About NAVCA

1. The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) exists to promote and support local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) throughout England.

2. NAVCA celebrates our society as diverse in race, culture, faith and other beliefs, sexuality, abilities, gender and age.

3. NAVCA is committed to challenging oppression and prejudice and aims to promote both diversity and full access to opportunity in all areas of its work and structures.

4. NAVCA believes:

a) in working towards a just and participatory society;

b) that all people have equal rights to work towards social justice and to participate in decision-making processes and local action;

c) that priority should be given to working with communities and groups whose full participation in society is limited by economic disadvantage or institutional discrimination;

d) that the role of LIOs is to affirm and enable all people to play an active part in their community, both individually and collectively.

5. NAVCA has a fundamental belief in developing equal opportunities in all areas of its work and structures, and in particular will take positive action in the areas of: representation, services, employment and consultation.

In line with its values and belief, NAVCA will:

• continually work to become more aware of, and will work to make LIOs more aware of, oppression and inequality and the problems they may cause, how they affect us and the implications for our work;
• work to increase involvement and collaboration with other organisations to promote diversity and equal opportunities;
• challenge practices, legislation and institutions which seek to discriminate against, or deny the rights of, individuals or groups on grounds of race, gender, sexuality, disability, age, class or geographical location.

In particular, NAVCA will:

• work to ensure that all its services to LIOs are provided in a way that promotes awareness of the rights and needs of women, people from black and minority ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and lesbians, gay men and bi-sexuals, and enables all people to have access to them;
• encourage the provision and use of premises and equipment to provide full access to all people who suffer discrimination and in particular people with disabilities;
• work to ensure the NAVCA Trustee Board, committees, working parties and staff reflect the diversity within and beyond the LIO network and in society as a whole and will encourage and support LIOs to do the same;
• work to develop a positive and inclusive culture and environment, regularly reviewing recruitment, employment and work practices to ensure that NAVCA best meets the interests and needs of all its current and potential staff and volunteers, in particular those from groups that suffer from exclusion or discrimination;
• seek to share its experiences and promote good practice in the area of equalities and inclusion throughout the LIO network and beyond.