A commitment to equality and diversity is a core value of all the organisations that make up the Arcadia Housing Group. We believe that access to housing and the services we provide and to work opportunities should be based on merit, equality, fairness and need. No-one should be treated less favourably on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, race, religion/belief, disability, marital status, sexuality, age, marriage/civil partnership or pregnancy/maternity. We expect everyone who works for us or with us to share this belief and to support us in trying to achieve this goal.

To help achieve this, we will:

• Through our policies, procedures and working practices, provide equality of opportunity regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, race, religion/belief, disability, marital status, sexuality, age, marriage/civil partnership or pregnancy/maternity
• Provide training for our staff and Board members
• Develop and implement a Single Equality Scheme and action plans and monitor our progress against them
• Record and analyse access to and satisfaction with our services by diversity group (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 diversity and check that they comply with their policies and put them into practice
• 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 Policy and have failed to provide equality of opportunity.