Introduction 

For the purposes of this policy ‘inclusion’ means access for all. It means recognising differences between individuals and providing opportunities for them to participate in the activities that Adventure Circus SCIO offers, regardless of those differences, whether this is as a participant, instructor, leader, volunteer, member of staff or audience member.  

Adventure Circus SCIO embraces diversity and difference, and is committed to providing opportunities that are safe, inclusive, accessible, and equitable. We want to be equally accessible to all members of society, whatever their age, disability, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or social/economic status.  

We will develop a focus on inclusion, not exclusion, and ensure that we provide advice to participants, instructors, leaders, volunteers and members of staff to ensure that everyone can participate as fully as possible.  

The EDI Policy is intended to improve opportunities for everyone to participate with Adventure Circus SCIO. We will seek to ensure that we comply with the Equality Act 2010 and the characteristics protected by it (age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity) and encourage everyone working with us to do so also.  

We will seek to include everyone regardless of whether they have a protected characteristic or not. Our aim is to provide an environment where everyone feels: 

  • welcome   

  • represented   

  • included in decision making   

  • able to participate   

  • safe and free from discrimination, bullying, harassment and vilification 

Aims  

The aims of the EDI Policy are: 

  • to promote the development of knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion amongst our participants, instructors, leader, volunteers, members of staff and event organisers by the provision and/or signposting to guidance and training  

  • to guide and support the integration of inclusive practice into our core programmes and activities  

  • to contribute towards growing and sustaining numbers of people from under-represented groups participating with us  

  • to promote inclusion within our circus activities (and the wider Scottish circus network) wherever possible and in accordance with the provisions of the Equality Act  

  • to promote close working partnerships with relevant groups and organisations to support the development of inclusive practice 

Our Commitment   

  • we will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, bullying or victimisation  

  • we will actively identify and reduce barriers to participation for under-represented groups  

  • we will consult with expert partners and other organisations to facilitate inclusive practices and remove barriers to participation  

  • we will ensure under-represented groups are given the opportunity to participate in all aspects of our club  

  • we will provide opportunities for all in instructor, leader, volunteer, and staff positions 

Equality Act 2010 

There are a number of measures that we will take to ensure that we are working under the guidance of the EDI Policy and within the requirements of the Equality Act (2010).  

 
We will provide a welcoming environment by; 

  • thinking positively about how we can include people rather than focusing on potential barriers to participation  

  • considering how Adventure Circus SCIO is promoted. For example, by providing information in formats which are accessible and by using inclusive imagery  

  • encouraging people to contact us to discuss their needs and requirements to facilitate inclusion, and we will ensure we consider what reasonable adjustments could be made to enable them to participate  

  • developing the knowledge and understanding of instructors, leaders, volunteers, and staff, of disability, equity and inclusive practice by providing and/or signposting to guidance and training 

 
We will talk to people; 

  • by consulting with relevant groups and with prospective individuals about their needs and requirements where reasonably possible  

  • about the reasonable adjustments they believe might be made to enable them to participate and to discuss how these could be made 

 
We will make reasonable adjustments; 

  • and will demonstrate that every effort has been made to enable everyone to participate and that inclusion not exclusion has been the priority 

 

Complaints   

Adventure Circus SCIO regards all of the forms of discriminatory behaviour as unacceptable, and is concerned to ensure that individuals feel able to raise any grievance or complaint related to such behaviour without fear of being penalised for doing so.  

Disciplinary action will be taken against any participant, instructor, leader, volunteer or staff member who violates the Equality and Diversity Policy for Adventure Circus SCIO.  

Any person who believes that he or she has been treated in a way that they consider to be in breach of this policy by a participant, instructor, leader, volunteer or staff member of Adventure Circus SCIO should first raise their complaint in line with the Adventure Circus complaint’s policy, found at www.adventurecircus.org/compaints-policy.  
 
Overall responsibility for this policy and its implementation lies with the board of trustees of Adventure Circus SCIO.