Lambourn Almshouses: Equality and Diversity Policy
1. Introduction
The Lambourn Almshouses are committed to providing housing and support to individuals in need, regardless of their background. This Equality and Diversity Policy outlines our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment, ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We recognise the importance of promoting equality, preventing discrimination, and valuing the diversity of our residents, staff, trustees, and volunteers.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that The Lambourn Almshouses operate in a manner that is inclusive, fair, and non-discriminatory. We are committed to upholding the principles of equality and diversity in all aspects of our work, including the provision of housing, recruitment, decision-making, and service delivery.
3. Scope
This policy applies to:
- Residents of the Almshouses.
- Trustees, staff, and volunteers.
- Contractors and third-party providers working with the charity.
- Applicants for housing, employment, or volunteer opportunities.
4. Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity
The Lambourn Almshouses are committed to:
- Promoting Equality: Ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to access housing and services, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
- Preventing Discrimination: Ensuring that no one is treated less favourably or subjected to direct or indirect discrimination, harassment, or victimisation.
- Valuing Diversity: Embracing the differences in people’s backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and recognising the value they bring to our organisation and community.
- Providing Accessible Services: Ensuring that our services and homes are accessible and meet the diverse needs of the people we serve, including making reasonable adjustments where necessary to accommodate disabilities.
5. Legal Compliance
The Lambourn Almshouses will comply with all relevant legislation and regulations, including:
- The Equality Act 2010, which provides a framework for eliminating discrimination and promoting equality.
- The Human Rights Act 1998, which ensures the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.
- The Charity Governance Code, which outlines best practices for inclusive governance in charitable organisations.
6. Implementation
To ensure the effective implementation of this policy, The Lambourn Almshouses will:
- Provide training and guidance to trustees, staff, and volunteers on equality and diversity principles.
- Ensure that decisions related to housing allocation, recruitment, and service delivery are made objectively and based on the needs of individuals, not on personal characteristics.
- Regularly review and monitor our practices and procedures to identify and address any barriers to equality.
- Take action to prevent and address any incidents of discrimination, harassment, or victimisation that occur within the organisation.
7. Housing Allocation and Service Delivery
We are committed to ensuring that our housing allocation process is fair, transparent, and based on need. Residents will not be discriminated against on the basis of any protected characteristic. We will also work to ensure that our services are delivered in a way that respects the dignity of all residents and responds to their individual needs.
8. Recruitment and Employment
The Lambourn Almshouses are committed to promoting equality in recruitment, employment, and volunteer opportunities. We will:
- Ensure that job descriptions, advertisements, and interviews are free from bias and do not discriminate against any individual or group.
- Encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates and provide equal opportunities to all applicants.
- Make reasonable adjustments in the workplace to support employees or volunteers with disabilities.
9. Complaints and Concerns
Anyone who feels they have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment is encouraged to raise their concerns. The Lambourn Almshouses will handle complaints confidentially and promptly, in accordance with our Complaints Policy. We will take appropriate action to address any issues and ensure that such behaviour is not tolerated.
10. Monitoring and Review
This policy will be regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure its effectiveness and to reflect any changes in legislation or organisational practice. The trustees will review this policy annually or when necessary to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the charity and the individuals it serves.
11. Approval
This policy has been approved by the Board of Trustees of The Lambourn Almshouses:
Signature:
Name: Christian Noll
Position: Chair of Trustees
Date: 1 November 2024