EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY STATEMENT

ACTIVE4ALL is fully committed to equality of opportunity and intends that all the services and activities it provides shall be conducted in an atmosphere of

 ‘Respect for All’

 Active4All aims to ensure that no job applicant, employee, member, beneficiaries or potential beneficiary receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of mental distress, race, age, colour, nationality, religious or spiritual belief, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual identity, disability or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

All ACTIVE4ALL services will be systematically reviewed, and equal opportunity monitoring will form part of this process. ACTIVE4ALL will endeavour to provide non-discriminatory services for beneficiaries and will provide a clear complaints procedure to beneficiaries of its services.

Selection criteria for employment purposes will be reviewed to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. All employees where appropriate and possible, will be entitled to training to enable them to best undertake their work.

ACTIVE4ALL will seek to promote an equal opportunity and anti-discriminatory ethos throughout the organisation and through its dealings with any outside body or individual.

1.OBJECTIVES

- To provide specialist services that encourage participation from all groups within the community.

- To monitor and evaluate such services regularly to ensure that services are effective, appropriate and operate with ACTIVE4ALL's Equal Opportunities Policy.

- To ensure that the employment practices of ACTIVE4ALL adhere to and reflect ACTIVE4ALL's Equal Opportunities Policy.

- To undertake that any publication, communication or statement relating to ACTIVE4ALL and it's activities promotes equal opportunities and is in line with our Equal Opportunities Policy.

- To make clear, through the distribution of information, that ACTIVE4ALL is committed to equal

opportunity and does not discriminate, or tolerate discrimination, on the grounds of mental distress, race, age, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual identity or disability.

- To undertake to provide staff, and beneficiary training to promote an understanding of equal opportunity.

- To raise awareness within the Membership of ACTIVE4ALL of equal opportunity issues and practices.

- To discourage at all times the display of prejudice and/or discrimination within the organisation through education, action and disciplinary procedure.

2. EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

a)All vacancies at ACTIVE4ALL will be advertised as widely as possible, notwithstanding the following exceptions:

·        Where a short-term contract is tendered for by the organisation, and internal resources exist to undertake the work.

·        Where a compulsory redundancy situation arises, and the redundant employee possesses at least 70% of the skills, experience and knowledge for a vacant post, the redundant employee will have first call on the vacant position. If more than one redundant employee has the requisite skills, knowledge and experience, an internal application and interview process will take place, using the usual equal opportunities procedure, but only open to redundant candidates.

·        Where a vacancy is for seven hours per week or less.

b)) The content of the advertisement should truly represent the content of the job and the skills candidates require/should possess.

c)) The language used in advertisements should be clear and precise.

d) A statement of equal opportunity should be made with each advertisement, encouraging applications from all sections of the community, except when the post is exempt under criteria in the Sex Discrimination Act or Race Discrimination Act.

3. PUBLICATIONS, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

a. All publications, communications and information distributed and made available by ACTIVE4ALL shall take account of the organisation's Equal Opportunities Policy. This will be reviewed annually.

b. All ACTIVE4ALL publications will contain a brief equal opportunity commitment statement.

c. Any complaint of discrimination relating to published material or interviews will be properly investigated.

d. ACTIVE4ALL will include a commitment statement of equal opportunity in its advertising material whenever possible.

e. ACTIVE4ALL staff will conduct themselves in a manner that clearly indicates the organisation's commitment to equal opportunities when on Association business.

4. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY AWARENESS

a. ACTIVE4ALL will inform all its members, staff and beneficiaries of its Equal

Opportunities Policy.

b. ACTIVE4ALL will promote equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practice on a daily basis by, for example, tackling one-off incidences of discrimination and generally through working practice.

c. ACTIVE4ALL will, from time to time, run information sessions, training and group discussions on equal opportunity in order to raise awareness of equal opportunity and ensure that people involved with ACTIVE4ALL are clear about ACTIVE4ALL's Equal Opportunities Policy and how it affects each individual within the organisation.

5. COMPLAINTS

a. Any person within the organisation has the right to complain of an abuse of the organisation's Equal Opportunities Policy.

b. It should be clear to all individuals within the organisation that they may challenge a discriminatory comment and/or that they can take the matter further.

6. CONTRACTS AND GRANTS

ACTIVE4ALL will not enter into any service contract or receive any grant if it compromises its Equal Opportunity Policy.

7. MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF THIS POLICY

 ACTIVE4ALL will undertake equal opportunities monitoring to systematically review this policy's implementation.