Equality & Diversity

The Forum:

recognises that England is a society diverse in race, culture and beliefs

• believes that no person should suffer oppression or lack of opportunity based on race, gender, belief, sexuality, disability, age, class, or geographical location
• believes that all people have equal rights to work towards social justice and to participate in decision-making processes and local action
• believes that voluntary action is a means of combating disadvantage and contributes to the improvement of the quality of life for groups, communities and individuals and their empowerment
• believes that the Forum has a role in affirming and enabling all people to collectively play an active part in their community

The Forum is committed to

• seeking to eliminate oppression and lack of opportunity within the Forum (including employment, volunteering, membership, governance and services)
• working towards a just and participatory society
• challenging oppression and inequality
• giving priority to working with those whose full participation in society is limited by economic, political or social disadvantage
• positively promoting its core values in all areas of its work and structure
• ways of working that ensure equality of opportunity, participation, co-operation, democratic involvement and accountability
• fulfilling all legislative requirements concerning equal opportunities
• encouraging members of the Forum and others with whom the Forum works to adopt and practice a similar policy

The Forum recognises that it has a particular responsibility to address the rural aspects of oppression and lack of opportunity.


Select from the list on the left for more information and useful website links for:

• BME
• Gender
• Age
• Faith
• Sexuality
• Disability