Policies Page

LIGCA is unreservedly opposed to any form of discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation (defined as “Protected Characteristics”).

Using fair and objective practices, the organisation aims to ensure that:

• All volunteers and potential volunteers are treated fairly and with respect at all stages of their work with LIGCA
• All volunteers and service users have the right to be free from harassment and bullying of any description, or any other form of unwanted behaviour. Such behaviour may come from other volunteers or by people (third parties) who are not volunteers of LIGCA
• All volunteers have an equal chance to contribute and to achieve their potential, irrespective of any defining feature that may give rise to unfair discrimination
• All volunteers and service users have the right to be free from discrimination because they associate with another person who possesses a Protected Characteristic or because others perceive that they have a particular Protected Characteristic, even if they do not.

Scope of the policy

The policy applies to:

• Volunteers including trustees
• Service users
• Students on work experience or placements
• Volunteer applicants

The policy applies to all stages including recruitment and selection, promotion and training.

Policy statement

As an organisation, we value the variety of different views, outlooks and approaches that a diverse workforce can bring.  This assists us to provide improved services and increase our understanding of our service users.

We will do all we can to ensure no one will receive less favourable treatment or is to be disadvantaged by requirements or conditions, which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Responsibilities

Volunteers of LIGCA have a duty to act within this policy, ensure it is followed and to draw attention to any suspected discriminatory acts or practices.

Responsibility for promoting awareness of this policy and monitoring that it is being followed rests with the trustees.

Breaches of the Equality and Diversity Policy by Volunteers

Volunteers should be aware that they are potentially personally liable under equality legislation for any act of unlawful discrimination.

The trustees (other than a trustee who is the subject of a complaint) will promptly investigate all complaints involving the breach of this policy. If a violation is proven, the volunteer will be subject to further formal action, which may include the removal of the breaching party’s from his or her position in LIGCA.

Equality and diversity in practice

In carrying out the policy, the organisation will place particular attention on the following:

• Use of selection criteria that does not unlawfully discriminate in recruitment and promotion procedures
• Requiring entry to volunteering to be based on merit
• Not discriminating in opportunities for recruitment, training, promotion or transfer of volunteers
• Ensuring that every individual is assessed according to his or her personal capability to carry out a given role
• Ensure that all relevant requirements of the Equality Act in relation to disability are met and adhered to. This will include making reasonable adjustments to ensure access to volunteering tasks and opportunities
• Ensure that any amendments to any legislation relating to discrimination are met and adhered to.

Implementation of the policy

All volunteers will be involved in creating an equality environment and one that values diversity.

COMMUNICATIONS

A copy of the policy will be made available to volunteers and prospective applicants.

WORKING WITH PARTNERS

In selecting our partners we will consider their commitment to Equality and Diversity by reviewing their policy.

USERS OF OUR SERVICE

We will make our services accessible by:

• Appropriate use of language/formats/fonts/size
• Considering whether information should be available in alternative formats, e.g., easy read/other languages
• Considering locations where the organisation’s services are promoted/advertised
• Considering accessibility of locations from which the service is provided
• Considering the diverse make up of our volunteers in relation to our service users
• Considering the impact of proposed new services on the user group

Reporting discrimination / potential discrimination

All complaints will be treated seriously, promptly and confidentially. Volunteers or service users who feel that they have suffered any form of discrimination should raise the issue by contacting a LIGCA trustee.

Review

We are committed to reviewing our policy every two years to ensure that it remains up to date and reflects the needs and practices of LIGCA. We reserve the right to make amendments without notice. This policy was last reviewed on 23rd March 2021.

LIGCA primarily serves its mission by sharing its collection of artwork and art education programmes, in person and/or online, through various outlets including its website, schools, museums, art galleries, community groups, and hospitals at times partnering with organisations and venues that host temporary and pop-up exhibitions. In the context of these activities, LIGCA may come in contact with children and young people.

The purpose of this policy statement is to:

Outline reasonable steps to safeguard and protect children and young people, that is anyone under the age of 18, from harm while engaging in LIGCA activities,and

Provide volunteers as well as children, young people and families taking part in LIGCA activities with information on our approach to children protection and safeguarding responsibilities.

This policy applies to all volunteers working on behalf of LIGCA, including the board of trustees.

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England including the Children Act 1989.  A summary of the key legislation is available from nspcc.org.uk/learning.

We believe that:

• Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind, and
• We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

We recognise that:

• The welfare of children is of our utmost concern in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take;
• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse; and
• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• Valuing, listening to and respecting them;
• Appointing a designated safeguarding lead for children and young people, a deputy and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding;
• Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practices through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for our volunteers;
• Providing effective management for volunteers through supervision, support and training so that all volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently;
• Recruiting and selecting volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made;
• Adhering to data protection legislation and guidance (GDPR);
• Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children, young people and their families through LIGCA’s website;
• Making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern;
• Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately;
• Using our procedures to appropriately manage any allegations against our a member of our board of trustees or other volunteer;
• Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment;
• Ensuring that we have effective complaint measures in place;
• Ensuring that we provide a safe environment for our children, young people, and volunteers;
• Building a safeguarding culture where our volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

In the event of a breach of this safeguarding policy, please contact:

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mary Langford

www.ligca.org

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children “NSPCC” Helpline

0808 800 5000

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. We reserve the right to make amendments without notice.This policy was last reviewed on 23rd March 2021

Recruitment and Selection

An applicant will be invited to complete a volunteer application and interview process with one or more trustees, which will be used in considering the applicant’s suitability, enthusiasm and commitment to act as a LIGCA volunteer.  During this process, the applicant will be asked about her/his skills, work background and interests in order to determine ways in which s/he can support the charity through activities which match those skills and interests.

• If requested, the applicant will provide references.

Training

The successful candidate will be given an introductory overview of LIGCA projects and policies, including those on Child Safeguarding, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Equality and Diversity, the use of photos and images of participating children and adults, as well as a description of her/his role. The volunteer has the right to refuse to volunteer for a particular role that s/he does not feel comfortable with. The volunteer will be given further training on a project-to-project basis to familiarise her/him with the responsibilities of that particular task. In addition, s/he may be requested to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if his or her role will involve being regularly engaged with children. The volunteer may also be encouraged to be present and participate at LIGCA meetings in order to stay apprised of developments regarding the project which has been assigned.

Expenses

A volunteer may request reimbursement for travel expenses and other approved out-of-pocket expenses incurred in furtherance of their work with LIGCA.  The volunteer must obtain prior approval from LIGCA before incurring the expense.

Support and Supervision

LIGCA wants to insure that its volunteers feel confident about the activity they are undertaking. Each volunteer will be given a contact person who will be available to answer any questions that may arise. The volunteer’s work will be supervised and s/he will be given feedback on her/his contribution. The volunteer is encouraged to voice any ideas they may have with respect to a LIGCA’s current or future projects.

Confidentiality – Personal information given by volunteers will be treated confidentially pursuant to our GDPR policy. All volunteers will also adhere to data protection requirements set forth in our GDPR policy.

Representing LIGCA – All LIGCA volunteers will recognize that they represent the mission of LIGCA and the caring, professional, educational and apolitical values that LIGCA requires. The volunteer agrees to abide by these values and LIGCA policies.

Resolving Problems – The volunteer’s work is entirely voluntary and there is no contract between LIGCA and the volunteer. It important that LIGCA maintains its standards with respect to its mission and that the volunteer is satisfied and working well within her/his role with the charity.  In the event that a problem or concern arises, LIGCA or the volunteer may request a meeting to discuss the issue at hand and a propose remedy. The volunteer may make this request through her/his contact person. If, thereafter, the problem remains unresolved, either LIGCA and/or the volunteer may elect to cease their mutual relationship.

Review – We are committed to reviewing our policy annually to ensure that it remains up to date and reflects the needs and practices of LIGCA. We reserve the right to make amendments without notice.

This policy was last reviewed on 23rd March 2021