1. Statement of Intent

L&D Community Network is committed to equality of opportunity in all areas of its activities and influence.

L&D Community Network undertakes to eliminate unlawful direct and indirect discrimination on grounds of gender, maritial status, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, disability. It is also committed to eliminating discrimination on grounds of age (except that juniors must be supervised by a responsible adult), sexual orientation, trade union membership and activity, religion, language, foreign accent, looks, culture including clothes, jewellery and hair style (except on genuine health and safety grounds), and unrelated criminal convictions.

Throughout this document, the above is referred to by the term "with equal opportunity".

L&D Community Network undertakes to promote equality of opportunity within the framework of equality legislation, e.g. the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and 1986 (as amended), the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

2. Guidelines for each Area of Policy

L&D Community Network has identified the following areas where this Equal Opportunity Policy shall be observed:

2a. Membership of the Club
2b. Membership of the Committee
2c. Selection of volunteers
2d. Deployment and treatment of volunteers
2e. Provision of services to members
2f. Exercise Influence

2a. Membership of the Club
All applicants for membership shall be accepted with equal opportunity. L&D Community Network will strive to obtain a membership that is representative of the local community. All members will be asked to agree with this Equal Opportunities Policy prior to joining.

2b. Membership of the Committee
All applicants for committee membership shall be accepted with equal opportunity. L&D Community Network will strive to obtain a committee that is representative of the local community. Voting members will be reminded of this prior to voting applicants onto the committee.

2c. Selection of volunteers
L&D Community Network will select volunteers with equal opportunity.

2d. Deployment, training and treatment of volunteers
The nature of work and training given to volunteers will be chosen with equal opportunity. Working volunteers will be treated with equal opportunity.

2e. Provision of services to members
All aspects (such as priority, quantity and quality) of service will be provided to all members with equal opportunity.

2f. Exercise Influence
L&D Community Network will look favourably on other companies and organisations that are Equal Opportunity employers when procuring equipment and services.

3. Consultation

L&D Community Network will inform all members of anything new and given the opportunity to discuss it prior to introduction so that everyone feels part of the process and is being consulted.

4. Implementation

L&D Community Network will provide resources to implement the policies for each area (identified in section 2 above) as follows:

4a. Membership of the Club
The Secretary will be responsible for ensuring that all applicants for membership shall be accepted with equal opportunity and that L&D Community Network obtains a membership that is representative of the local community. The secretary will be responsible for ensuring that all members will be asked to agree with this Equal Opportunities Policy prior to joining. All members are responsible for "owning" this Equal Opportunities Policy.

4b. Membership of the Committee
The Chairman will be responsible for ensuring that all applicants for committee membership shall be accepted with equal opportunity and that L&D Community Network obtains a committee that is representative of the local community. The Chairman will be remind voting members of this prior to voting applicants onto the committee.

4c. Selection of volunteers
The Work Leader will be responsible for ensuring that L&D Community Network selects volunteers with equal opportunity.

4d. Deployment, training and treatment of volunteers
The Work Leader will be responsible for ensuring that the nature of work and training given to volunteers will be chosen with equal opportunity and that working volunteers will be treated with equal opportunity.

4e. Provision of services to members
All members will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects (such as priority, quantity and quality) of service are provided to all members with equal opportunity.

4f. Exercise Influence
Each member of L&D Community Network will look favourably on other companies and organisations that are Equal Opportunity employers when procuring equipment and services. Note that the network is owned by the members.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation

There will be two methods of monitoring:

5a. Regular Committee Review
5b. Special Reviews of Issues Raised by the Members

5a. Regular Committee Review
L&D Community Network will set up a monitoring system for equal opportunities with regular review dates. The reviews will cover each area (as identified in Section 2). A report of the outcome of the review will be sent to all members.

5b. Special Reviews of Issues Raised by the Members
Any member (or potential member) may raise an equal opportunity issue. In this event the committee will meet to discuss this and to propose a resolution. This will be sent to the member who raised the issue. Their comments will be considered. Finally a draft for comment will be sent to all members.

If the outcome of monitoring results in changes (such as specific individuals taking different actions or L&D Community Network deciding on changes to this Equal Opportunities Policy) all members will be informed and given the opportunity to comment prior to the changes being put into effect.

6. Revision of This Document

L&D Community Network reserve the right to change these Equal Opportunities Policies without prior notice. Notice will be given on the Club website or by e-mail when revision are made.

These draft policies are to be kept under review and are subject to change in the light of