Leeds Mencap Board of Trustees Statement on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Our vision at Leeds Mencap is that all people with learning disabilities, their families and carers are valued, included, and respected within society. They should have the opportunity to connect with others, discover new opportunities, access learning and develop their full potential. We recognise that a diverse organisation, reflecting local communities and the people we serve will be more effective in achieving these aims, bringing together many perspectives, understandings and experiences.

We are committed to ensuring that the ethos and principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity are put into practice in every area of our work. We aim to provide a welcoming environment that respects and values difference, where everyone feels they can belong; where all staff and volunteers can feel comfortable and confident in their work and all children, their families and/or their carers can feel at home.

We will ensure that all aspects of our work, including that of our board, staff and volunteers, our services and our relationships with the many other people we work with, are inclusive and promote diversity. Regularly listening to and working more in partnership with children, young people and the diverse local communities will enable us to respond appropriately to need and help in delivering this shared vision.

To accelerate what we are doing, we have developed an EDI Action Plan accompanied by this statement of commitment from the Board. As part of this we will expect EDI to be everyone’s business and ensure EDI is embedded into all our policies, practices, procedures and behaviours. The EDI plan sets out specific actions and targets with progress being monitored by the Board every six months.

Leeds Mencap complies with the Equality Act 2010 and understands our duties under the Act and the protected characteristics detailed within it. We seek to fulfil these legal obligations, and to go beyond them, by ensuring that our policies and practices reflect the principles laid down in this statement.

The Trustee Board has overall responsibility for ensuring we operate within the statutory requirements of the Equality Act. The CEO and the Senior Management Team have overall management responsibility.

Last Reviewed: June 2024

Next Review Due: June 2027