Equality and diversity policy

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Equality and diversity framework - Statement of Principles;

The Walk & Talk Project welcomes and supports the diversity of the community we serve, the volunteers and members we support. Our diversity is our strength; our volunteers will reflect the community in which we work and for whom we work; and our policy practices and procedures will reflect our constant striving for excellence. The Walk & Talk Project will do its best to integrate good equality practice in all that we say and do. As reflected in our Code of Conduct, which reflects our welcoming and inclusive attitude to diverse backgrounds and different community The Walk & Talk Project believe that equality of opportunity and freedom from discrimination are fundamental in creating an environment in which the talents of individuals can flourish. We will deliver our mission within an equality and diversity framework providing the highest quality to all. The Walk & Talk Project will not discriminate on any grounds and in particular in the spirit of current legislation in either our employment practice, sporting activities or service delivery. The Walk & Talk Project will implement its legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010. We will continually review our practices to ensure that they comply with the spirit as well as the letter of the law. Definitions of discrimination and harassment are appended below. We will ensure that our members and volunteers demonstrate equality and diversity awareness through The Walk & Talk Project values in their language, behaviour and working practices. We will promote the principles of equality and diversity in our undertakings with all our stakeholder ensuring as far as possible a common approach on joint undertakings.

Responsibility:

It is the duty of all board member volunteers and members to accept their personal responsibility for the practical application of the policy. Equality and diversity are important to us and we will under no circumstances condone unlawful discriminatory practices. The Walk & Talk Project will therefore take action against those who are found to be breaching our policy. All those (board members  & volunteer members) who believe that our policy is being breached have the right to make a complaint. Such complaints will be investigated seriously and resolved in a timely manner. 

Commitment to Equality & Diversity: 

The Walk & Talk Project is committed to creating an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all our volunteers and members are recognised and valued. Our volunteers and members can be assured of an environment in which their right dignity and individual worth are respected, and in particular that they are able to enjoy walking or their chosen sport without the threat of intimidation, victimisation, harassment or abuse. Every volunteer, member and user of our services is entitled to an environment that promotes dignity and respect to all. No form of harassment, intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated. As part of our commitment, The Walk & Talk Project will ensure that key staff with a responsibility for service delivery undertake Equality and Diversity training. 

Signed Position 

Date 

Equality Areas: Protected Characteristics theEquality Act 2010 (EA 2010):

Sets out groups that are protected from unlawful discrimination. 

Age:

The Walk & Talk Project celebrates and values the diversity of volunteers and members of all ages and aims to ensure that all are treated fairly and with dignity and respect. 

Disability:

The Walk & Talk Project welcomes and celebrates volunteers and members with ranging levels of abilities and aims to ensure that all are treated fairly, reasonably and with dignity and respect. 

Gender reassignment:

The Walk & Talk Project celebrates and values the diversity of its transgender volunteers and members and aims to ensure that all are treated fairly and with dignity and respect. 

Marriage and civil partnership:

The Walk & Talk Project aims to ensure that all volunteers and members are treated fairly and with dignity and respect whether they are married, in a civil partnership or single. 

Pregnancy and maternity:

The Walk & Talk Project aims to provide an environment where volunteers and members are supported and treated fairly and with dignity and respect during pregnancy and maternity and while breastfeeding. 

Race and Ethnicity:

The Walk & Talk Project aims to ensure that all volunteers and members are treated fairly and with dignity and respect regardless of race or ethnicity. 

Religion and belief and non-belief:

The Walk & Talk Project celebrates and values the diversity brought by its volunteers and member and aims to create an environment where those with a religious belief or none are treated fairly and with dignity and respect. 

Sex (Gender):

The Walk & Talk Project celebrates and values the diversity brought by its volunteers and members and aims to create an environment where all are treated fairly and with dignity and respect regardless of gender. 

Sexual Orientation:

The Walk & Talk Project celebrates and values the diversity of its lesbian, gay and bisexual volunteers and members and aims to ensure that all are treated fairly and with dignity and respect. 

Equality Areas: Other disadvantaged groups:

The Walk & Talk Project have adopted the groups cited in the EA 2010 and widened the scope to include other disadvantaged groups. 

Socioeconomic Status:

The Walk & Talk Project celebrates and values the diversity brought by its individual volunteers and members and aims to create an environment where all are treated fairly and with dignity and respect regardless of socioeconomic status. 

Appendix 1 

Under the Equality Act 2010, individuals are protected from discrimination ‘on grounds of’ a protected characteristic. This means that individuals will be protected if they have a characteristic, are assumed to have it, associate with someone who has it or with someone who is assumed to have it. 

Forms of discrimination and discriminatory behaviour include the following: 

Direct discrimination;

Direct discrimination can be described as less favourable treatment on the grounds of one of the protected characteristics. 

Indirect discrimination;

Indirect discrimination occurs when a provision, criterion or practice is applied to an individual or group that would put persons of a particular characteristic at a particular disadvantage compared with other persons. 

Discrimination arising from disability;

When a disabled person is treated unfavourably because of something connected with their disability and this unfavourable treatment cannot be justified, this is unlawful. This type of discrimination only relates to disability. 

Harassment;

Harassment is defined as unwanted conduct relating to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity, or which creates an intimidating or hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person. 

Victimisation;

It is unlawful to treat a person less favourably because he or she has made allegations or brought proceedings under the anti-discrimination legislation, or because they have helped another person to do so. To do so would constitute victimisation. 

Bullying;

Bullying is defined as a form of personal harassment involving the misuse of power, influence, or position to persistently criticise, humiliate or undermine an individual.