Cherry Kids� Club
Equal Opportunities Policy
1
Aims of the Policy
1.1
The policy aims to challenge discrimination in all areas of
our organization.� We aim to ensure that
the Club reflects and meets the needs of the local community and incorporates
equal opportunities into all areas of our work.
1.2
We aim:
a)
to constitute the management committee and staff team, at all
levels, to reflect the make-up of the local community;
b)
to establish good links with organizations or groups of people
facing discrimination;
c)
to ensure that the premises used by the Club are accessible
for all members of the community;
d)
to increase awareness within the Club of the needs of those
who face discrimination and the effects of discrimination in society in
general; and,
e)
to consider equal opportunities in all areas of our services
and work.
1.3
We recognise that staff represent important role models for
children and the image of the Club.� We
aim to employ a team of workers that represent all sections of the
community.� It is important that staff
represent the culture, race (and gender) of the local community.
2
Statement of Intent
2.1
The whole ethos of the Club is centred around the children and
their needs. Children should be recognized and valued as individuals whilst
respecting their differences.
2.2
Cherry Kids' Club abhors negative discrimination of: race;
colour; ethnic, cultural or national origin; gender; physical, sensory or
mental distinction; marital status; age; social class; religious belief; sexual
orientation; employment status; and medical status.
2.3
Accordingly, the Club is strongly committed to positive action
to remove or counter discrimination in all aspects of our work - in our
practice as employers, in the way we work with other organizations, and in all
our work with children, families and others.
3
Implementation
3.1
Equal opportunities will be considered in all aspects of the
service the Club provides.
3.2
Language or behaviour designed to be offensive to
discriminated groups is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the
Club.� Cherry Kid's Club rules state
that discriminatory language or behaviour is not acceptable.
3.3
We aim to ensure that we use premises that are physically
accessible to all members of the community equally.
3.4
Equal opportunities will be considered in all activities and
resources.� All children should be able
to enjoy play activities and all parents and guardians should be able to use
the Club, without discrimination. All equipment and activities will strive to
promote non-stereotypical traditions, values and environments.� Promoting positive values of different
cultural identities through anti-racist activities and resources and positive
anti-sexist and anti-discriminatory values will be integral to all programmes
of activities.
4
Monitoring and Evaluation
4.1
The management committee will be responsible for implementing
this policy.� Complaints and grievances
should be made to the Co-ordinator, who will refer them to the chair of the
management committee.
4.2
Equal opportunities need to be evident in all of the Club's
procedures and policies. These will, therefore be monitored on an ongoing
basis.
4.3
The membership of the Club will be reviewed on an on-going
basis to identify which communities are under-represented.
4.4
We will also review the image and work of the Club
regularly.� To achieve this end we will
consider holding open days to promote our work, where necessary producing
specialist information for certain organizations, translating written material
to other languages, into Braille and onto tapes, and consulting groups on how
to make the Club more relevant to those facing disadvantage.
4.5
Consideration will be taken when arranging the time and venue
of committee meetings to ensure that they are as accessible as possible.� Childcare and transport will be arranged
where possible.
4.6
Need of equal opportunities training for the Club's
management, staff and volunteers will be assessed regularly and arranged as
appropriate.
Ratified in committee: May 1998