General Statement of Aims

To support our local community by enhancing community infrastructure, social wellbeing, social equity and resilience. Our work involves engaging with our local community to achieve community owned renewable energy that has the following benefits:

  • Educational enrichment through newsletters, free talks and presentations on pressing issues such as climate change and de-carbonising the energy system.
  • Increased sense of community cohesion as members come together and engage in developing cleaner energy future for Norwich; positive impacts include, climate change mitigation, reduction in CO2 emissions (cleaner air) and greater energy efficiency.
  • Reinvestment into our community of any surplus made from our projects in order to develop new community owned clean energy projects which will further benefit the local community.

Statement of Policy

 Norwich Community Solar respects and values diversity and is devoted to applying equality of opportunity in all its practices with regard to ethnic origin, age, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital status and disability or any other criteria not relevant to the point at issue.

This policy will influence and affect every aspect of activities carried out at Norwich Community Solar, i.e. promotional work, educational services, casework and other functions linked to the organisation, as determined by the Board Members. In the provision of services and the employment of staff, Norwich Community Solar is committed to promoting equal opportunities for everyone.

Throughout its activities, Norwich Community Solar will treat all people equally whether they are:

  • Seeking or using our services.
  • Applying for a job or already employed by us.
  • Trainee workers and students on work experience or placements.
  • Volunteer workers.

Policy Implementation

The Norwich Community Solar Board Members have overall responsibility for the effective operation of this policy. However, all members, volunteers, contractors and service users have a duty as part of their involvement with the organisation to conduct themselves in a professional and considerate manner in order to ensure the policy works in practice.

Complaints of Discrimination

 Norwich Community Solar will treat seriously all complaints of unlawful discrimination on any forbidden grounds made by employees, trustees, clients or other third parties and will take action where appropriate.

 Legal Obligation

 Equal opportunities and discrimination (Equality Act 2010)

In Implementing this policy Norwich Community Solar will take account of existing legislation specifically the Equality Act 2010 which replaces all previous equality legislation in England, Scotland and Wales – namely the Race Relation Act 1976, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, the Civil Partnership Act 2004 and the Employment Equality Regulations 2003 (religions and belief and sexual orientation).

 Review

This policy will be reviewed every year

Date 12/11/2019

Next review – November 2020