NAVCA statement of values (Word, 54 KB).
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.