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Donating by text

You can donate by texting: AACT00 to 70070

Amounts can be from £1 up to £10. Justgiving doesn’t take a fee for this thanks to Vodaphone sponsorship.

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The Stanley Spencer Gallery iMuse project week 2

This is retrospective because this project has taken on a time consuming life of its own – and the one thing to fall by the wayside has been actually writing up what we have done… Knowing that AACT is stuffed full of serious academics they will be horrified at this – but this is real life.

Going back to the beginning:  Annette and I had a long chat about what we were trying to achieve, and time and again we said – we’ll just see what develops.  The point of the exercise is to work out a sustainable, inexpensive way forward to use IT to enable a better visitors experience to the Gallery for all abilities.

We started with an iPad (provided by AACT) onto which I loaded information about a loan painting collated through iBooks Author.  (see separate blog about that).  We identified a list of about 60 things to think about, but in the end they all broke down into a few main categories:

1) Visitor user friendliness

2) Custodian user friendliness

3) Security

4) Effectiveness.

Following the launch on 14th Feb we have had very positive feedback from those who have used the iPad – most, but not all of the users were familiar with the iPad, all found it ‘easy’ or ‘OK’ to use and without exception they all had high praise for the positive addition it made to their visit.  So far so good.

We launched initially without headphones as the speaker level (with Guided Access) was set to conversational level, and as the iPad was in a corner of the Gallery we decided to see if the audio level was intrusive.  Several visitors actually ASKED for headphones – mainly because they felt embarrassed to be making a noise, and secondly they didn’t want other visitors to know if they skipped a bit!

So we added two pairs of headphones and a splitter.  This is not ideal for sharing.

One issue with iBooks Author is that you create a virtual book – which cannot be looped, and so has to be swiped back to the opening page ready for the next visitor.  This is a problem – if the visitor does not finish the presentation and get to the page asking them to swipe back then obviously they don’t and the next visitor starts half way through……  It would be great to find a way of looping the book – other than by copying the pages over and over – which would create a huge file and again pose problems on getting back to the beginning.

Some custodians have embraced it and are very happy because of visitor reaction, others are more unsure, and there is some uncertainty about taking the app out of Guided Access in order to leave on charge overnight.( it will not sleep in guided access and heat build-up overnight might pose a problem.)

We now have one iPad tethered to a bench and resting on a stand (we would have put it on the bench but decided it would be sat on if we did.. (the iPad, not the bench….)  This is not ideal but the best we can do with space available.

Custodians so far have reported no objections to it being in the gallery.  I have had no report from them yet about the proportion of visitors who look at it – but hopefully will get that in due course.

Subsequently were lent a second iPad by AACT.  This became necessary as we started to expand the scope of our experiment and introduce the iPad into some more visitor experiences.   Our ‘disabilities’ Custodian arranged a visit from the TalkBack group in Amersham.  They are a charity empowering challenged young people, and it was decided to run a self-awareness project with them using the Self-Portraits currently in the Gallery exhibition.  Ten students arrived, and the ipad was used to take photographs and manipulate them and email the results.  It was a great success and added to their experience.  Annette was present and can report on the day.

More updates later….

Chrissy Rosenthal

Volunteer, Stanley Spencer Gallery

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Consultancy agreement template

NB This is an example of the type of agreement we may require with a consultant. Individual circumstances and AACT’s requirements may alter the format in particular instances.

THIS AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES (“Agreement”) is made on DATE BETWEEN:

 

(1)           Access-Ability Communications Technology Limited (also known as “AACT” or “AACT for Children” or “AACT4Children”) [Company Number 5538092 and Registered Charity No. 1113302] whose registered address is 3 Wesley Gate, Queen’s Road, Reading, RG1 4AP  (hereafter referred to as ‘the Client’).

 

And

 

(2)           name whose principal place of business is address (hereafter referred to as ‘the Consultant’).

 

WHEREBY IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.             ENGAGEMENT

 

1.1          The Consultant purports to have the know-how, qualifications and necessary ability to undertake the work required to be carried out in the assignment specified in Schedule 1 below (the “Assignment”).

 

1.2          The Consultant warrants that it is not disbarred in any way from working on the Assignment.

 

1.3          Subject to Clauses 1.1 and 1.2 above, the Client hereby engages the Consultant, and the Consultant hereby accepts such engagement, to carry out the Assignment and perform all services required in order to carry out the Assignment and produce the deliverables required from the Assignment.

 

2.             TERM

 

Notwithstanding the date hereof, the Consultant shall commence work on date and shall continue thereafter after the assignment is discharged or until date, whichever comes sooner.

 

3.             DUTIES OF THE CONSULTANT

 

3.1          The Consultant shall, while this Agreement is in force or until the satisfactory completion of the Assignment, devote such of his time, attention and abilities to the Assignment as may be necessary for the satisfactory completion thereof as the same shall be determined by the Client and as set out in Schedule 1 below.

 

3.2          The Consultant agrees to advise and assist the Client as required in accordance with clause 3.1 above with respect to all aspects of the Assignment and in the performance of such duties the Consultant shall comply with all reasonable requests and directions of the Client or its customer or nominee including, but not limited to:

 

3.2.1      Complying with all local or internal policies and regulations operated by or affecting the Client or its customer or nominee as the case may be provided the Consultant has been appraised of them.

 

4.             FEES

 

4.1          In consideration of the services rendered by the Consultant hereunder, the Client shall pay to the Consultant fees as set out in Schedule 2 and in accordance with the provisions of Clause 5 below. No fee is chargeable for absence due to illness, voluntary leave or statutory, public or local holidays.

 

4.2          The Consultant is responsible for accounting to the Inland Revenue and all other Authorities for all taxes, National Insurance contributions, other insurance, and any other liabilities, charges and dues for which the Consultant is liable.

 

5.             PAYMENT

 

Fees are payable within 30 days of receipt of correct and due invoices, which should be sent to:

 

Michael McAleenan

Treasurer

Access-Ability Communications Technology

c/o Uttley Room BG05, Institute of Education, Bulmershe Court

University of Reading,

Reading

Berkshire RG6 1HY

 

6.             COPYRIGHT

 

The copyright in any report, documentation or information on whatever media, prepared by the Consultant pursuant to this Agreement shall be the property of the Client notwithstanding termination hereof unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing by the Client. Copyright for the Consultant’s standard templates, formats and presentation styles remains with the Consultant.

 

7.             WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS

 

7.1          The Consultant warrants and represents that:

 

7.1.1      The Consultant has full capacity and authority and all necessary licences, permits and consents to enter into and to perform this Agreement and to provide the Assignment;

 

7.1.2      This Agreement is executed by a duly authorised representative of the Consultant;

 

7.1.3      The provision of the Assignment and the Client’s use thereof shall not, to the best of the Consultant’s knowledge and belief, infringe any Intellectual Property Rights of any third party;

 

7.1.4      The Assignment shall be supplied and rendered by appropriately experienced, qualified and trained personnel with all due skill, care and diligence and in a professional and workmanlike manner.

 

7.1.5      The Consultant shall discharge its obligations hereunder with all due skill, care and diligence including but not limited to good industry practice and in accordance with its own established internal procedures;

 

7.1.6      The Consultant shall in the performance of the Assignment and in all matters arising in the performance of this Agreement conform with all Acts of Parliament and with all orders, regulations and bye-laws made with statutory authority by Government Departments or by local or other authorities that shall be applicable to this Agreement and shall comply with any Codes of Practice to which the Client complies and which relate to the provision of the Assignment; provided that the Consultant has been appraised of them.

 

7.2          Except as expressly stated in this Agreement, all warranties and conditions, whether express or implied by statute, common law or otherwise (including but not limited to fitness for purpose) are hereby excluded to the extent permitted by law.

 

8.             LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INSURANCE

 

8.1          Neither party excludes or limits liability to the other party for death or personal injury and the Consultant shall indemnify and keep the Client indemnified against death or personal injury to any persons or loss of or damage to any property which may arise out of any Default or any other act, default or negligence of the Consultant, their employees or agents and against all claims, demands, proceedings, damages, costs, charges and expenses whatsoever in respect thereof or in relation thereto.

 

8.2          Subject always to Clause 8.1, the liability of either party for Defaults shall be as set out in this Clause 8.2.

 

8.2.1       Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 8.1, in no event shall either party be liable to the other for:

 

8.2.2.1      Loss of profits, business, revenue, goodwill or anticipated savings; and/or

 

8.2.2.2      Indirect or consequential loss or damage.

 

8.2.2      The provisions of Clause 8.2 shall not be taken as limiting the right of the Client to claim from the Consultant in the event of Default for loss of data and notwithstanding Clause 8.2.2, where the Client terminates this Agreement pursuant to Clause 11, the Client shall be entitled to recover from the Consultant, in addition to any other damages it is entitled to recover, the cost of obtaining the reasonable and proper cost for specialist accountancy services from a third party.

 

8.3          The parties expressly agree that should any limitation or provision contained in this Clause 8 be held to be invalid under any applicable statute or rule of law it shall to that extent be deemed omitted but if any party thereby becomes liable for loss or damage which would otherwise have been excluded such liability shall be subject to the other limitations and provisions set out herein.

 

8.4          Without limiting the Consultant’s responsibilities under Clause 8.1 above, the Consultant shall insure with a reputable insurance company against loss of and damage to property and injury to persons (including death) arising out of or in consequence of its obligations under this Agreement where negligence is proven and against all actions, claims, demands, costs and expenses in respect thereof.

 

9.             INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS INDEMNITY

 

9.1          The Consultant shall fully indemnify the Client against all claims, demands, actions, costs, expenses (including but not limited to full legal costs and disbursements on a solicitor and client basis), losses and damages suffered by the Client arising from or incurred by reason of any infringement or alleged infringement (including but not limited to the defence of such alleged infringement) in the United Kingdom of any Intellectual Property Right in connection with the Assignment.

 

10.          CONFIDENTIALITY

 

The Consultant shall not, other than with the prior written consent of the Client, during or after the termination, determination or expiry of this Agreement disclose directly or indirectly to any person, firm, company or third party and shall only use for the purposes of this Agreement, any information relating to the Assignment, the Client, its business, trade secrets, customers, suppliers or any other information of whatever nature which the Client or its customer or nominee may deem to be confidential and which the Consultant has or shall hereafter become possessed of.

 

The foregoing provisions shall not prevent the disclosure or use by the Consultant of any information, which is or hereafter, through no fault of the Consultant, become public knowledge or to the extent permitted by law.

 

11.          DEFAULT

 

If the Consultant shall be guilty of any serious misconduct or any serious breach or non-observance of any of the conditions of this Agreement or shall neglect or fail or refuse to carry out the duties assigned to him hereunder, the Client shall be entitled to give notice to the Consultant to remedy the breach within seven days and if the Consultant fails to remedy then summarily to terminate his engagement hereunder without notice and without any payment in lieu of notice and without prejudice to any rights or claims the Client may have against the Consultant arising out of such default.

 

 

12.          TERMINATION

 

12.1        The Client may terminate this Agreement immediately by notice in writing if the Consultant shall:

 

12.1.1    suffer or threaten any form of insolvency administration; or

 

12.1.2    cease or threaten to cease to carry on business; or

 

12.1.3    be in breach of any of the terms of this Agreement which, in the case of a breach capable of remedy, is not remedied by the Consultant within seven days of receipt by the Consultant of notice from the Client specifying the breach and requiring its remedy; or

 

12.1.4    be guilty of any serious misconduct and/or any serious or persistent negligence in respect to its obligations under this Agreement.

 

12.2        Upon the termination of this Agreement or the Consultant’s engagement whichever shall be the earlier, the Consultant or his personal representative as the case may be, shall immediately deliver up to the Client all correspondence, reports, documents, specifications, papers, information (on whatever media) and property belonging to the Client which may be in his possession or under his control.

 

 

13.          DATA PROTECTION

 

The Consultant shall at all times comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

 

14.          WORKING WITH CHILDREN

 

The Consultant shall ensure that he complies with all legislation with regard to working with children, should that be necessary in order to discharge the duties of the Assignment.

 

15.          ASSIGNMENT

 

The Consultant shall not transfer or assign the whole or any part of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Client.

 

16.          HEADINGS AND EXPRESSIONS

 

The headings contained herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction hereof.  The expressions “client” “consultant” “him” “its” or such other expressions as appear herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine single or plural thereof where the context so admits.

 

17.          SEVERABILITY

 

In the event that any of the terms contained herein are determined by any competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, such term shall to that extent be severed from the body of this Agreement which shall continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by the Law.

 

 

18.          SCOPE

 

This Agreement shall take effect in substitution for all previous agreements and arrangements whether written or oral or implied between the Client and the Consultant relating to the services of the Consultant and all such agreements and arrangements shall be deemed to have been terminated by mutual consent with effect from the date hereof.

 

19.          STATUS OF CONSULTANT ON TERMINATION, DETERMINATION OR                   EXPIRY

 

As a consequence of the termination, determination or expiry of this Agreement by effluxion of time, the Consultant shall not be entitled to the payment of any compensation or otherwise upon the occurrence of the same.

 

20.          LAW

 

The parties hereby agree that this Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be construed in accordance with the Laws of England and the parties hereby agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court of England.

 

 

)

SIGNED for and on behalf of the CLIENT by                                            )

)

 

 

 

SIGNED by the CONSULTANT                                                                     )

)

 

SCHEDULE 1 – “The Assignment”

 

The Consultant shall:

List of work to be undertaken

SCHEDULE 2 – “The Fee”

 

The Consultant’s Fee shall be paid as follows:

Description of fee agreement

 

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Responsibilites and duties of trustee-directors

This version was agreed by the Board at its Winter 2010-11 meeting

The next review is due on or before Winter 2013-14

 

1. Purpose

 

This document summarises the main duties and responsibilities of trustee-directors.

It is based on guidance supplied by the Charity Commission[1] and the NVCO[2].

 

2. Overview

 

Trustee-directors serve on the Board of AACT and together form its governing body. Trustee-directors have, and must accept, ultimate and legal responsibility for directing the affairs of a charity, and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and meeting the needs for which it has been set up. As AACT is also a Company Limited by Guarantee, the trustee-directors also serve as directors of the Company and must also ensure that the charity pursues its objectives and purposes as set out in its Memorandum of Association.

 

3. The Board and attendance at meetings

The Board of trustee-directors takes decisions collectively and meets as often as it must to in order to carry out its responsibilities. Typically that is four times each year and trustee-directors are, save for exceptional circumstances, expected to attend[3]. Unless otherwise authorised by the Board, three[4] trustee-directors are required for the Board to be quorate and decisions to be made.

4. Appointment and term of office

 

Save for people who are ineligible[5], the Board considers nominations for trustee-directors, which must be received in writing. Trustee-directors are elected to the Board. In accordance with Articles 24 and 25(1), one third of Trustee-directors must resign each year at the annual general meeting. Directors shall retire by rotation based on those who have held office longest since their last appointment. Trustee-directors may stand for re-election.

 

5. Remuneration, expenses and donations

 

Trustee-directors will not be paid any remuneration unless explicitly authorised by the Board and in accordance with Section 5(5) of the Memorandum of Association.

 

6. Compliance

 

Trustees must:

 

  1.       i.        Ensure that the charity complies with charity law, and with the requirements of the Charity Commission as regulator; in particular ensure that the charity prepares reports on what it has achieved and Annual Returns and accounts as required by law.

 

  1.     ii.        Ensure that the charity does not breach any of the requirements or rules set out in its governing document and that it remains true to the charitable purpose and objects set out there.

 

  1.    iii.        Comply with the requirements of other legislation and other regulators (if any) which govern the activities of the charity.

 

  1.    iv.        Act with integrity, and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of charity funds or assets.

 

7. Duty of prudence

 

Trustees must:

 

  1.       i.        Ensure that the charity is and will remain solvent.

 

  1.     ii.        Use charitable funds and assets reasonably, and only in furtherance of the charity’s objects.

 

  1.    iii.        Avoid undertaking activities that might place the charity’s endowment, funds, assets or reputation at undue risk.

 

  1.    iv.        Take special care when investing the funds of the charity, or borrowing funds for the charity to use.

 

8. Duty of care

 

Trustees must:

 

  1.       i.        Use reasonable care and skill in their work as trustees, using their personal skills and experience as needed to ensure that the charity is well-run and efficient.

 

  1.     ii.        Consider getting external professional advice on all matters where there may be material risk to the charity, or where the trustees may be in breach of their duties.

 

 

9. Resignation and Removal of trustee-directors

 

Trustee-directors may resign at any time, provided that:

 

  1.       i.        notice is given to the Board in writing at least 90 days prior to the resignation taking effect;

 

  1.     ii.        at least two trustee-directors remain in office when the notice of resignation takes effect.

 

Trustee-directors will be removed from office if he or she:

 

  1.    iii.        ceases to be a director by virtue of any provision in the Companies Act or is prohibited by law from being a director;

 

  1.    iv.        is disqualified from being a trustee by virtue of section 72 of the Charities Act;

 

  1.     v.        ceases to be a member of the Charity;

 

  1.    vi.        becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing his or her own affairs;

 

  1.   vii.        is not reelected as a trustee-director by the Board at an annual general meeting;

 

  1. is absent, without permission of the Board, for all meetings held within a period of six consecutive months and the trustee-directors resolve that his or her office be vacated[6].

[1] CC3 – The Essential Trustee: What you need to know – see http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Publications/cc3.aspx

[3] See also Paragraph 9viii.

[4] This is a requirement as set out in the Articles of Association, section 9(2).

[5] Trustee-directors must be over 18 years old and not having been disqualified as company directors, and/or been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty or deception. In some cases, people beneficiaries may also be ineligible.

[6] Articles of Association, Section 31(6)

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Accessibilty

Accessibility policy

This version agreed by the Board Spring 2010

Next review due 2013

 

AACT aims to provide a website that is accessible to everyone. We design the site with usability and accessibility in mind.

If you have any problems accessing any information on the site please contact us.

 

Adjusting text size

 All font sizes are relative, with the exception of graphical text, and text size can be increased or decreased by following these steps:

  • For Microsoft Internet Explorer, go to the ‘View’ menu, select ‘Text Size’ and then the option that suits you.
  • For Mozilla Firefox, go to the ‘View’, select ‘Text Size’ and then either ‘Increase’ or ‘Decrease’ until the text is the size you require.
  • For Apple Safari: Use the Safari > Preferences > Appearance options in the browser menu.

 

Images

All images have descriptive alternative text, with the exception of images that are used for aesthetic reasons only. Those images have null ALT text.

 

Colours

Colours have been chosen to give good contrast and to aid accessibility by colour-blind users.

 

Coding

This website is built using code compliant with W3C standards for XHTML 1.0 Strict and Cascading Style Sheets. You can check each of our pages for conformance by clicking the W3C buttons at the bottom of the particular page. If you find we have made a mistake please let us know by contacting us.

 

[There is one exception to adherence to XHTML Strict standards – we use the target attribute to allow some external webpages to open in a new window. Practical trials showed that this seems to be the lesser of two evils in trying to create an environment which is not muddling for users.]

 

PDF

We use PDF format for some information on our site. You will need Adobe reader (or another PDF viewer) to view PDF documents. Download the more recent version of Adobe reader here.

 

Testing for compliance

Testing for compliance with WAIG standards is not an exact science and we do not currently have the confidence to declare conformance to a specific level. We do test our website for accessibility using various utilities (such as Wave3.0 and those indicating colour contrast) as listed by W3C. We try it out on as many browsers and platforms as seems practical. From time to time we ask users with various accessibility needs to try the site for us.

 

Contact us

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.

 

Useful Links

The following have useful advice and information about web accessibility.

 

Our thanks to the UK Government’s Companies House and Oxfam websites which inspired us to include this accessibility statement following their examples.

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Fundraising policy

Fundraising Policy

(merged with the previously published Policy which was agreed in Spring 2010)

Reviewed by the Board at its Summer 2011 meeting

Next review due Summer 2012

 

  • The Board of Trustee Directors (the Board) will act as fundraising coordinator.
  • Fundraising will be targeted to fulfill the mission of the charity, to add value to the work of disability professionals by providing help, particularly with outside funding bodies. Leveraging funding in the area of those with communication difficulties is our priority in developing potential projects and funding applications.
  • There will be careful selection of potential funders to ensure AACT meets their requirements and charitable aims and bids will be individualized and targeted as appropriate.
  • Any proposal to seek funds must be agreed by the Board in advance of any approach to potential funders.
  • There will be active relationship building to enhance the benefit to both parties.
  • Any project must provide a fundraising plan to be agreed by the Board.
  • Any ongoing service must have a sustainable funding plan approved by the Board.
  • The admin team is responsible for raising the funds required for basic inescapable costs and for fundraising costs.
  • The Board will decide on a lead fundraiser for any project or service it wishes to take forward.

 

Much of the work of AACT is undertaken by volunteers, but we have in the past paid modest amounts to a professional fundraiser and may do so again if Trustees feel this is in the best interests of our beneficiaries.

 

We take notice of the guidelines put forward by the Institute of Fundraising (http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/bestpractice) and believe like them that fundraising activities should be undertaken with clarity and openness.

 

If you have suggestions for fundraising, or would like to comment on our fundraising in any way, please do get in touch.

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Giftaid declaration form

Gift Aid declaration

 

To the charity Access-ability Communications Technology (AACT for Children)

 

Please treat the enclosed gift of £                                          as a Gift Aid donation.

 

You must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April one year to 5 April the next) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that the charity or Community Amateur Sports Club will reclaim on your gifts for that tax year.

 

Donor’s details

 

Title      Initial(s)      Surname

 

Home address

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postcode       Date

 

 

Signature

 

 

Please notify the charity if you:

  1. Want to cancel this declaration.
  2. Change your name or home address.
  3. No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains.

 

Tax claimed by the charity

  • The charity will reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 you gave up to 5 April 2008.
  • The charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 you give on or after 6 April 2008.
  • The Government will pay to the charity an additional 3p on every £1 you give between 6 April 2008 and 5 April 2011. This transitional relief for the charity does not affect your personal tax position.

If you pay income tax at the higher rate, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self Assessment tax return if you want to receive the additional tax relief due to you.

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Information policy

This version adopted by the Board Winter 2010-11

Next review due on or before Winter 2013-14

 

We aim to keep the information we hold relevant and fit for purpose.

 

In line with our purpose ‘to advance the education of the public’ as stated in our Memorandum of Association, we will publish suitably-reviewed information we have that is relevant to our mission where it is both practical and legal so to do.

 

We are also keen to ensure anyone with an interest in our mission can find out about our policies, ways of getting involved and what we are doing and will therefore publish relevant documentation.

 

To implement our policy we will

 

  • Obey all laws concerning the dissemination of information, in particular the UK’s Data Protection Act
  • State openly our attitude and practices as regards data related to a person
  • Regularly review the information that we hold and/or publish to check its currency, accuracy and legality
  • Publish information via our website or other electronic, publicly and widely accessible means
  • Keep our information securely
  • Treat sympathetically requests for information in other formats, subject to the practicality (including cost) of such provision
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Notes for designated safeguarding person (DSP)

Notes for the designated safeguarding person (DSP) and their backup

We are a small organisation run mainly by volunteers. While we have named a set of people (normally two) to act as DSP and backup, we do not expect or intend you to be professional experts in the field of child, young person or vulnerable adult safeguarding, this would be disproportionate in the light of the way we work. What is required is that you know how to contact authorities that are experts in the relevant fields.

AACT works in partnership with other organisations and our policies include this note:

AACT is a small charity, currently with no premises or staff of its own. All our work is done in partnership with other organizations and our contact with beneficiaries and the public will occur on others’ premises and normally under the supervision of a member of the partner organization. In these cases it is important that you follow any safeguarding policies in place at the host organization, for example reporting any concerns to their designated person. If this is impossible in practice, then AACT’s Designated Safeguarding Person should be contacted.

Should you be contacted about a safeguarding issue, you should follow this procedure:

1. Make a written record of what you have been told, including dates and times, names and any other available information that might be relevant, including any other organisation or individuals involved.

2. Check with the person contacting you whether they have reported the issue through a partner organisation.

3. If possible, contact any partner organization concerned to liaise on reporting (but do not wait to do this if any allegation makes it possible a person is in immediate danger, in that case the safest route is to contact the police without delay)

4. If no other suitable authority is reporting the incident/allegation then you should do so to the relevant body. These can be found on the Berkshire Child Protection Procedures website (at the time of writing this can be found at:  http://www.proceduresonline.com/berks)

5. Records must be stored and information kept confidential in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

6. HOWEVER, safety issues (particularly for children) override confidentiality. If you believe someone is in danger, alert authorities immediately, do not wait for permission to override confidentiality.

These notes last updated July 2011

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Policy on Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Harassment

Policy on Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Harassment

Adopted by the Winter 2010-11 Board meeting

Next review due on or before: Winter 2011-12

 

In line with its status as a charity set up to help inclusion within society, AACT confirms its commitment to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in which individuals are selected, developed, appraised and otherwise treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given Equal Opportunities within the Charity.

 

The object of this policy is to ensure that:

 

no applicant, volunteer, trustee, director, member, student intern, supplier, provider, contractor or user of facilities shall be discriminated against on account (for example) of his or her sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, marital status, Civil Partnership status, family responsibilities, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins and citizenship), religion or belief, political belief, membership (or non-membership) of a Trades Union, disability (including HIV status), age or socio-economic background.

 

AACT opposes any form of discrimination on these stated grounds unless it can be objectively justified as genuine, substantial, reasonable and within the law.

 

Evidence of discriminatory behaviour (including harassment) will be treated as a potential disciplinary matter and could result in cessation of the individual’s association with the Charity.

The effective implementation of this policy can only be achieved by all those associated with AACT acting appropriately. The implementation of this policy will be aided by publishing it and by drawing attention to it in other communications as relevant.