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Inner Wheel Equality & Diversity Policy

EQUALITY & DIVERSITY POLICY

Scope

This policy applies to all members of the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain & Ireland (“the Association”) and to activities performed by or on behalf of the Association.

Membership of the Association can only be taken up by women.  This is an exception under equality legislation but all the other requirements of that legislation must be complied with.

Policy Statement

The Association is committed to treating all people equally and with respect irrespective of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. These are “Protected Characteristics”.

The Association is committed to maintaining an environment free from discrimination and harassment.

Discrimination

The following forms of discrimination are unlawful and prohibited under this policy:

  • Direct discrimination: treating someone less favourably because of a Protected Characteristic
  • Indirect discrimination: a provision, criterion or practice that applies to everyone but adversely affects people with a particular Protected Characteristic more than others and is not justified
  • Harassment: unwanted conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating someone’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.
  • Victimisation: retaliation against someone who has complained or has supported someone else’s complaint about discrimination or harassment
  • Disability discrimination: includes direct and indirect discrimination, any unjustified less favourable treatment because of the effects of a disability, and failure to make reasonable adjustments to alleviate disadvantage caused by a disability.

Accessibility

Members of the Association will endeavour to ensure that any person with a disability is not placed at a disadvantage and will make reasonable adjustments where possible to alleviate disadvantages.

If you are disabled, or become disabled, we encourage you to tell us about your condition so that we can support you as appropriate.

Single Sex Organisations

Here are a couple of links to the most recent Guidance Notes published for providers of single sex organisations / clubs :-
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/our-work/news/guidance-published-providers-single-sex-services

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/separate-and-single-sex-service-providers-guide-equality-act-sex-and-gender

Responsibility and breaches of this Policy

Each Club President should ensure effective operation of this policy. If any person believes they have suffered discrimination they should raise the matter with the Chairman of the Association Constitution Committee. Complaints will be treated in confidence and investigated as appropriate. There must be no victimisation or retaliation against members who complain about discrimination. The Association has overall responsibility for this policy and may amend it from time to time.

 

Reviewed October 2022