Legislation

The Equality Act 2010 provides protection for anyone who has a ‘physical or mental impairment that has a substantial, long term and adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities’.

Introduction

This policy aims to outline Hipp!!Bones Charity (the “charity”) commitment to ensuring equality of opportunity and equal treatment for staff, volunteers, trustees, management committee members and service users in terms of employment and access to services; and to provide guidance on anti-discriminatory practice. Equality and diversity is about accepting people’s differences and creating an environment in which all can thrive and contribute. 

The charity will be active in making sure all its policies and procedures are fair and that, as far as practically possible, no member is disadvantaged when participating in club activities.

Procedures

The charity will make sure that:

  • we promote respect for other people and treat everyone fairly;
  • young people and adults are able to meet together in a positive and accepting environment where they are safe from harm, abuse, harassment and intimidation;
  • the differing needs of members are considered when planning sessions, off-site trips, booking transport etc.; to ensure that everyone has the same opportunities to participate in club activities;
  • young people with communication difficulties have the same opportunities to communicate and make choices, through alternative and augmentative means of communication;
  • account is taken of how far a young person can reasonablybe expected to modify his or her behaviour, for example by use of a coping or avoidance strategy, to prevent or reduce the effects on normal day-to-day activities;
  • young people and adults recognise and challenge prejudice and discrimination;
  • incidents, including those of harassment and bullying, are taken seriously;
  • any issues of inequality, harassment or discrimination are reported to the Youth Support Worker in Charge and the Chair of the Hipp!!Bones Management Committee, who will enable the parties involved to give their version of events before considering further action;
  • the Youth Support Worker in Charge will respond quickly and impartially to such issues after consulting with the Chair of the Hipp!!Bones Management Committee.

Involving and representing the community

  • Hipp!!Bones will provide services that are accessible to all young people between the ages of 11 and 25 years of age with additional needs and disabilities in North Dorset, and neighbouring counties.
  • We are continually trying to raise the profile of Hipp!!Bones in the local community in an attempt to increase involvement and representation.  We have a website www.hippbones.co.uk, Instagram, and Facebook pages. We are featured in the Family Information Service directory, have regular fundraising support from organisations and businesses within the local community, and organise occasional fundraising activities in a wide variety of locations in the local area.
  • Publicity and advertising, where possible, will be made available in a variety of different formats to include the whole community
  • Hipp!!Bones, where possible, will seek to assist minority and hard to reach groups by identifying their needs in the community and establishing links with other organisations.

Conduct during club sessions/meetings

  • Hipp!!Bones will not tolerate any discriminatory or offensive behaviour
  • Hipp!!Bones will not tolerate racist, sexist or discriminatory remarks (relating to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation) during any sessions/meetings.

Recruitment and selection of staff, helpers/volunteers and conditions of employment

  • The charity aims to provide equal opportunities to all job applicants, employees, and volunteers
  • All staff and volunteers will have equal access to training opportunities
  • The charity recognises the benefits of drawing on the skills of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds who will all play their part in making the club successful
  • The charity aims to ensure that job applicants do not receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race including ethnic or national origin, colour and nationality, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation or any other factor that is irrelevant to the selection process.

Training, development and supervision

  • Training to raise awareness of equality and diversity issues will be offered to all members of the Hipp!!Bones Management Committee, staff and volunteers
  • Activities will be provided to ensure that all our members are aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Equality and Diversity Policy.

Unacceptable behaviour

Hipp!!Bones is aware of how people can be subject to harassment on a wide variety of grounds and take many forms.  Harassment is a physical, verbal or non-verbal action which is unwelcome, unwanted and offensive to the recipient and has the effect of violating their dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive atmosphere for that person.  This can include embarrassing or offensive jokes, unwelcome physical contact or sexual advances, the expression of racist, homophobic, etc views, lewd comments and innuendo, and sending of offensive text messages.

  • Our members will be encouraged to report all incidents of harassment or discrimination themselves, to the Youth Support Worker in Charge. Where this is not possible, for whatever reason, it will be raised on their behalf by the member of staff or volunteer who witnessed it.
  • Incidents of discrimination or harassment will be treated seriously by the Youth Support Worker in Charge and dealt with fairly
  • The Hipp!!Bones Management Committee/Youth Support Worker in Charge will deal with any form of harassment, unfair discrimination, incidents or complaints.

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