Let's Grow Preston

Who we are

We are a dynamic, awesome award winning charity that works from Preston in Lancashire and covers the whole of the PR postcode. We improve mental and physical wellbeing by following the principles fo social therapy in horticulture.

We support a network of community growers in the PR postcode

We support the Food Hub Network in Preston by distributing food that's been grown by the allotmenteers and community growers in Preston. Last year, we collected enough fruit and vegetables in just 12 weeks to make 17651 meals and sequestered 1.6 tonnes of carbon

We provide training and workshops in willow weaving, and all things horticulture and collaborate with anchor organisations and community organisations across the area. 

We work evenings, bank holidays and weekends as well as having core times to work from our sites for our regular volunteering sessions. Overtime is not paid, but Time Off in Lieu may be taken.

The work is frequently physical, loading and unlaoding the van, driving the van and there will be lifting involved - we are a small team and we have to muck in. 

Our culture and values

• Promote physical and mental wellbeing through volunteering in horticulture
• Creating and improving green spaces in communities to improve the lives of people living in those communities.
• Deliver change through education and communication and leading by example, challenging the norm
• Sustainability  -Our activities strive to maintain the sustainability of the charity, and be sustainable in a wider context. we seek to actively reduce and eliminate any negative environmental impacts of our organisation and encourage others to do the same by example and education.
• Do More With Less
• Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
• Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
• Empower Communities and Individuals should feel empowered to make positive improvements.
• Show humility
• Demonstrate Kindness and Inclusivity
• Respect, Listening to each other, Valuing contribution
• Be Passionate and Determined
• Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded, encourage measured risks for individuals whilst following our risk assessments, policies and our method statements.
• Pursue Growth and Learning throughout the community including staff trustees and volunteers

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Equal Opportunities Statement

The charity accepts that in society, certain groups of people and individuals suffer discrimination. We are positively committed to opposing discrimination against people on the grounds of race, colour, religion, class, age, disability, marital status, their trade union activities, or because they are lesbian or gay, or because they have dependants, or because they are ex-offenders, or because they have a history of mental distress.

As an employer, The charity is committed to ensuring that no job applicant, employee or volunteer is treated less favourably because of their gender, race, age marital status, being a lesbian or gay man, religion disability, being HIV positive or having AIDS or on any other unjustifiable grounds. We are also committed to ensuring that our recruitment practices are easily accessible to all sectors of the community. We have a positive attitude towards training and development for all our employees regardless of their status within the organisation.

As a service provider the organisation will endeavour to provide quality services which meet the needs of the community which it serves. Whenever possible we will try to respond to current and changing needs. This will include seeking the views both of existing and potential users on ways of improving the quality and relevance of our services. No individual or group will be treated less favourably because of their race, gender, age, marital status, being a lesbian or a gay man, being HIV positive or having AIDS, or on any other grounds that are unjustifiable.

We will regularly monitor the effectiveness of this equal opportunities policy and the results will be available to all users, volunteers, employees, members and the Board.

The organisation will challenge discriminatory actions and language.

This statement is designed to include the 9 protected characteristics which are against the law to discriminate against;

• age
• gender reassignment
• being married or in a civil partnership
• being pregnant or on maternity leave
• disability
•  race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin    
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

As an organisation, we are also aware that individuals may experience discrimination based on any combination of characteristics.

Implementation of our policy

The charity shall promote equality of access to its services by the following means:

●             Ensuring that publicity and information material (e.g. leaflets, posters, newsletters, reports) reflect that Preston is a multi-racial community by providing information and publicity in appropriate languages and styles.

●             Liaising closely with organisations working with ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities to bring about a greater understanding of issues and sharing of resources.

●             Designing its services so that people from the entire community can benefit from them and positively encouraging them to do so.

●             Provide training for all who provide services within The charity in equal opportunities (including staff, volunteers, Management Committee/the Board) and using established procedures to deal with any offensive behaviour.

●             Using co-opted places on the Board, where necessary, to ensure that the membership reflects the commitment has to Equal Opportunities.

●             Holding services and meetings in places that are accessible to people with disabilities.

Volunteers

Our policy is that volunteers shall not suffer discrimination in recruitment, support and training opportunities on the grounds of sex, race, age (except on the basis of insurance cover), colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, trade union activities, politics or religious beliefs.

To carry out this policy The charity shall:

●             monitor applicants for voluntary work in terms of sex, race and disability;

●             provide training opportunities to volunteers including Equal Opportunities and how to deal with offensive behaviour;

The monitoring of equal opportunities within The charity will be done on an annual basis. The charity will maintain a record of the composition of current staff, volunteers, clients and management members, and seek information for the following procedures:

●             disciplinary

●             grievance

●             dismissals

●             reasons for leaving

Training

The charity will take responsibility for the training needs of staff and management in relation to the equal opportunities policy.

Conditions of service

It will be a condition of service that all employees adhere to the equal opportunities policy and failure to do so shall be cause for disciplinary measures to be taken.

All service conditions will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they do not discriminate against any of the before-mentioned groups.

Responsibility for implementation

The staff and the Board are responsible for implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of this policy, but it is the responsibility of every staff member and management member to actively promote equality of opportunity within their own sphere of responsibility.

This policy is binding on all.

Complaints and reporting

Please refer any complaints to Annie Wynn BEM, the Chief Executive officer in the first instance, or follow the Whistleblowing Policy. Upon receipt of any complaint, it is the duty of the charity to ensure that that the matter is investigated and reported to the Board of Trustees. Complaints will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

The charity is committed to ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of individuals' information, particularly when collecting and monitoring data related to protected characteristics. All data collection will be carried out in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Any information gathered for the purpose of equal opportunities monitoring will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and will only be accessible to those individuals involved in the monitoring process. This information will be securely stored and will not be used for any other purpose than the promotion of equality within the organisation.

Staff, volunteers, and Board members involved in equal opportunities monitoring will receive training on data protection principles to ensure compliance. The charity will take all necessary measures to safeguard personal information and prevent unauthorised access or disclosure.

Individuals have the right to access the information held about them, and any requests for access will be handled in accordance with the organisation's data protection procedures. The charity will not disclose personal information to third parties without the explicit consent of the individuals concerned, unless required by law.

We will use data of how many volunteers, staff or Board members have protected characteristics for funding and the purposes of demonstrating that we are an inclusive charity, but the data will not include any personal data such as name or contact details.

In case of any concerns or incidents related to the confidentiality of equal opportunities data, individuals are encouraged to report such matters through the organisation's designated channels for complaints and resolution. The charity is committed to investigating and addressing any breaches of confidentiality promptly and thoroughly.