Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy

Introduction

Rehearsal Orchestra is a music group open to all aged 18 and over who meet the technical requirements musically. We are committed to encouraging equality, diversity, and inclusion in our organisation.

We are committed against unlawful discrimination in providing activities/services/facilities.

We will not unlawfully discriminate because of the Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics of:

  • age
  • disability
  • gender reassignment
  • marriage and civil partnership
  • pregnancy and maternity,
  • race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin),
  • religion or belief,
  • sex
  • sexual orientation

Rehearsal Orchestra is also committed to promoting equality of opportunity regardless of class and socio-economic background.

This policy applies to everyone connected to Rehearsal Orchestra – participants, freelance staff, volunteers and anyone attending Rehearsal Orchestra activities.

Aims

Rehearsal Orchestra aims to:

  • Provide and promote equality of opportunity and equitable treatment for everyone.
  • Make our activities accessible and inclusive by removing barriers to entry.
  • Encourage, celebrate and value diversity and inclusion.
  • Ensure every member feels respected and able to give their best.
  • Eliminate unlawful direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

Responsibilities

  • A nominated Trustee will be the EDI lead and responsible for providing advice and guidance on equality, diversity and inclusion issues, and to ensure the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy is kept up to date..

General practice

Rehearsal Orchestra will treat everyone equally regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, class and socio-economic background.

Rehearsal Orchestra will promote equality of access to participation in its musical activities.

Trustees will undergo regular training on the topic of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

We will ensure no one receives less favourable treatment or is disadvantaged by the criteria and characteristics set out in the introduction. This includes but is not limited to participants, freelance staff, volunteers and anyone attending Rehearsal Orchestra activities.

We acknowledge our responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to our activity to enable access under the Equality Act 2010

We will select candidates for volunteering or paid opportunities based on their skills, qualifications and experience.

Rehearsal Orchestra’s commitment to anti-discriminatory practice relates to all kinds of discrimination:

  • Direct discrimination, where someone is treated less favourably than another because they have a protected characteristic.
  • Indirect discrimination, where a requirement or a condition is applied that has a detrimental effect on a particular group or individual. This applies even if there was not a deliberate intention to discriminate.
  • Associative discrimination, where direct discrimination against someone occurs because they associate with another person who has a protected characteristic.
  • Perceptive discrimination, where direct discrimination against someone occurs because others think they have a protected characteristic even if they do not possess that characteristic.
  • Harassment, where unwanted behaviour related to a protected characteristic occurs that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. This applies even if the conduct is not directed at the individual or if they do not have the protected characteristic.
  • Third party harassment, which recognises potential liability for the harassment of someone connected to the group by external contacts.
  • Victimisation, when someone is treated badly because they have made or supported a complaint, or it is thought that they have done so.

Inclusion and respect

Rehearsal Orchestra will:

  • treat everyone in a respectful manner and ensure they are made to feel equally welcome and included in all activities.
  • provide an environment in which the contribution and needs of everyone are fully valued and recognised.
  • All participants, freelance staff, volunteers and anyone attending Rehearsal Orchestra activities are expected to treat each other with respect and dignity and ensure activities are welcoming and inclusive for all.
  • Inappropriate, violent or abusive behaviour or otherwise offensive and inflammatory remarks and behaviour are not acceptable. These constitute harassment and have no place in Rehearsal Orchestra.
  • Rehearsal Orchestra will support our participants, freelance staff, volunteers and anyone attending Rehearsal Orchestra activities in not tolerating any inappropriate, violent or abusive behaviour from participants, freelance staff, volunteers and anyone attending Rehearsal Orchestral activities.

Removing barriers

Rehearsal Orchestra is committed to making sure its activities are accessible and inclusive.

We recognise that there may be a range of barriers that could stop individuals accessing our activities or feeling included in them. These barriers may not always be obvious or visible and could be:

  • Physical
  • Practical
  • Cultural

We will work to identify any such barriers and take reasonable measures to remove them, where possible.

Dealing with Complaints

  • If any participant, freelance staff, volunteer or anyone attending Rehearsal Orchestra activities feels they have been discriminated against, harassed or victimised, they should raise it with the EDI lead. If the complaint is regarding this person, it should be raised with the Administrator or the nominated Trustee.
  • The Trustees will take complaints of discrimination and harassment seriously.
  • The Trustees will investigate the complaint, listening to all parties involved:
    • If the complaint is against a Trustee, that person will not be part of conducting the investigation.
    • If the complaint is against an individual, that individual will have the opportunity to express their point of view in a neutral environment and accompanied by a friend or family member, if they choose.
    • The person making the complaint will have the same opportunity.
  • If a complaint is found against Rehearsal Orchestra,the Trustees must work to ensure that such discrimination, harassment or victimisation is not repeated in future, and must inform the members of how they propose to do this.
  • If a complaint is found against Rehearsal Orchestra,the Trustees should work to resolve the complaint in a manner which is acceptable to the person who was subject to discrimination.
  • If a complaint against Rehearsal Orchestrais not upheld, the Trustees might wish to address issues which might have led to the complaint in the first place, e.g. lack of communication, to prevent similar situations in future

Policy review

The policy will be reviewed by the the Trustees on a biennial basis.