We are committed to treating everyone fairly and equally when offering our homes, services and employment. We will ensure that no one is treated less favourably for any reason.

We do not discriminate unlawfully against groups or individuals. We will treat everyone fairly regardless of their sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, citizenship, ethnic and national origins, disability, sexual orientation, age, spent criminal convictions, religion, language, culture, physical or mental health including HIV and AIDS or economic status. We also do our best to avoid stereotyping individuals (thinking of them as members of a group with common characteristics).

Our equality and diversity policy ensures we provide equal treatment to everyone. We want to promote an environment which is free from discrimination, harassment and intimidation and where every individual has equal access to our services and can contribute to our work.

We will challenge stereotyping and provide equality and diversity by:

• being aware of the range of cultures in our communities and the benefits gained from achieving equality and diversity in all areas
• researching and meeting the needs of existing and potential customers and staff from different groups and backgrounds
• recognising that we play a key role in bringing a community together and understanding how and why people stay in their groups or mix
• making clear our commitment to our equality and diversity policy to all staff, members, customers and everyone we work with
• checking, assessing and reviewing our policy and actions regularly
• making our policy a part of all our activities
• keeping up to date with all relevant codes of practice and legislation on equality and putting them into practice as best we can.