STATEMENT OF INTENT
- Leeds Cycling Campaign is fully committed to the principles and active promotion of equality of opportunity.
- Leeds Cycling Campaign will ensure that no member, volunteer or agent receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of a protected characteristic as defined under the Equality Act 2010. Protective characteristics are disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex and age.
- Leeds Cycling Campaign will ensure that its activities are open to all who wish to participate in them and that all those participating are treated fairly.
- Leeds Cycling Campaign is seeking to move from simply complying with legislation and good practice towards actively embracing diversity.
PURPOSE
Leeds Cycling Campaign will ensure that no sections of the community are denied the opportunity to participate in its activities. Leeds Cycling Campaign will take active steps to prevent all forms of discrimination and unfair treatment towards its members, volunteers or agents..
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
Leeds Cycling Campaign is required by law not to discriminate against its members, volunteers or agents or in the provision of services and recognises its legal obligations under current, relevant Acts.
DISCRIMINATION / HARASSMENT / BULLYING / VICTIMISATION
- Leeds Cycling Campaign is committed to ensuring that its members, volunteers and agents are able to conduct their activities in an inclusive environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
- Leeds Cycling Campaign regards discrimination, harassment or bullying, as described below, as gross misconduct.
- Any member of Leeds Cycling Campaign who discriminates against any other person may be liable to disciplinary action.
The Campaign will rely on the following definitions for behaviours which it will not tolerate
Direct Discrimination
This occurs by treating a person less fairly than someone else because of a protected characteristic. In the case of pregnancy and maternity this can occur if they have the protected characteristic without needing to compare treatment to someone else. Additionally direct discrimination can occur because someone is thought to have a protected characteristic or because they associate with someone who has a protected characteristic.
Indirect Discrimination
This occurs by putting a rule or way of doing things in place that has a worse impact on someone with a protected characteristic than someone without one, when this cannot be objectively justified.
Discrimination Arising from Disability
This occurs by treating a disabled person unfavourably because of something connected with their disability when this cannot be justified.
Failing to make Reasonable Adjustments
This occurs by failing to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people where such failure cannot be objectively justified.
Harassment
This is unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating someone’s dignity, or which is hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive to someone with a protected characteristic, or in a way that is sexual in nature.
Bullying
Bullying is one form of personal harassment. It is the misuse of power or position to persistently criticise or to humiliate and undermine an individual’s confidence.
Victimisation
This means treating someone less favourably because they have taken (or might be taking) action under the Equality Act or supporting someone who is doing so.
IMPLEMENTATION
- A copy of this document shall be made available to all current members and volunteers of Leeds Cycling Campaign and to new members upon joining.
- All members have a responsibility to respect, act in accordance with and promote the spirit and intentions of this policy.
- Leeds Cycling Campaign will take measures to ensure that its recruitment and volunteering practices are non-discriminatory. A planned approach will be adopted to eliminate barriers which discriminate against particular groups.
- Any member, employee or customer of Leeds Cycling Campaign may request a reasonable adjustment in relation to any Campaign activity by contacting a Leeds Cycling Campaign committee member in the first instance.
- Leeds Cycling Campaign will ensure that its consultants, advisers and suppliers can demonstrate their commitment to the principles and practice of equality.
POSITIVE ACTION
Leeds Cycling Campaign may take positive action in respect of any group which is under-represented in its membership, representative bodies, volunteering or participation events. Leeds Cycling Campaign will produce and monitor progress on an annual equality action plan.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Leeds Cycling Campaign will regularly monitor and evaluate its policy, practices, procedures and operations on an ongoing basis and will inform members and volunteers of their impact.
The Chair has overall responsibility for the implementation of the Equality and Diversity policy.
The Leeds Cycling Campaign Committee is responsible for ensuring that the Equality and Diversity Policy is adhered to.
COMPLAINTS MADE UNDER THIS POLICY
- The Leeds Cycling Campaign Committee shall provide appropriate procedures to investigate any complaint made in connection with an alleged breach of the Policy.
- To safeguard individual rights under the policy, any member or volunteer who believes that he/she has suffered unfair treatment within the scope of the Policy may raise the matter in confidence through the Campaign’s complaint policy.
- Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against any member or volunteer who contravenes the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
- Leeds Cycling Campaign is committed to ensuring that individuals feel able to raise any grievance or complaint and no member or volunteer will be penalised for doing so.
REVIEW
This policy will be reviewed in line with legislative changes and as a minimum every two years.
Date: 27 August 2022