Equality, diversity and fairness – 20/20 has an Equality, Diversity and Fairness Policy where we:

• recognise that groups and individuals have suffered, and continue to suffer from discrimination
• recognise the need for equality of opportunity and the management of diversity in all aspects of our operations. It is our intention to ensure that nobody receives less favourable treatment from us or agents acting on our behalf on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, marital status, responsibility for dependants, sexual orientation, disability, age, gender reassignment, social status, political, cultural or religious beliefs.
• aim to take practical actions to eliminate discrimination, unfairness, inequality and disadvantage, developing initiatives and interventions to promote and value diversity in the co-op. The co-op expects agents and contractors working for it to actively recognise and manage diversity in the workplace.
• ensure that all committee members and others working on behalf of the co-op are fully aware of their responsibilities towards the promotion of equal opportunities and valuing diversity, that they are properly equipped to take account of the different and special needs of particular groups and make provision for those groups.

Anti-social behaviour and harassment – 20/20 recognises that, left unchallenged, anti-social behaviour can have a significant negative impact on the lives of our members and the community. The co-op responds in a timely and co-ordinated way to incidents of anti-social behaviour and takes a pro-active approach to preventing anti-social behaviour occurring in the first place.

The co-op recognises:

• that anti-social behaviour may affect our members, other people living with or visiting our members, and other residents in neighbouring areas to our homes
• the rights of individuals to a fair hearing and that there should be a presumption of innocence until the facts about any complaint of anti-social behaviour have been established
• that everyone has a right to enjoy their own lifestyle but only where this does not interfere with the rights and quality of life of other residents
• the need to ensure that all members and residents are treated fairly, consistently and equitably and to take into account any particular needs of a member or resident from a disadvantaged background.

20/20 defines anti-social behaviour as conduct which is capable of causing a nuisance or annoyance to any person, which directly or indirectly relates to or affects the co-op’s operations and using or threatening to use the co-op’s homes for an unlawful purpose.

Examples of anti-social behaviour can include, but are not limited to:

• any kind of criminal behaviour
• harassment, hate incidents and hate crime
• graffiti and vandalism
• damaging another person’s possessions or property
• racial harassment and/or other hate related behaviour
• alcohol abuse and drunken behaviour
• nuisance from pets and animals
• excessive noise
• dumping rubbish, fly tipping and littering
• misuse of communal areas
• problems caused by vehicles
• any breaches of tenancy conditions
• domestic disputes and domestic violence
• other activities that can cause nuisance.

20/20 will deal with incidents of anti-social behaviour and harassment in accordance with our Anti-Social and Behaviour Policy.

Racial harassment – 20/20 will aim to ensure that no member, resident, staff member or other person lives in fear of racial harassment or violence.  20/20 will not tolerate racial harassment or violence and will take steps to eradicate it.  The report on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry (1999) defines a racist incident as “any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person”.  Racial harassment and abuse can occur in a variety of forms. Whilst this list is not exhaustive it indicates the range of unacceptable behaviour:

• racial abuse – verbal and written
• racially abusive behaviour such as spitting, threats, theft, offensive items left on doors and posted through letterbox
• physical assaults on victims, their dependants and relatives
• incitement – stirring up racial hatred by a variety of means such as petitions, leaflets and stickers
• damage to property – such as racist graffiti and slogans, bricks through windows and doors, damage to cars, other possessions and arson
• threats to wellbeing or life – such as lighted matches or rags being put through a letterbox
• behaviour such as wearing racist badges or insignia. Circulating racist material or material from groups known to be racist via social media.
• racist graffiti.

If a member or anyone connected to 20/20 considers that they are the victim of racial harassment, they may raise the issue with a 20/20 committee member or BVT, and we will discuss appropriate action to address the problem with them in accordance with our Racial Harassment Policy.

Domestic violence – statistics drawn from the Crime Survey for England and Wales show that some 7.5% of women and 4.4% of men were estimated to have experienced domestic abuse in 2016/17, equivalent to an estimated 1.2 million female and 713,000 male victims.  Overall, 26% of women and 15% of men aged 16 to 59 had experienced some form of domestic abuse since the age of 16.  These figures were equivalent to an estimated 4.3 million female and 2.4 million male victims.

Our members, residents and staff working with us should not live in fear of domestic violence or abuse.  We are committed to providing a sensitive response, working with organisations with expertise in managing domestic violence and abuse cases, to anyone asking for assistance in cases of domestic violence and abuse.  Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone regardless of gender or transgender status, social group, class, economic status, age, race, disability, religion or geographic location.

Making alterations to your home – members need to ask the co-op’s permission if they wish to make structural alterations or improvements to their homes.

Transfers and mutual exchanges – members may request transfers and mutual exchanges in accordance with the Transfers and Exchanges Policy.