Principles & implementation

Equality is a core value of Fathers Direct. Fathers Direct believes in equal opportunities in family life and in the workplace for all adults, both men and women – opportunities for women in the workplace and opportunities for men in the home are inextricably linked.

Fathers Direct will actively engage in partnership with the Equal Opportunities Commission. [The Director of Fathers Direct is currently an Equal Opportunities Commissioner (2004-7).]

Ensure that no user, employee, volunteer, applicant for a paid or volunteer post, or Trustee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, class, colour, disability, ethnic origin, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable.

The Trustees and staff of Fathers Direct have committed themselves to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate this Equal Opportunities Policy annually. A Trustee will be responsible for managing this Policy. This policy will be implemented and understood by all those working within Fathers Direct.

Users

Ensure that all materials are published and distributed in such a way that all users and readers are treated with respect, taking into account in particular the alienation that many fathers feel from current family services.

Staff and Trustees

Recruit Trustees to be representative of the needs of users. Review the make-up annually and take steps to correct imbalances.

Publicity

Ensure that all images in materials reflect a range of different people – gender, race, age, disability, etc. – as well as mixed race families.

Use language that is simple and clear, taking into account that certain words have different meanings for different people.

Examine new opportunities for outreach work and new ways to advertise services.