Sustainability policy
VoiceAbility is committed to minimising our impact on the environment and to sustainable development — meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Policy statement
Our aim is to reduce the impact of our activities on the environment.
We will:
- promote responsibility for the environment within the organisation and communicate and implement this policy at all levels within the workforce
- encourage staff and volunteers to adopt sound environmental work practices
- reduce the use of energy and other resources
- actively promote recycling amongst our staff and volunteers and in our office premises
- take reasonable measures to reuse and recycle materials and to purchase recycled materials
- minimise waste by evaluating operations and ensuring they are as efficient as possible
- comply with all relevant environmental legislation/regulation
- ensure that our policies and services are developed in a way that is complimentary to this policy
- not prioritise funding needs ahead of sustainability requirements
- provide appropriate resources to meet the commitments of this policy
- promote and encourage involvement in local environmental initiatives/schemes
Scope
This policy applies to everyone working on behalf of VoiceAbility. This includes employees, agency workers, consultants, contractors, volunteers, social work students and trustees.
This policy applies to our office premises and to work and travel carried out by our home-based staff and volunteers.
Monitoring statement
This policy will be reviewed every 3 years, or when new guidance or legislation is written that might affect the policy, whichever is sooner.
Equality and diversity statement
VoiceAbility believes in fostering an inclusive workplace which welcomes, values and celebrates the diversity of its staff and partners, treats all on a basis of equality and encourages all to meet their maximum potential. All activities and behaviour in the workplace or associated with it should ensure that everyone is able to participate as fully as reasonably possible, and that no one is unreasonably excluded on grounds such as disability, mental health, gender/transgender/intersex, age, race or ethnicity, sexuality/sexual orientation, marital/civil partnership status, social background or any other inappropriate reason. VoiceAbility endeavours to ensure that this ethos is reflected in our practices, policies and the services provided.
GDPR and data protection
VoiceAbility only keeps records of individuals and their applications for as long as it’s relevant to do so. For details of retention periods for personal documents and information, please see VoiceAbility Privacy Policy.
Amendment history
Date of change: June 2021 (policy was created)