Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy

This Policy sets out IWater’s commitment and approach to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). This policy represents and applies to all members, employees and volunteers and they will be part of upholding and evolving the policy. 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Our Policy

At IWater, we are committed to a policy and culture of inclusion and equality for all our members, staff and stakeholders.  

 

IWater strives to be a place where people with different perspectives and from different backgrounds and experiences can come together, bringing valuable insights to enhance the way we work. 

 

We bring this policy to life by educating on and promoting a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion where we can value and recognise people’s differences. 

What this means

 

We will ensure that this policy influences as well as informs the culture and behaviours of our members, volunteers and everybody associated with IWater.

 

Specifically, we will seek to:  

 

  • Develop and promote a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion throughout IWater. 
  • Develop and promote a culture of dignity, understanding and respect. 
  • Support all our members to ensure equal opportunities throughout our recruitment, training and development, events, services and committees. 
  • Break down barriers to individuals’ and groups’ experience. 
  • Ensure we are welcoming to all and are seeking to create a culture so people can express their diverse views and perspectives comfortably. 
  • Respect people from diverse disciplines, backgrounds, cultures and experience with a focus on being non-hierarchical so that regardless of position or experience all are offered the same opportunities and respect. 
  • Encourage people to work collaboratively in order to achieve better outcomes. 
  • Provide the tools and resources for EDI to every member and volunteer. 
  • Constructively address behaviour that is contrary to our values and this policy. 
  • Ensure that any external organisation we work with share our values and ideals for equality, diversity and inclusion. 
  • Promote EDI through our work with stakeholders within the wider water sector. 
  • Use the agreed EDI checklist in organising our events

 

We are also signatories of the Royal Academy of Engineering Diversity Concordat and the Science Council Declaration on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.

Training

Training may be required/offered to encourage the promotion of the principles of this policy.  

Awareness

 

We aim to bring awareness for the need for EDI in many different ways, including but not limited to:  

 

  • Holding an annual EDI Conference, for discussion and learnings 
  • Utilising surveys to ensure we are listening to our members and volunteers for what they need and want to see. 
  • Aiming to hold ourselves responsible for understanding what EDI means and the terms involved (see definitions and legal principles in appendices A and B). 
  • Promoting good EDI materials, such as the EDI toolkit that can be used by anyone within IWater to help educate and guide people. 
  • Maintaining and sharing an official EDI Calendar to help bring awareness to the various events/celebrations/awareness days and weeks.  
  • Holding area-specific EDI events touching on various topics throughout the year. 

Governance

 

Our values and Code of Conduct are aligned to the principles of EDI and this policy.  Living and behaving in line with these values and principles is every member’s responsibility.  Organisationally, we want to ensure that EDI is an integral part of everything we do.

 

Therefore,  

  • There is a dedicated role of EDI lead on our national Board and this person is responsible for updating the board with progress and driving ambition within the institute. 
  • We also have EDI representatives on every Area Committee whose role it is to drive EDI with the Area, particularly regarding regional events.  They also sit on the national EDI Committee. 
  • We have a national EDI Committee with its own Terms of Reference. It is chaired by the EDI Board Lead and includes the EDI representatives from all Area Committees as well as staff members. 
  • This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis for the first three years by the EDI Committee to ensure that all aspects are up to date and in line with new regulations as well as aspects and conditions yet to be included in these regulations. This will ensure that we provide the appropriate conditions to meet special needs of minority or under-represented groups. 

Reporting Breaches of this Policy

 

If you experience or witness behaviour that you believe is contrary to this policy you can report it to IWater. 

 

Please refer to our Disciplinary Procedure via the Complaints & Disciplinary page for details on this process.