A commitment to equality and diversity is one of our core values. We believe that access to work opportunities, housing and the services we provide should be based on merit, equality, fairness and need. No-one should be treated less favourably on the basis of their sex, racial or ethnic origin, colour, religion, disability, marital status, sexuality or age.

We expect everyone who works for us or with us to share these beliefs and to support us in trying to achieve this goal.

To help achieve this, we will:

• Through our policies, procedures and working practices try to provide equality of opportunity regardless of anyone's sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, disability, marital status, sexuality or age
• Provide training for our staff and Board/Committee members
• Develop action plans in specific areas and monitor our progress against them
• Record and analyse information on the sex, ethnic origin and disabilities of people who apply to us for jobs or housing (where this information has been provided) and take appropriate action
• Make sure that people who work with us, such as contractors, are aware of our commitment to equality and are willing to adopt the same principles
• Take account of equality and diversity issues when we make decisions about changes to our services or employment practices
• Take action when we consider that a member of staff, a service user or someone who works with us has acted in a way which is not in keeping with our Equality and Diversity Policy or has caused unlawful discrimination or harassment
• Investigate and respond whenever anyone thinks we have not complied with our own procedures and have failed to provide an equal opportunity.