TAG Youth Club

Who we are

TAG Youth Club meets weekly at Ham Youth Centre and aims to empower and optimise the potential of young people aged 15 to 25 who have a disability. This is achieved through a range of informal and experiential learning, both at the youth centre and in the community.

Our Junior Club provides a safe environment for disabled children aged between 8 and 14 years, with a mild, moderate or physical disability. Sessions run every Friday at Ham Youth Centre. The Club provides positive activities which are all about having fun, learning new skills and meeting new people.

​Our Kids Club provides a safe space for children and young people (8-18)with additional needs (mild and moderate) who are able to access the club independently, where they can build positive relationships while taking part in a mixture of fun activities including art, drama, music and sport. This Club is also open to siblings

TAG is a parent-free zone which provides children and young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.  

 Our staff are experienced and well trained and you can be confident in the support and care that we offer.

Our culture and values

TAG is a youth club open to children and young people whatever their disability.  We work hard to accommodate anyone who wants to come and participate with us, and particularly those who have restricted opportunities elsewhere.  As with all youth clubs, the priority is for our members to have fun.  In addition, our activities provide members with opportunities to meet new people, make friends, learn social and life skills, and develop confidence and independence

Our vision is to provide access to high quality leisure activities and experiences for those who have reduced opportunities elsewhere.

Our values

·       Emphasise fun

·       Exceed expectations

·       Prioritise young people with additional needs

·       Develop positive relationships

·       Deliver high quality opportunities

·       Valuing our people

We treat everyone fairly and equally as individuals and aim to provide young people with a safe, caring, well equipped environment which is accessible to those who wish to attend, giving them the opportunity to participate in personal and social development activities including arts, drama, music and sport.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

The aim of the TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy is to ensure that everyone in our setting has equal opportunities, regardless of their abilities, their background or their lifestyle and appreciating the differences between people and treating people's values, beliefs, cultures, and lifestyles with respect.

Policy Statement

TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People supports people without prejudice. We aspire to be an organisation where our people are valued no matter who they are. We aim to be truly inclusive, benefit from diversity and appreciate everyone for their individual contribution.

Our aim is to promote a culture that is inclusive and values diversity and the benefits this brings to supporting people with additional needs. We can all help to achieve this through our day-to-day behaviour and treatment of others.

TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People recognises the benefit of developing the charity that includes the many diverse skills and backgrounds available to us and will strive to become an organisation that recognises, values, and understands diversity and provides its people with genuine opportunities to improve and reach their full potential.

We want everybody to feel respected, to give their best and reach their potential. There is an expectation that we should all be champions of equality, diversity, and inclusion because it is the right thing to do, treating all as you expect to be treated, in a fair and respectful manner. It is also important that we do this in order to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the organisation; we need to recruit and retain the best people, as employees and volunteers, and aim to be truly representative of all sections of society.

Our approach is supported by legislation, as we aim to extend the same equal and fair treatment to all of our employees, volunteers and those who come into contact with TAG. Any breaches of this policy are taken seriously by the organisation, and we are committed to a zero tolerance approach.

Essentially, our approach is summed up by the following behavioural statement:

At tag Youth Club for Disabled Young People, we respect people’s views, interests, and uniqueness. We do not tolerate disrespectful behaviour towards each other, supporters, or members of the public. This is underpinned by equality legislation and TAG policy.

Scope

This policy applies to all those who are part of TAG as an employee, volunteer or are likely to access the organisation’s premises or those who are affected by its work. This includes volunteers, permanent and temporary workers, agency workers and Contractors, anyone who comes into contact with TAG including applicants for any roles and in certain circumstances those who no longer have involvement with the organisation.

Principles

Inclusion will lead to greater diversity in the charity, which will naturally bring a variety of benefits to the organisation. Being inclusive means recognising and valuing everybody’s ability to support TAG in its work. Whilst legislation must be complied with, this policy is more about questioning our own behaviours and asking ourselves if our treatment of others is inclusive, fair, and respectful. TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People is committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse culture in all its practices, policies, and procedures. No one should receive less favourable treatment and we expect everyone to treat individuals equally and fairly regardless of whether they may have particular characteristics. (See Appendix 1) Selection for employment, promotion, training, volunteering or any other benefit will be on the basis of aptitude and ability. All our people will be helped and encouraged to develop to their full potential and their talents and resources will be used to maximise the efficiency of the organisation. This can only be achieved by striving to be fully inclusive.

Our commitment:

• To create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of everyone are recognised and valued;

• To create an environment where everyone feels welcome and that promotes dignity and respect to all. No form of intimidation, discrimination, bullying or harassment will be tolerated;

• To ensure training, development and progression opportunities are available to all;

• To promote an inclusive culture and good management practice within that culture, through the development of codes of best practice, policies, and training;

• To regularly review all employment and volunteering practices and procedures to ensure that no roles, applicants, employees, or volunteers are treated less favourably than others;

• To treat breaches of the policy seriously and to take appropriate action according to our policies.

Any employee or volunteer who feels that they have experienced direct or indirect discrimination and raises it will be fully supported. All breaches of the policy will be taken seriously and could lead to formal action being taken, which in some cases could lead to dismissal.

Equal Opportunities in Employment

TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People is committed to equality of opportunity in employment and volunteering. We will take every possible step to avoid unlawful discrimination in all aspects of employment and volunteering including recruitment, promotion, opportunities for training, pay and benefits, discipline, and selection for redundancy.

Our aim is that our employees and volunteers will be representative of all sections of society. Everyone should feel valued and able to achieve their full potential.

TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People aims to ensure it values the diversity of communities throughout the local neighbourhoods. The protected characteristics below will be reflected at all levels, in volunteers and employees.

Gender

Women and men are fully and properly represented and rewarded for their contribution at all levels of the organisation through:

• challenging gender stereotypes;

• supporting employees in balancing their life at work and at home;

• working to remove barriers in the workplace.

Gender Identity

Employees who plan to undergo, are undergoing, or have undergone gender reassignment are legally protected against all forms of discrimination and harassment.

TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People are committed to ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and this includes those who reject the traditional gender definitions of male and female and express their gender identities in non-traditional ways. TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People takes positive steps to support all transgender people, and ensures they are treated with dignity and respect.

Marital/Civil Partnership Status

Employees and volunteers are treated fairly and equally in the workplace, irrespective of their marital/civil partnership or family status.

Ethnicity

The ethnic and cultural diversity of our communities is represented at all levels of the organisation through:

• challenging racial/ethnic stereotypes;

• understanding, respecting, and valuing racial/ethnic and cultural differences and perspectives;

• encouraging and enabling members of minority ethnic groups to volunteer or work for TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People at all levels.

Disability

The abilities of disabled people are recognised and valued at all levels of the

organisation through:

• focussing on what employees can do rather than what they cannot do;

• challenging stereotypes about disabled people and in particular, not making assumptions about an individual’s ability;

• making appropriate reasonable adjustments in the workplace so that all employees can reach their full potential regardless of any disability;

• appropriate use of the Wellbeing, Caring and Disability Passport.

Age

Age diversity within the workforce is promoted and valued through:

• challenging age stereotyping, recognising that new ideas and fresh approaches can come from anyone irrespective of their age;

• recognising the benefits of a mixed age workforce;

• Challenging workplace barriers and restrictions where they can’t be objectively justified.

Religion or Belief

Employees are treated fairly in the workplace irrespective of their religious beliefs, faith, or lack of belief.  TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People and all our employees are expected to value and respect these differences and to recognise the individual freedom of belief and right to protection from intolerance and persecution of other individuals and groups.

Sexual Orientation

People are treated fairly in the workplace irrespective of their sexual orientation through:

• respecting the rights of everyone irrespective of whether or not they are open about their sexual orientation;

• respecting different life choices even if they conflict with one’s own religious or cultural beliefs;

• challenging negative stereotypical views;

• Celebrating and welcoming significant lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) events in the same way that similar events of importance to heterosexual people would be, for example civil partnerships.

Pregnancy, Maternity and Paternity

People should be treated fairly in the workplace throughout their maternity or paternity period. Women should be supported appropriately through pregnancy. Women will not be discriminated against within TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People’s employment policies and practices.

Legal Requirements

In valuing inclusion, diversity and equality, TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People is committed to complying with current Equality legislation and associated codes of practice

Equality in Recruitment, Advertising and Selection

The recruitment process will be conducted in such a way as to result in the selection of the most suitable person for the job in terms of relevant experience, abilities and qualifications. TAG Youth Club is committed to applying its equal opportunities policy statement at all stages of recruitment and selection.

Advertisements will aim to positively encourage applications from all suitably qualified and experienced people. When advertising job vacancies, in order to attract applications from all sections of the community, TAG Youth Club will, as far as reasonably practicable:

1. Ensure advertisements are not confined to those areas or publications which would exclude or disproportionately reduce the numbers of applicants with a particular protected characteristic.

2. Avoid setting any unnecessary provisions or criteria which would exclude a higher proportion of applicants with a particular protected characteristic.

Where vacancies may be filled by promotion or transfer, they will be published to all eligible employees in such a way that they do not restrict applications from employees with a particular protected characteristic.

However, where, having regard to the nature and context of the work, having a particular protected characteristic is an occupational requirement and that occupational requirement is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, TAG Youth Club will apply that requirement to the job role and this may therefore be specified in the advertisement.

The selection process will be carried out consistently for all jobs at all levels. All applications will be processed in the same way. The staff responsible for short-listing, interviewing and selecting candidates will be clearly informed of the selection criteria and of the need for their consistent application. Person specifications and job descriptions will be limited to those requirements that are necessary for the effective performance of the job. Wherever possible, all applicants will be interviewed by at least two interviewers and all questions asked of the applicants will relate to the requirements of the job.

The selection of new staff will be based on the job requirements and the individual’s suitability and ability to do, or to train for, the job in question.

With disabled job applicants, TAG Youth Club will have regard to its duty to make reasonable adjustments to work provisions, criteria and practices or to physical features of work premises or to provide auxiliary aids or services in order to ensure that the disabled person is not placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with persons who are not disabled.

If it is necessary to assess whether personal circumstances will affect the performance of the job (for example, if the job involves unsociable hours or extensive travel), this will be discussed objectively, without detailed questions based on assumptions about any of the protected characteristics.

Monitoring Equal Opportunity

TAG Youth Club will regularly monitor the effects of selection decisions and personnel and pay practices and procedures in order to assess whether equal opportunity is being achieved. This will also involve considering any possible indirectly discriminatory effects of its working practices. If changes are required, TAG Youth Club will implement them. TAG Youth Club will also make reasonable adjustments to its standard working practices to overcome substantial disadvantages caused by disability.

Diversity

Diversity is about valuing all visible and non-visible differences and recognising and accepting that harnessing these differences creates an environment where everyone feels valued. A diverse approach aims to recognise value and manage differences to enable all employees to contribute and realise their full potential.

Inclusion

Inclusion involves taking action to remove barriers to participation. It also involves eliminating discrimination and promoting equality.

Responsibilities

All employees, volunteers and trustees must adhere to this policy. The Senior Management Team and the Chair of the Board of Trustees are accountable for ensuring the policy is implemented.

Role of Line Managers (employees and volunteers)

As a line manager, you have a responsibility to:

• set a positive example by ensuring that your actions and behaviours promote inclusion and diversity;

• ensure you treat all people fairly, with dignity and respect;

• stop inappropriate behaviour as soon as you become aware of it;

• be aware of the policy and attend training as required;

• act in accordance with the values of the charity;

• ensure that the standards within this policy are adhered to within your area of responsibility, for example when recruiting new people;

• take responsibility for monitoring individual behaviour and taking immediate action where there is evidence of discrimination, harassment, bullying or any other unacceptable conduct;

• encourage and support all people to reach their full potential and remove any barriers you become aware of that may exist;

• ensure that all candidates for employment, promotion or volunteering roles will be short listed and assessed objectively against the stated criteria;

• ensure employees and volunteers are aware of and carry out their responsibilities under the law and this policy.

Role of Employees

As an employee, you have a responsibility to:

• act in ways that respect and value the diversity of others;

• ensure you treat all people fairly, with dignity and respect;

• challenge and report any behaviour that could be interpreted as discriminatory;

• complete the mandatory EDI training;

• understand what is expected of you in terms of your performance, behaviour and conduct towards others;

• set a positive example at all times;

• listen to and respect others and discourage discriminatory speculations;

• act in accordance with the values of the charity.

Role of Volunteers

As a volunteer, you are expected to:

• Behave in ways that demonstrate fair and equal treatment of others;

• Behave in ways that value diversity and promote inclusion;

• Listen to others and treat them with dignity and respect;

• Behave in accordance with the charity’s values, Volunteer Commitment and Volunteer Code of Conduct;

• Not bully, harass or discriminate unfairly against anyone when carrying out your role;

• Challenge any behaviour that could be interpreted as unfair discrimination;

• Attend relevant EDI training as requested by your line manager.

Breaches of Policy

All complaints of discrimination will be sensitively investigated and, if proven, will result in appropriate action for the perpetrator. Any employee or volunteers found to be in breach of this policy could be subject to disciplinary action.

Acts of discrimination, harassment, bullying or victimisation against employees, volunteers or any people associated with or who come into contact with TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People will be dealt with under the organisation's disciplinary procedure.

Senior Management Responsibility:

As a member of the Senior Management Team, you have a responsibility to:

• Be leaders by example for equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring that your actions and behaviours promote equality, diversity and inclusion;

• be visible sponsors for equality, diversity and inclusion;

• support others in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion;

• ensure you treat all people fairly, with dignity and respect;

• challenge any behaviour that could be interpreted as unfair discrimination;

• listen to and respect others and discourage any discriminatory speculations;

• attend appropriate training regarding EDI issues;

• fulfil your duty to ensure that the policy is implemented.

Role of Trustees

As a Trustee, you have a responsibility to:

• act in ways that respect and value the diversity of others;

• attend appropriate training provided by the charity regarding EDI issues;

• challenge any behaviour that could be interpreted as unfair discrimination;

• listen to and respect others and discourage discriminatory speculations and behaviour.

Collective responsibility

All our people have a responsibility to ensure that the terms and spirit of this policy are observed and to understand clearly that there is a moral duty not to discriminate against any individual, however they come into contact with TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People.

Any queries on the application or interpretation of policy must be discussed with your line manager prior to any action being taken.

The Senior Management Team has the responsibility of ensuring the maintenance, regular review and updating of this policy in accordance with changes in the law. The policy does not form part of an employee’s terms and conditions and may be subject to change. Revisions, amendments, or alterations to the policy can only be implemented following the approval of the Senior Management Team.