BASSETT BREASTIES – EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
1. Purpose
Bassett Breasties is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and supported.
As a free community-based breastfeeding and parent support group, we aim to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly, with dignity and respect, regardless of their background, identity, circumstances, or feeding journey.
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2. Our Commitment
We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, inclusion, and respect for all.
We aim to ensure that no individual or group is treated less favourably on the basis of:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment, gender identity, or gender expression
- Marriage or civil partnership
- Pregnancy, maternity, or parental status
- Race, ethnicity, nationality, or cultural background
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Socio-economic background or family circumstances
- Caring responsibilities
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3. What This Means in Practice
Bassett Breasties will:
- Provide a free, welcoming, and accessible space for parents, expectant parents, carers, supporters, and babies.
- Welcome all feeding journeys, including breastfeeding, chestfeeding, expressing, combination feeding, and those seeking infant feeding information and support, without judgement.
- Promote kindness, respect, empathy, and understanding.
- Encourage participation from individuals from all backgrounds and experiences.
- Challenge discrimination, harassment, bullying, exclusion, or inappropriate behaviour where it arises.
- Make reasonable adjustments, where practical and possible, to support accessibility and inclusion.
- Ensure any guest speakers, workshops, or community partnerships reflect the values of the group.
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4. Inclusive Environment
We are committed to creating a space that is:
- Friendly, welcoming, and non-judgemental.
- Inclusive of all families, including single parents, blended families, LGBTQ+ families, adoptive parents, foster carers, kinship carers, and grandparents.
- Respectful of different cultures, beliefs, traditions, and life experiences.
- Supportive of parents and carers at all stages of their feeding and parenting journey.
- Sensitive to the emotional wellbeing, confidence, and individual circumstances of attendees.
- Focused on creating a sense of community and reducing social isolation.
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5. Responsibilities
Group Leader/Organiser
The Group Leader will:
- Promote equality, diversity, inclusion, and respect at all times.
- Ensure Bassett Breasties remains a welcoming environment for all attendees.
- Address any concerns or incidents of discrimination, harassment, or exclusion promptly and appropriately.
- Consider accessibility and inclusion when planning sessions, activities, guest speakers, and communications.
Volunteers (if applicable)
Volunteers will:
- Support an inclusive and respectful atmosphere.
- Treat all attendees fairly and with respect.
- Raise any concerns with the Group Leader.
Guest Speakers and Community Partners
Guest speakers and community partners will be expected to:
- Support the values of equality, diversity, inclusion, and respect promoted by Bassett Breasties.
- Treat all attendees fairly and respectfully.
- Deliver information, guidance, or activities in a way that is inclusive, non-judgemental, and accessible wherever possible.
- Respect the diverse backgrounds, experiences, family structures, and feeding journeys of attendees.
- Raise any concerns regarding discrimination, exclusion, or inappropriate behaviour with the Group Leader.
Attendees
Attendees are expected to:
- Treat others with kindness, courtesy, and respect.
- Respect differing experiences, opinions, and feeding journeys.
- Avoid discriminatory, offensive, intimidating, or judgemental language or behaviour.
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6. Dealing with Concerns
Any concerns about discrimination, exclusion, harassment, or inappropriate behaviour should be raised with the Group Leader.
Concerns will be:
- Taken seriously.
- Handled sensitively and respectfully.
- Considered fairly and without bias.
- Addressed appropriately to help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all attendees.
Where appropriate, individuals may be asked to modify their behaviour or leave a session if their actions are deemed harmful to others or contrary to the values of the group.
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7. Review
This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if required, to ensure it remains effective, relevant, and reflective of best practice and the needs of the group.
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Adopted on: 1st October 2025
Signed (Group Leader): Sophia Thompson
Version 1.1, 01.10.25