Equality and Diversity

The Association is committed to ensuring our people and the tenants and residents in our communities do not face discrimination, victimisation, harassment or social exclusion due to any of the following protected characteristics (identified in the Equality Act 2010): age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief; sex or sexual orientation, which is outlined in our Equality and Human rights 2025 policy.

Our policy is supported by an action plan which sets out what the Association will do on a day-to-day basis to help ensure that the policy’s objectives are achieved and that the Association can be proactive in its work in equality and diversity. The action plan is as a separate document which is updated and reviewed annually.

What have we done so far?

All our documents are available in a prefered language, large print, CD/Data to voice, and in Braille upon request.
Guaranteed an interview to all those who have a disability if they meet the minimum criteria for a job being advertised.
Identified specific tenant needs (letters and newsletters sent out in translation and in larger font.
Offered additional support when completing and application or making a complaint.
Collect and monitor equalities data from tenants, housing applicants, staff and job applicants.

Our ongoing commitment:

Programme in refresher training on Equality and Diversity to staff and Management Committee.
Embed Equality and human rights policy into our inductions both staff and committee members and our non-management sub-Committees.
To develop links with local support groups who work with under-represented or marginalised groups with a view to identifying how the Association can do to improve its services.
To sign-post people to relevant support services (i.e., mental health support, financial support, digital support foodbanks).
To develop strategies to address digital exclusion within its community through providing relevant support, sign-posting to IT resources (i.e. local libraries) and sign-positing to relevant IT course.