Equal Opportunities Policy of High Peak CVS

It is the policy of the High Peak Council for Voluntary Service to provide equality of opportunity for all regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, national or ethnic or class origin, religious belief, marital status or impairment. The organization seeks to comply with the relevant legislation listed at the end of this Statement. Employees, committee members and volunteers who do not comply with the requirements of the legislation or with this Policy and Code of Practice may face disciplinary action.
HPCVS holds equality of opportunity as a core belief and therefore seeks to ensure that all of its policies as well as its practices are informed by the relevant legislation It is our policy that all staff, volunteers, committee members, users and the community in general should be treated fairly and equally in all matters. It is fundamental to that position that the Council will seek to challenge discrimination wherever it may occur. Through the process of its work, the organisation aims to celebrate the diversity and strengths which arise from differences of culture and lifestyle.

OBJECTIVES

1 To ensure that all users (potential or actual), committee members, volunteers and members of staff are treated with equal respect.

2 To ensure that its activities and services are open and accessible to all people within the area.

3 To aim for representation on the Executive Committee from all sections of the community.

4 To ensure that all staff are recruited and, where appropriate promoted on merit regardless of background and other discriminatory factors, save where the needs of users justify a more balanced representation.

5 To ensure that committee members, staff and volunteers are provided with training in the application of equality of opportunity and anti-discrimination practice and to ensure that all people involved in the Service understand the issues surrounding discrimination.

6 To seek to make premises accessible and welcoming to all sections of the community within the aims and resources of the service.

This general policy statement will be supported by written procedures for implementation and by awareness training where appropriate. The following Code of Practice is intended as a general guide for public display.

CODE OF PRACTICE

1 People will be treated with dignity and respect regardless of race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, impairment, age and other discriminatory factors.

2 At all times people's feelings will be valued and respected. Language or humour that people find offensive (for example, racist or sexist jokes or terminology that are derogatory to someone with an impairment) will be challenged.

3 Harassment, abuse or intimidation on the ground of race, sex, age, nationality, impairment or sexual orientation will also be challenged. Incidents of harassment, whether based on any of the above grounds or not, will be taken seriously. If the matter cannot be resolved by way of an acceptable apology and an undertaking that the offence will not be repeated, the following action will be taken:

3.1 In a case involving a member of the organization (as individuals or representing member organizations), they will be suspended from membership by the Chief Officer until such time as they can appear before the Management Committee.

3.2 In a case involving staff, disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the procedure outlined in the staff handbook.

RELEVANT LEGISLATION
Equal Pay 1970
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1970
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Race Relations Act 1975
Equal Pay (Amendment) act 1983
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Human Rights Act 2000

TOP

Adopted - January 2002