Inclusion is at the heart of what we do and who we are at Orpheus. As well as being one of our core values, it is a huge part of our mission to help young disabled adults thrive every day.
We have 6 main EDI objectives which you can read more about below. As well as our commitment as a Disability Confident Leader.
Throughout the year, we host many events and deliver training to highlight the needs, challenges, and celebrations of people from different ethnicities, religions, marriages and Partnerships, families, ages, genders, orientations, and of course disabilities.
The purpose of this report is to bring transparency to our progress in advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Orpheus, specifically our progress in meeting our equality objectives.
In our most recent Ofsted inspection it was identified that “learners respect each other and value the diversity of the college community…using learner led forums learn to use their ‘voice’ to effect change in the provision at the college”. Good progress has been made in establishing benchmarks against which we can measure improvement over the course of the next three years
Equality objectives were developed in conjunction with staff, students and volunteers at the Orpheus Centre.
The lead for Equality & Diversity, Moira Clifton, is responsible for delivery of these objectives. Progress is reported to trustees quarterly and outcomes summarised in our annual report.
Actively promote arts employment opportunities for young disabled adults
Protected characteristics this supports: Disability, age
We will do this by:
Actively represent different cultures and beliefs.
Protected characteristics this supports: Religion & beliefs
We will do this by:
Take positive action to make sure staff going through the menopause are supported.
Protected characteristics this supports: Age, sex, disability
We will do this by:
Promote a healthy work/life balance for our staff.
Protected characteristic this supports: Marriage & civil partnership, sex and pregnancy and maternity.
We will do this by:
Increase diversity within our staff, volunteers and trustees
Protected characteristic this supports: Age, Race & ethnicity, disability, sex
We will do this by:
Increase participation of BAME students.
Protected characteristic this supports: Race & ethnicity.
We will do this by:
There is no Equality Objective on narrowing equality gaps for student outcomes and that is because this is not a major issue for Orpheus. Although the Equality Objectives are dominated by the protected characteristic of disability, that is because this is a key issue for Orpheus to address, following analysis of staff and student outcomes and feedback.
We have made a positive commitment to employing disabled people. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure as required in consultation with the applicant to ensure no-one is disadvantaged because of their disability. If a disabled person is selected for a position, reasonable adjustments will be made to the workplace, including premises and equipment, work duties and practices or policies, as appropriate. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role as set out in the role profile and person specification will be guaranteed an interview.
We have made a positive commitment to employing disabled people. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure as required in consultation with the applicant to ensure no-one is disadvantaged because of their disability. If a disabled person is selected for a position, reasonable adjustments will be made to the workplace, including premises and equipment, work duties and practices or policies, as appropriate. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role as set out in the role profile and person specification will be guaranteed an interview.
Please contact the HR team for more information hr@orpheus.org.uk
The Orpheus Centre. North Park Lane, Godstone. Surrey. RH9 8ND
