Equality & Diversity Policy

How we make sure everyone is treated fairly and feels welcome.

Our promise: every young woman deserves the chance to build a confident, purposeful life, whatever her background. We treat everyone fairly, with dignity and respect.

1. Who this policy is for
This policy covers everyone who works with The Polished Standard (TPS), the young women on our programme, and the organisations we work with.

2. The law
We follow the Equality Act 2010. We will never treat anyone unfairly because of:

  • age
  • disability
  • gender reassignment
  • marriage or civil partnership
  • pregnancy or having a baby
  • race, including colour, nationality and ethnic background
  • religion or belief, including having no religion
  • sex
  • sexual orientation

We also look out for things that can hold people back, such as being care experienced, having nowhere stable to live, money worries, caring for someone, or having had a hard time at school.

3. Who TPS is for
TPS is a programme for young women aged 16 to 25. The Equality Act 2010 allows programmes for one group where it is a fair way of meeting that group’s needs. [ADD ANY MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHO CAN TAKE PART]

4. Faith and belief
TPS welcomes young women of every faith and none. Some sessions may include a short, optional reflection drawn from the Christian faith. Joining in is always your choice. Saying no will never affect your place or how you are treated. We respect everyone’s beliefs in our sessions.

5. What we do

  • Make reasonable changes so disabled people and people with additional needs can take part. See our Accessibility Statement.
  • Use clear, simple language and examples that reflect different backgrounds and lives.
  • Agree group rules in the first session, so everyone knows how we treat each other.
  • Work with organisations to keep costs and practical barriers low for young women.
  • Ask for feedback and use it to make TPS more welcoming.
  • Keep learning about equality and inclusion through training.

6. What we won’t accept
We won’t accept bullying, harassment, discrimination or hateful language in our sessions, online spaces or messages. If it happens, we will deal with it calmly and quickly. This may mean asking someone to leave a session.

7. Raising a concern
If you feel you have been treated unfairly, please tell us at [TPS EMAIL] or use our Complaints Policy. We will take it seriously.

Last updated: 23.10.26. Next review: October 2027.