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Colchester Bike Kitchen Equality and Diversity Policy

Aims

Colchester Bike Kitchen (CBK) is open to all Colchester Residents and visitors without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion belief or non belief, sex or sexual orientation who is:

  • interested in helping CBK to achieve its aim
  • willing to abide by any rules of CBK, and
  • willing to pay any subscription as agreed by the steering group.

Accessibility

Our drop-in sessions, workshops and events are held in venues that where ever possible are accessible to wheelchair users. If there are more than 40 people at an event we aim to use a PA system and a hearing loop.

When we organise our chargeable workshops and courses we will provide free places for carers of those who can only attend if they bring a carer.

We are committed to ensuring any user of CBK is able to attend our activities, so we will reassess our access requirements to meet the needs of new users.

Diversity

At CBK we aim to organise a range of events and activities to suit the interests and meet the needs of a wide variety of people. CBK should be open to new ideas, and seek to be representative of the wider society by the involvement of volunteers and users from different social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Inclusion and respect

Every user of CBK should be made to feel equally welcome and included. Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic or otherwise offensive and inflammatory remarks and behaviour are not acceptable. These constitute harassment and have no place at CBK.

Dealing with discrimination and harassment

If any CBK user feels they have been discriminated against by CBK or harassed at an event they should raise this with the Steering Group of CBK.

The Steering Group will investigate the complaint, listening to all those involved. (If the complaint is against a management member, that member will not be part of conducting the investigation).

If the complaint is against a particular individual, this person will have the opportunity to express their point of view, accompanied by a friend. The person making the complaint will also have this opportunity.

If the complaint is against CBK as a whole, the Steering Group must work to ensure that such discrimination is not repeated in the future, and must inform users of how they propose to do this.

Any decision to exclude a person from CBK due to discriminatory or harassing behaviour will be made with reference to the CBK constitution. CBK will support people who feel they have been harassed or discriminated against, and will not victimise or treat them less well because they have raised this.