1. Our commitment

The Healing Hubs will not discriminate against any person on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation — the protected characteristics defined in the Equality Act 2010.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and fostering a culture of inclusion across all our activities.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all trustees, staff, volunteers, contractors, and anyone acting on behalf of The Healing Hubs.

It covers all aspects of our work, including recruitment and selection, training and development, service delivery, and our relationships with partners and funders.

3. Types of discrimination

Direct discrimination: treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic.

Indirect discrimination: applying a provision, criterion, or practice that puts people with a protected characteristic at a disadvantage.

Harassment: unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that violates a person's dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.

Victimisation: treating someone unfairly because they have made or supported a complaint about discrimination.

All forms of discrimination, harassment, and victimisation are unacceptable and will be treated as serious disciplinary matters.

4. Responsibilities

The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for ensuring this policy is implemented and reviewed.

The Team Managers are responsible for the day-to-day implementation of this policy within their projects.

All staff and volunteers are responsible for treating others with dignity and respect and for challenging discriminatory behaviour.

5. Reasonable adjustments

The Healing Hubs will make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage in accessing our services or participating as staff or volunteers.

Anyone who requires an adjustment should speak to their Team Manager in confidence.

6. Raising a concern

Anyone who believes they have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, or victimisation should report this to their Team Manager or, if the concern involves the Team Manager, to the Chair of Trustees.

Concerns will be investigated promptly, fairly, and confidentially.

The Healing Hubs will not tolerate any retaliation against anyone who raises a genuine concern in good faith.

7. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or following any relevant change in legislation.