The South East Rivers Trust is committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone is respected, valued and able to contribute.
We welcome and celebrate the different experiences, perspectives, knowledge and skills that people bring to our work. We believe this makes our organisation stronger, improves our decision-making and helps us work more effectively with the diverse communities across our region.
What equity, diversity and inclusion mean to us
Equity means recognising that people have different needs and may require different support or opportunities to achieve their potential. We aim to remove barriers and take a flexible approach wherever possible so that opportunities are accessible to everyone.
Diversity means valuing and celebrating differences in people’s backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives. We actively seek a range of voices and approaches to enrich our work, challenge bias and help us adapt and improve.
Inclusion means creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected and comfortable being themselves. We listen to different perspectives, value individual expertise and encourage people to contribute to the decisions and work that affect them.
Our commitment
We are committed to providing equal opportunities and preventing unfair or unlawful discrimination in all areas of our work, including recruitment, employment, volunteering, partnerships and engagement with the public.
We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including:
- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- marriage or civil partnership
- pregnancy or maternity
- race, including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
In keeping with our wider commitment to fair and equitable treatment, we also seek to ensure that no one is treated less favourably because they work part-time or on a fixed-term contract, or because of their trade union membership or non-membership.
We select and support people based on the skills, experience, abilities and potential they bring. We regularly review our policies, practices and ways of working to identify and remove barriers, address bias and strengthen equity, diversity and inclusion across the Trust.
Working with others
As a growing, partnership-led charity, we work with communities, volunteers, organisations, landowners, businesses and public bodies across South East England.
We expect everyone who works with or represents SERT to treat others with dignity, fairness and respect. We also ask our recruitment partners, suppliers and contractors to support our commitment to equal opportunity and inclusive practice.
We recognise that becoming a more equitable, diverse and inclusive organisation requires continued learning and action. We will listen, reflect and work with others to ensure that more people can participate in, contribute to and benefit from our work to help rivers thrive again.
