Equal Opportunity & Diversity Policy
Statement
The management committee, staff/volunteers, and students of RSI are committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of their work. We do not accept practices that intentionally or unintentionally discriminate against anyone on the grounds of colour, race, religion, nationality, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or language. RSI recognises that personal relations of respect, trust, honesty, and openness underpin equality of opportunity.
Guidelines
The following guidelines for positive action are recommended to provide a framework for the effective monitoring of the policy's implementation.
Aims
Rochdale Science Initiative C.I.C (RSI) is open to all residents of Rochdale.
Our mission is to provide Rochdale with a secure and social regional hub that helps everyone in the community thrive, free from hardship.
We are inspired by faith and science and to be of service and guidance to all who need us. We aim to ensure that everyone in our community can access the support that they need and is given equal opportunity to thrive.
In particular, we aim to treat visitor, customer, client, staff member, or volunteer equally, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Accessibility
All our meetings and events are held in venues that are accessible to wheelchair users at our registered premises. Where visitors with a disability require additional requirements, we will make every effort to ensure appropriate resources and support in place.
We are committed to ensuring any visitor to RSI can attend our activities, so we will reassess our access requirements to meet the needs of new visitors, staff, or volunteers.
Diversity
RSI is a community interest company reflective of and governed by the local community members (Directors). We aim to organise a range of events and activities to suit the interests and meet the needs of a wide variety of people.
RSI is open to new ideas and particularly prioritise opportunities for residents to share their cultural heritage.
Inclusion and Respect
Every participant in RSI activities should be made to feel equally welcome and included.
Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise offensive and inflammatory remarks and behaviour are not acceptable. These constitute harassment and have no place in our programmes.
Dealing with discrimination and harassment
If any visitor feels they have been discriminated against by RSI or harassed at an RSI event, they should raise this with the appropriate staff and management committee.
The management board will investigate the complaint, listening to all members involved. (If the complaint is against a committee member, that member will not be part of conducting the investigation).
If the complaint is against a particular individual, this person will have the opportunity to express their point of view, accompanied by a friend. The person making the complaint will also have this opportunity.
If the complaint is against the RSI as a whole, the Committee must work to ensure that such discrimination is not repeated in the future and must inform the members of how they propose to do this.
Any decision to exclude a person from the organisation due to discriminatory or harassing behaviour will be made regarding RSI's governing policy.
RSI will support people who feel they have been harassed or discriminated against and will not victimise or treat them less well because they have raised this.
Student Recruitment:
RSI is open to all children and families who want to join our programmes. All our materials will be monitored for a possible offence to and stereotyping of people on the grounds of religion, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, and age.
Staff/volunteers and volunteer recruitment:
There will be a clear Job Description and Person Specifications for each paid post and a clear Role Description for each volunteer placement. The management committee will interview for all posts under the Recruitment Practice policy. The co-ordinator may interview and place volunteers. All recruitment will take place following recruitment best practice.
Application and registration forms will require only the information that is relevant for the course or posts, although other information may be requested for monitoring purposes. Equal Opportunity information will be collated where possible and held confidentially on file for monitoring and inclusion only. This information will not be shared with recruiting staff, except where appropriate in the case of Safeguarding or criminal conviction disclosure.
We are committed to conducting our business with honesty and integrity, and we expect all staff to maintain high standards. However, all C.I.C face the risk of things going wrong from time to time or of unknowingly harbouring illegal or unethical conduct. A culture of openness and accountability is essential to prevent such situations from occurring and to address them when they do occur.
If you have any queries concerning Equal Opportunities, our designated officer is
Mohammed Attaur Rahman
Policy Name and Number
Effective From 01/11/2023
- Version Number and Date Version 4 January 2023
- Designated Person Mohammed Attaur Rahman (with DBS)
- Second Designated Person Mohammed Arshad Ali (with DBS)
Revisions
Version Number/Date/Changes/Author (Name and Job Title)
- Version 1: 01/01/2019 First Written Mohammed A Rahman
- Version 2: 01/01/2020 Review Mohammed A Rahman
- Version 3: 01/01/2021 Review Removing Whistleblowing Policy Removing Complaints Policy Mohammed A Rahman
- Version 4: 01/01/2022 Reviewed and date updated Mohammed A Rahman
