environment which respects and welcomes everyone, and in which no form of bullying, harassment, disrespectful or discriminatory behaviour is tolerated by anyone towards anyone. This particularly applies in relation to the ‘protected characteristics’ named in the Equality Act 2010:
· Age
· Disability
· Gender reassignment
· Income
· Marriage or civil partnership status
· Pregnancy and maternity,
· Race
· Religion or belief
· Sex and sexual orientation
2. Our Responsibilities
2.1 To ensure this policy is understood by all staff, customers, volunteers, suppliers, partners, clients, and directors, and to ensure these parties behave in a manner consistent with the policy.
2.2 This policy will be subject to agreement with any trade union which staff choose to join or to which they belong. The policy is fully supported and welcomed by all team members and has been agreed by our Board of Directors.
2.3 Overall responsibility for the implementation of this policy lies with Co Create Exeter CIC’s manager and its directors.
3. Our Commitments
3.1 When services and events are being planned and delivered, consideration will be given to matters including:
The physical accessibility of the venues
The time of day at which they are held
The need for additional support facilities
The charges (if any) that are made
The use of inclusive language that respects individuals’ preferred pronouns and gender identity in marketing and delivering events and courses
Mental health disabilities that may be faced by any involved parties
Intersectional protected characteristics of involved parties, acknowledging unique challenges that may be faced
The means by which they are publicised and promoted, including ensuring that that written material can be reproduced in large print, etc,
Making reasonable adjustments to enable the needs of particular individuals to be taken account of so that they can make use of these services
And any other factors which enhance the ability of people from disadvantaged groups to make use of these services.
3.2 Co Create Exeter CIC will support staff, volunteers, directors, suppliers and users to develop equalities awareness and understanding, through encouraging open dialogue and offering/undertaking training where appropriate.
3.3 Co Create Exeter CIC are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer. No job applicant or will receive less favourable treatment on any of the grounds listed in 1.5.
3.4 Co Create Exeter CIC will seek to work with partner organisations who share our values regarding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
3.5 Co Create Exeter CIC will ensure this document is available to all members of our community through on-site display, our website and any induction or onboarding processes.
4. Recruitment
4.1 Our recruitment process is intended to ensure a wide response to employment vacancies, reflecting the diversity of our community.
4.2 Co Create Exeter CIC will, according to financial limits, make vacancies known through recognised recruitment sources including newspapers, job centres and internal advertisement.
4.3 Every job advertised will have a job description from which a person specification will be drafted. This will list all the essential requirements an individual will need in order to undertake the tasks detailed in the job description.
4.4 The selection process will be carried out according to specified job-related criteria detailed in the person specification. Individuals will be assessed against these criteria on the basis of application forms, interview performance or other practical tests designed to test the applicant.
5. Learning & Development
5.1 Co Create Exeter CIC is committed to the learning and development of all its staff and volunteers in order to allow them to gain and develop skills and knowledge, realise their full potential and develop life and career opportunities.
5.2 Training in diversity issues and anti-discriminatory practice will be made available to all staff and volunteers including directors and members and will also be open for other service users to attend
6. Complaints & Feedback
6.1 Co Create Exeter CIC will take seriously any grievances or complaints concerning discrimination and will apply a zero-tolerance policy to any abuse or harassment or where people behave in a discriminatory or prejudiced way against employees, volunteers or service users.
6.2 Co Create Exeter CIC welcomes all feedback on our approach to equality and diversity and on the accessibility of our services.
6.3 Co Create Exeter CIC will ensure that there is a confidential mechanism for reporting discrimination or harassment that is clearly available to all members of the community including staff and customers.
7. Reviewing & Monitoring
7.1 Co Create Exeter CIC will review this policy regularly to ensure that it reflects up to date equality legislation and good practice.
7.2 Co Create Exeter CIC will ensure that all equality and diversity data collected from activities, events, projects and staff and volunteer recruitment forms is collated and monitored on an ongoing basis in order to understand how our community better and identify opportunities for becoming more proactively inclusive.