Welcome to the UK

Equality and Diversity Policy

Aims

Welcome to the UK is a small charity which welcomes families from overseas and supports them to live, work, learn and play with dignity.  Our support is open to anyone from any nationality that chooses to attend.  We aim to help community members to promote social inclusion and integration and will provide services which aim to meet the needs of attendees.  In particular, we aim to treat every community member equally, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race, religion, belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Accessibility

All our meetings and events are held in venues that are accessible to wheelchair users.  We are committed to ensuring that all our members can easily access our activities in any chosen location.

Diversity

Welcome to the UK belongs to all those who wish to participate.  We aim to offer groups to meet the needs of all people new to the UK, with or without English as an additional language and those who feel socially isolated.  

Inclusion and respect

Every member of Welcome to the UK would be made to feel equally welcome and included at all groups/events.

Discriminatory and inflammatory remarks and behaviours such as sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic are not acceptable.  These constitute harassment and have no place in Welcome to the UK.

Dealing with discrimination and harassment

If any member feels they have been discriminated against by Welcome to the UK, this should be raised to the designated person: Amarilda Sinani.

The Welcome to the UK board will investigate the complaint, listen to all members involved (if the complain is against a committee member, that member will not be part of those conducting the investigation).

If the complaint is against a particular individual, this person will have the opportunity to express their point of view, accompanied by a friend.  The person making the complaint will also have this opportunity.

If the complaint is against Welcome to the UK as an organisation, the Board must work to ensure that such discrimination is not repeated in the future, and must inform the members of how they propose to do this.

Any decision to exclude a person from the organisation due to discriminatory and harassing behaviour will be made with reference to Welcome to the UK’s Equality and Diversity Policy.  Welcome to the UK will support people who feel they have been harassed or discriminated against, and will not victimise or treat them less because they have raised concerns or issues.

This policy was reviewed by the Board of Trustees on 4th June 2025.

Aline Clayson

4th June 2025