Equal Opportunities Statement
Vine Housing Co-op wishes it to be known that it is an equal opportunities association. This means that:
1. In the provision of housing services and employment of staff to provide these services, the association will seek to ensure equality of opportunity and treatment for all persons.
2. No person or group of persons applying for housing or for a job or for contracts with the association will be treated less favourably than any other person or group of persons because of their age; gender; sexual orientation; gender reassignment, marital status; pregnancy and maternity; race, colour, ethnic or national origin, or because of their religion, belief, disability, class, or appearance.
3. In carrying out its equal opportunities policy, the association will actively assist disadvantaged minority groups to benefit from its housing services.
4. It will seek to identify the needs of disadvantaged minority groups in its area of operation by establishing close relationships with those groups.
5. As an employer the association will seek actively to employ staff from minority groups. Where possible and necessary it will provide them with special training facilities to enable them to compete or qualify for positions in the association.
6. To help fulfil its commitment to equal opportunity, the association will collect and monitor records of the ethnic/racial origin of all those applying to it for housing and all those seeking employment from the association. This requires a written form.
7. In hiring contractors and other agencies to work for it the association will be mindful of its commitment to equality of opportunity. A copy of this statement will go to our architects.
8. In the composition and operation of its management committee the association will be mindful of its commitment to equal opportunity.
Notes:
We are a second-generation co-op with a number of young members and we are not anticipating taking on new members. In the past, we have regularly recruited members from the Refugee Council and Lambeth Council to ensure diversity and equal opportunities in the Co-op. We have also contacted various organisations who represent people with physical disabilities to seek out referrals. The Co-op makes adjustments to properties to meet the needs of members with physical disabilities. Where necessary, this is carried out in consultation with members’ occupational therapists to ensure they are appropriate. For example:
- Some properties have been fitted with ramps to make them accessible, as needed.
- Meetings are held in two separate premises that are accessible to members with physical disabilities.
- Vine regularly provides a palantypist for a member who has hearing difficulties to facilitate general meetings.