Equality And Diversity

Aims
The Syrian Community recognises that in our society power is not held equally and that groups and
individuals have been and continue to be discriminated against on many grounds including, for
example, race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, class, religion, marital status and where they
The Syrian Community also recognises that where direct or indirect discrimination occurs within the
Syrian Community, it is both morally and legally unacceptable
The purpose of the Equality and Diversity Policy is to set out clearly and fully the positive action the
Syrian Community intends to take to combat direct and indirect discrimination in the organisation, in
the services it provides and in its relationships with other bodies.
In adopting this Equality and Diversity Policy, tie Syrian Community is also making an unequivocal
commitment to implementing it, so as to ensure that equal opportunity becomes a reality.
Code of Practice
The Syrian Community provides activities, guidance and assistance for Syrian men and women and
from other communities. The group will take action to ensure that group activities and events are open
and welcoming to everybody entitled to become a member.
We aim to make our meetings and events accessible to people with disabilities – e.g. provide transport,
meet in accessible premises, provide sign language interpreters when necessary and produce
information in large print.
We aim to use local training Opportunities to help our committee and members better understand how
discrimination occurs and how to prevent it.
We organise regular women only meetings and activities, to support women to play a full and equal
role in the group.
All members of the Syrian Community will have the Equality and Diversity Policy explained to them,
and will undertake to comply with and implement this policy.
Members who have experienced discrimination can make complaints to the
coordinator, who is present at all weekly meetings. If the co-ordinator is unable to resolve the
complaint, it will be referred to the Management Committee.
Code of Conduct
People will be treated with dignity and respect regardless of race, nationality, gender, sexual
orientation, gender reassignment, disability and/or age.
At all times people’s feelings will be valued and respected. Language or humour that people find
offensive will not be used, e.g. sexist or racist jokes or terminology which is derogatory to someone
with a disability.
No one will be harassed, abused or intimidated on the ground of his or her race, nationality, gender,
sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability or age. Incidents of harassment will be taken
seriously.
Dealing with Complaints
The Management Committee will take complaints of discrimination and harassment very seriously
They will investigate them thoroughly, and provide opportunities for the person making the complaint
to speak in a safe environment about their experience

If the complaint is against a particular individual, the committee will hear their point of view.
The Committee will decide the action to take based on the principle of ensuring the continued
inclusion and safety of any member who has experienced discrimination or harassment.
Any decision to terminate someone’s membership will be made in line with the rules set out in the
constitution.