Equality and Diversity Policy and Procedure
Date Approved by Committee: 10th May 2025
Date for next review: May 2026
Compliance Lead: Julie Grainger

Wolverhampton Alz Cafe are dedicated to encouraging a supportive and inclusive culture throughout the entire group. It is within our best interest to promote diversity and eliminate discrimination as defined by the Equal Opportunities Act of 2010.

Our aim is to ensure that all volunteers and attendees are given equal opportunity and that our organisation is representative of all sections of society. Each volunteer and attendee will be, respected and valued.

The policy reinforces our commitment to providing equality and fairness to all in our group and not provide less favourable facilities or treatment on the grounds of age, gender, marriage and civil partnership, race, ethnic origin, colour, national origin, religion or belief, or sex and sexual orientation. We are apposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. All volunteers and attendees will be treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity at all times.

Wolverhampton Alz café’s commitments:

• To create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all our volunteers are recognised and valued.

• To create an environment that promotes dignity and respect of all.

• To not tolerate any form of intimidation, bullying or harassment, and to deal with those that breach this policy
• To encourage anyone who feels they have been subject to discrimination to raise their concerns so we can apply corrective measures. • To encourage volunteers to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
• To regularly review our volunteer practices and procedures so that fairness is maintained at all times.

 

Wolverhampton Alz Cafe will inform all volunteers that an equality and diversity policy is in operation and that they are obligated to comply with its requirements and promote fairness at the cafe. The policy will also be drawn to the attention of funding agencies if applicable

 

Our policy will be monitored and reviewed annually to ensure that equality and diversity is continually promoted in the workplace.

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ALZ CAFÉ WOLVERHAMPTON FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE
THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN IF A FIRE IS DISCOVERED
• Raise the alarm by activating the nearest manual fire alarm and call 999
• Ensure all doors and windows leading to other areas of the building are closed
• Never try to fight a fire without first raising the alarm
• If you feel confident, tackle the fire using the appropriate appliance (located in the back corner of the hall)
• Do not put yourself at risk
• Never try to fight a fire if you are on your own in the area
• Evacuate through the nearest fire exit *(See end of document) assisting attendees as required
• Do not run
• Close doors and windows as you leave
• Report to any Alz Café volunteers the whereabouts of the fire, the size of the fire and any other relevant details
• Proceed to the Assembly Point – Car Park at the Rear of the Building
THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN IF THE FIRE ALARM IS ACTIVATED

• Check the building if it is safe to do so to establish if false alarm

• If there is a fire call 999 and evacuate the building via the nearest available exit (See end of policy). Proceed as above

• Do not re-enter the building unless you are told it is safe to do so by the Fire Service Alz Café fire marshall/volunteers

• Volunteers are responsible for the safe evacuation of attendees (where it is safe to do so checking other rooms, toilets etc)

• Check register to ensure all attendees, volunteers, entertainers have been evacuated

• Stay with escorted attendees with limited mobility as required

• Liaise with the Fire and Rescue Service – advise on areas evacuated, areas not accounted for, people evacuated

• Stop people entering the building via any entrance

• Stop any cars entering or leaving the car park

IF ALL CLEAR IS GIVEN

Returning to the Building Volunteers to call attendees back into the building assisting where needed

FIRE EXITS

• MAIN ENTRANCE TO HALL

• DOOR AT END OF SMALL CORRIDOR PAST ROOM 6 AND EDNA WOOD ROOM

• 2 FIRE EXITS LOCATED IN MAIN HALL

• FIRE EXIT LOCATED AT END OF ‘CRUSH HALL’

• MAIN DOORS TO CHURCH

ALZ CAFE SAFEGUARDING POLICY
1. CONTEXT

1.1 The Alz Cafe (referred to as the Alz Cafe, us, we) is based in Wolverhampton. It consists of a committee (some of which have health and social care backgrounds), volunteers, people with dementia and memory problems, family members and carers. In terms of this Policy, all persons connected with the Alz Cafe will be referred to as Members.

1.2 All Members are subject to various policies that have been created to provide a guide to enable us to follow legal rules. The law declares that people have a right to fair and just treatment regardless of age, disability, race, religion, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation. This policy deals with the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. In the UK, the law generally defines a child as a person younger than 18 years of age. Adults at risk are individuals, 18 years old or older, who have care and/or support needs and who are, because of their needs, unable to protect themselves from harm, not always on a permanent basis. 1.3 People with dementia can have cognitive symptoms that may make them more at risk of abuse or neglect. A family member or carer will always accompany those members with dementia, who will be responsible for their care.

1.3 The Alz Cafe has no child members but sometimes child family members may attend various events. Children are always chaperoned and will be in the care of their parents/carers.

1.4 There should be no need for a member, other than designated family members, to be alone with a child or vulnerable adult.

2. PRINCIPLES.

2.1 The duty of care towards all other Members, especially to children and vulnerable adults with whom the Alz Cafe might interact, is the responsibility of all Members.

2.2 The Alz Committee has appointed a person to be the lead officer in guiding us on safeguarding issues and to be the first contact for any person feeling the need to report an issue of care within the Alz Cafe. That person is identified as the Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and will have appropriate training. The DSO is Donna Bonner who can be contacted by email at donwalters@talktalk.net or by telephone on 07513 470513

2.3 All serving members of the committee and relevant volunteers will have undertaken Safeguarding Awareness Training. Safeguarding Policy May 2025

2.4 For the purposes of this policy, a Safeguarding Concern is any conduct or situation that is known or suspected by a Member that risks violating the commitments made in point 1.2 above concerning the harm, welfare or safety of children or vulnerable adults.

2.5 Every Member has a duty to report a Safeguarding Concern. This would normally be to the Safeguarding Officer or, where that might not be possible, to the Chair or a member of the Alz Café Committee.

3. REPORTING

3.1 Any concern regarding a child, vulnerable adult, member or any other adult associated with the Alz Cafe must immediately be reported to the DSO (or in her absence to the Chair of the Alz Café Committee).

3.2 The information given to the DSO (or the proxy) will be treated confidentially.

3.3 If the matter is of a serious nature and any delay might cause further harm, it might be necessary to report directly to an external agency such as the Police, or the Ambulance Service.

4. INVESTIGATION AND RESPONSE

4.1 The DSO (or proxy) will take the lead on responding to information that may constitute a Safeguarding Concern and will be dealt with promptly.

4.2 The DSO will receive and record the information from the person expressing the concern.

4.3 They will assess and clarify the information.

4.4 They will consult with and inform the Chair of the Committee.

4.5 Make referrals to statutory organisations (e.g. the local authority child protection services/police etc) as appropriate.

4.6 Store and retain records according to legal requirements.

4.7 Maintain confidentiality subject to the principle of the welfare of the child/vulnerable adult being paramount, which means that information may have to be shared on a need-to-know basis.

4.8 Members who report a Safeguarding Concern will be kept informed about the matter to an appropriate degree. It must be accepted that some matters and some information must be kept confidential, and this will determine what can be shared.

4.9 If in any doubt the DSO or proxy will seek advice from the Local Authority Safeguarding Team (Wolverhampton 01902 551199, out of hours 01902 552999); NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 or emailing help@nspcc.org.uk. The Alz Café recognise that it is not the role of the organisation to decide whether a child or vulnerable adult has been abused or not.

5. AWARENESS

5.1 This policy and information referred to within, will be made available to Members and who will be made aware of what constitutes a Safeguarding Concern.

5.2 This policy must be reviewed on a regular basis and must reflect any changes to the law. 

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