Statement of Values and Equal Opportunities

 

1.The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) exists to strengthen and champion the work of local organisations that develop, support and represent voluntary and community action.

2. NAVCA celebrates the diverse cultures, communities and environments that make up our society and the multitude of dimensions which characterise our diversity - including race, ability, sexuality, gender, age, religion and other beliefs.

3. NAVCA believes:

• That all people have a right to social justice and to participate in decisions that affect their lives.

• That a strong and independent local third sector is crucial to helping people and communities tackle disadvantage and discrimination.

• That the role of NAVCA members is to support and encourage all people to play an active part in their community, both individually and collectively.

• That priority should be given to working with people and communities whose full participation in society is limited by disadvantage and discrimination.

4. NAVCA will take positive action to challenge disadvantage and discrimination and to promote diversity and full access to opportunity in all areas of its work and structures. By 'positive action' we mean measures undertaken with the purpose of achieving full access to opportunity for people and groups that face the consequences of past or present discrimination or disadvantage.

5. In doing so NAVCA will strive to:

• promote social justice and full access to opportunities through all its activities and programmes;

• ensure all activities and programmes are fully accessible and promote awareness of the rights and needs of different groups of people;

• challenge practices, legislation and institutions that deny the rights of individuals or groups experiencing disadvantage and discrimination;

• have a positive and inclusive workplace culture and environment with a workforce that broadly reflects the area in which its operates;

• ensure that all opportunities for people from member organisations to become involved in NAVCA reflect the diversity within the member organisations and society as a whole;

• share its experiences and promote good practice in the area of equality and diversity throughout its members and beyond;

• identify and find ways of tackling new and emerging problems affecting groups facing disadvantage and discrimination;

• increase its involvement and collaboration with other organisations that promote equality and diversity;

• influence funders to recognise the resource implications of this statement.