Rugby Racing Cycling Club

EQUALITY POLICY

1.
 STATEMENT OF INTENT
1.1
 Rugby Racing Cycling Club (hereafter RRCC) is fully committed to the principles and active promotion of equality of opportunity. RRCC is responsible for ensuring that no member, guest or volunteer receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of a protected characteristic. Protective characteristics are disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex (gender) and age.
1.2
 RRCC will ensure that there will be open access to all those who wish to participate in the sport or associated recreational activity and that they are treated fairly.
1.3
 The "active promotion of equality of opportunity" implies that RRCC is seeking to move from simply complying with legislation and good practice towards embracing diversity.
2.
 PURPOSE OF THE EQUALITY POLICY
2.1
 RRCC will ensure that no sections of the community are denied the opportunity to participate and make progress in the sport or recreational activity.
2.2
 RRCC will take steps to prevent discrimination or other unfair treatment for its members, guests or volunteers, whether intentional or unintentional, direct or indirect.
3.
 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
3.1
 RRCC is required by law not to discriminate against its members, guests and volunteers nor in the provision of services and recognises its legal obligations under current, relevant acts and related obligations.
4.
 DISCRIMINATION / HARASSMENT / BULLYING / VICTIMISATION
4.1
 RRCC is committed to ensuring that its members, guests and volunteers are able to conduct their activities in an environment that is free from harassment, intimidation or bullying.
4.2
 RRCC regards discrimination, harassment or bullying, as described below, as gross misconduct. Any member of RRCC , who discriminates against any other person, may have their membership terminated.
4.2.1
 Direct Discrimination: This occurs by treating a person worse than someone else because of a protected characteristic. In the case of pregnancy and maternity this can occur if they have the protected characteristic without needing to compare treatment to someone else. Additionally, direct discrimination can occur because someone is thought to have a protected characteristic or because they associate with someone who has a protected characteristic.
4.2.2
 Indirect Discrimination: This occurs by putting a rule or way of doing things that has a worse impact on someone with a protected characteristic than someone without one, when this cannot be objectively justified.
4.2.3
 Discrimination arising from disability: This occurs by treating a disabled person unfavourably because of something connected with their disability when this cannot be justified
4.2.4
 Failing to make Reasonable Adjustment: This occurs by failing to make reasonable adjustment for disabled people which cannot be justified.
4.2.5
 Harassment: Is unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating someone's dignity or which is hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive to someone with a protected characteristic or in a way that is sexual in nature.
4.2.6
 Bullying: Bullying is one form of personal harassment. It is the misuse of power or position to persistently criticise or to humiliate and undermine an individual's confidence.
4.3
 Victimisation: Treating someone less favourably because they have taken (or might be taking) action under the Equality Act or supporting someone who is doing so.
5.
 IMPLEMENTATION
5.1
 A copy of this document will be available to all members, guests and volunteers of RRCC.
5.2
 All members, guests and volunteers have responsibilities to respect, act in accordance with and thereby support and promote the spirit and intentions of this policy.
5.3
 RRCC will take measures to ensure that its membership practices are non- discriminatory.
5.4
 A planned approach will be adopted to eliminate barriers which discriminate against particular groups.
5.5
 RRCC will ensure that any third parties contracted to supply goods or services to its members, guests and volunteers can demonstrate their commitment to the principles and practice of equality.
6,
 POSITIVE ACTION
6.1
 RRCC may take positive action for any group which is under-represented in membership or participation in events that share a protected characteristic and suffer a disadvantage connected to the characteristic. Additionally, RRCC may take positive action in the provision of services for people who share a protected characteristic.
7.
 MONITORING AND EVALUATION
7.1
 RRCC will regularly monitor and evaluate the policy, practices, procedures and operations on an ongoing basis and will inform members, guests and volunteers of their impact.
7.2
 The Officers and Committee of RRCC have overall responsibility for the implementation of the Equality Policy.
8.
 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
8.1
 To safeguard individual rights under the policy a member, guest or volunteer who believes that they have suffered inequitable treatment within the scope of the policy may raise the matter with an Officer of RRCC.
8.2
 Appropriate action may be taken against any member, guest or volunteer who contravenes the Equality Policy
8.3
 RRCC is committed to ensuring that individuals feel able to raise any grievance and no member, guest or volunteer will be penalised for doing so unless it is untrue and not made in good faith.

September 2021