Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We recognise that people’s needs and abilities are not the same and that these differences, whether because of gender, gender reassignment, age, race, religion, colour, beliefs, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status , pregnancy or disability should not be barriers to people accessing services or achieving their potential and living free from discrimination.
We have joined the government’s Disability Confident scheme, which means we are helping to positively change attitudes, behaviours and cultures, including creating a workforce that reflects the diverse range of the customers we serve.
Equality is about making sure that everyone has the same opportunities to achieve the same or similar outcomes. It is not about treating ‘everyone the same’ but recognising that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ and that services should be tailored to meet individual needs.
Diversity is about respecting, valuing and celebrating people’s differences.
Inclusion is about making sure that people feel comfortable to be themselves, that they belong and can reach their full potential without disadvantage or discrimination.
Embedding EDI is the right thing to do for our customers, our business and the communities we serve. Bringing together people with a diversity of perspectives will lead to a better understanding of our customer and staff needs and ultimately better service performance. Creating environments where all our customers and staff are valued and respected and can be their true selves will bring innumerable benefits to individuals and local communities.