EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

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Introduction

Martlesham Heath Householders Ltd:

 

ACCEPTS that in society certain groups or individuals are denied equality on the grounds of race, gender, marital status, caring responsibilities, disability, gender re-assignment, age, social class, sexual orientation and religion/belief or any other factor irrelevant to the purpose in view. 

WELCOMES the statutory requirements laid down in:

• the Equal Pay Act 1970; 

• the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974;

• the Sex Discrimination Act 1975;

• the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations Amendment Act Feb 2000;

• the NHS Community Care Act 1990;

• the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; 

• the Asylum & Immigration Act 1996;

• the Human Rights Act Nov 1998;

• the Employment (Religion or Belief) and (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003.

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RECOGNISES that it has moral and social responsibilities that go beyond the provisions of the above-mentioned Acts and Regulations, and that it should support and contribute to the wider process of change through all aspects of its work and practices in order to eliminate discrimination and promote equality and diversity.

 

IS COMMITTED to taking positive steps to ensure that:

• all people are treated with dignity and respect, valuing the diversity of all;

• equality of opportunity and diversity is promoted;

• services are accessible, appropriate and delivered fairly to all;

• the mix of its suppliers, volunteers and Board of Directors reflects, as far as possible, the broad mix of the population of its local community;

 

 

Policy

This policy applies to all directors, volunteers, management committee members, users and the general public.

Commitment

Equality and diversity are central to the work of Martlesham Heath Householders Ltd (MHHL).

MHHL will treat all people with dignity and respect, valuing the diversity of all.   It will promote equality of opportunity and diversity.   It will eliminate all forms of discrimination on grounds of race, gender, marital status, caring responsibilities, disability, gender re-assignment, age, social class, sexual orientation, religion/ belief, irrelevant offending background or any other factor irrelevant to the purpose in view. 

 

For this policy to be successful, it is essential that everyone is committed to and involved in its delivery.   MHHL’s goal is to work towards a just society free from discrimination, harassment and prejudice.   MHHL aims to embed this in all its policies, procedures, day-to-day practices and external relationships.

Aims

MHHL aims to:

• Provide services that are accessible according to need;

• Promote equality of opportunity and diversity in volunteering.

• Create effective partnerships with all parts of our community.

Objectives

MHHL’s objective is to realise its standards by:

• Sustaining, regularly evaluating and continually improving its services to ensure equality and diversity principles and best practice are embedded in our performance to meet the needs of individuals and groups;

• Working together with the community to provide accessible and relevant service provision that responds to service users’ needs;

• Ensuring directors, volunteers and sub-contractors are representative of the community 

• Responding to volunteer’s & employees’ needs and encouraging their development to increase their contribution to effective service delivery;

• Recognising and valuing the differences and individual contribution that all people make to MHHL

• Challenging discrimination

• Being accountable.

Why have this policy?

MHHL recognises, respects and values diversity in its volunteers and members.

MHHL has this policy because it is a people-led organisation that must always ensure it meets the needs of the community through fair and appropriate and development of the people volunteer for MHHL. 

PROCEDURES

Responsibility for Implementation

This policy covers the behaviour of all people employed as suppliers or volunteering in MHHL  and sets out the way they can expect to be treated in turn by MHHL.   The overall responsibility for ensuring adherence to and implementation of this policy lies with the  Board of Directors.

Method of Implementation

MHHL intends to implement this policy by:

Ensuring that volunteers are made aware, understand, agree with, and are willing to implement, this policy.   All volunteers will be given a copy of this policy as part of their induction;

 

Monitoring the services, publicity and events provided by MHHL, to ensure that they are accessible to all sections of the population and do not discriminate, and taking active steps to ensure that participation is representative.

Monitoring and Reviewing

MHHL has declared it’s commitment to establishing, developing, implementing and reviewing a policy of equality of opportunity.