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Equal Opportunities Policy
Last updated: 1 January 2026
CARIS Families will ensure that we provide a safe and caring environment at our Services, free from discrimination, for every child, parent/carer, volunteer, staff member and trustee in our community, including those with additional needs.
To achieve our objective of creating an environment free from discrimination and welcoming to all, our Services will:
- Respect the different racial origins, religions, cultures and languages in a multi-ethnic society so that each child, parent, volunteer and staff member is valued as an individual without racial or gender stereotyping.
- Not discriminate against any individual on the grounds of disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, class, family status or HIV/Aids status or any other additional needs.
- Help all children and parents to celebrate and express their cultural and religious identity by providing a wide range of appropriate resources and activities.
- Strive to ensure that all individuals involved in our Services feel good about themselves and others, by celebrating the differences, which make us all unique individuals.
- Ensure that our services are available to all parents/carers and children living in temporary accommodation/hostels, as far as physical capacity of the venues allows.
- Ensure that our volunteer and staff recruitment policies and procedures are open, fair and non-discriminatory.
- Work to fulfil all the legal requirements of the Equality Act 2010.
Challenging inappropriate attitudes and practices
We will challenge inappropriate attitudes and practices by engaging children and adults in discussion, by displaying positive images of race and disability, and through our staff and volunteers modelling anti-discriminatory behaviour at all times.
Racial harassment
Our Clubs will not tolerate any form of racial harassment. The Services Manager, staff and volunteers will challenge racist and discriminatory remarks, attitudes and behaviour from the children attending, other staff and volunteers, and from parents and any other adults attending CF Services.
Promoting equal opportunities
CARIS Families’ Director is the Named Coordinator for Equal Opportunities (ENCO) The ENCO is responsible for ensuring that:
- Staff and volunteers receive relevant and appropriate training
- The Equalities policy is consistent with current legislation and guidance
- Appropriate action is taken wherever discriminatory behaviour, language or attitudes occur.
Children with additional needs
Our Services recognise that some children, parents, volunteers and staff members have additional needs or physical disabilities that require particular support and assistance. We will assess the individual needs of each child in consultation with their parents prior to their attending and will make reasonable adjustments to ensure that children can access our services and are made to feel welcome. The same consultation and reasonable adjustments will be made for any volunteer, parent or staff member involved in the service.
Digital equality
While the majority of our services are face-to-face, there may be times we need to deliver services online. We recognise that not everyone has access to the same computing equipment or internet provision at home, which can become a barrier to inclusion. Therefore we will work with families without the digital resources at home to obtain them so they can participate fully in these services.