- Statement of intent
Grampound Road Village Hall (GRVH), also know as the Robert Harvey Memorial Hall, aims to create a culture that respects and values each other’s differences. We believe embracing diversity is an asset to our work, improving our ability to meet the needs of all the people in our community. GRVH recognises that many people in our society experience discrimination or lack of opportunity for reasons that are not fair. Visible and nonvisible differences such as race, religion, creed, colour, national and ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability (including mental illness), health status, marital status, and lifestyle can lead to direct and/or indirect discrimination. GRVH will challenge discrimination and lack of opportunity in its own policy and practice and will help others to do the same. We will review our policies and practices to ensure they are consistent with this policy.
- What is discrimination?
GRVH recognises that unfair discrimination takes many forms, and that different people will have different experience and perceptions.
Direct discrimination is treating one person less favourably than another in the same or similar circumstances or segregating them from others solely because they are, for example, Male, Female or because they have a disability or illness. Refusing to employ someone who has the required skills because they are deaf or because they are pregnant would constitute such discrimination.
Indirect discrimination occurs where there is a requirement or condition which applies equally to everyone but which, in practice, has an adverse impact on a particular group and cannot be justified. For example an unnecessary physical or age requirement can discriminate against women or disabled people. The setting of language tests, where language skills or fluency are not really needed for a role, is another example.
Abuse and/or harassment amounts to discrimination when individuals or groups of people are abused or harassed because, for example, they are a member of a national, racial or ethnic minority group, sexual orientation or have a disability or illness.
Victimisation occurs when a person is treated less favourably or is discriminated against because s/he/they has/ve pursued or intends to pursue their rights in respect of alleged discrimination.
Institutional racism is the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen in the processes or attitudes and behaviour, which amount to discrimination, to unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping that disadvantages minority ethnic people.
Discrimination in any form is unacceptable, regardless of whether there was any intention to discriminate or not.
- Breaches of the Equality and diversity policy
All volunteers must act in accordance with the objectives of this Equality and diversity policy. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action and/or ineligibility for membership.
- Application of the policy
GRVH will develop a strategy designed to implement the principles of this policy. The committee will monitor the impact of the strategy, and amend our day-to-day practices as needed.
- Monitoring and review
The committee is responsible for monitoring the impact of the policy. In common with all GRVH policies, the Equality and diversity policy is subject to regular review.
