Sobus

Who we are

Sobus is a registered charity, charity no. 1071089 and a company limited by guarantee. The objects, as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association are:

• To promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the public in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and surrounding area
• To promote the Voluntary Sector and any charitable purpose for the benefit of the public in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and surrounding area and promote and organise co-operation between the Voluntary Sector, statutory bodies and other bodies as appropriate to further the Objects of the Charity.

We aim, through our range of high quality services to support and enable the voluntary organisations operating in Hammersmith and Fulham to be a collective thriving and significant sector which better identifies and supports the needs and aspirations of our communities. We seek to broker a range of mutually beneficial relationships between the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and statutory, private and other VCS organisations. We provide a range of resources to promote information and intelligence to the sector so that they are better able to respond to the needs of the area. We deliver capacity building such as one to one advice, training and events to support the growth and development of VCS. We provide high quality and affordable office space to organisations to run their organisation.  

Our culture and values

Our values

1.     Collaboration, cooperation and coordination:

• Outward looking: supporting organisations to come together to reduce duplication and maximise resources and benefits for local residents.
• Inward looking: Working collaboratively with other organisations to empower and support our communities.

2.     Innovation and empowerment:

• Outward looking: enabling organisations to help themselves by developing their skills, capacity and sustainability.   Supporting organisations to make a difference.
• Inward looking: Embracing challenges, seeking new opportunities and solutions.  Developing services which make a difference in our communities. 

3.     Individuality and Independence: 

• Supporting and enabling communities and organisations to establish and thrive – supporting a diversity of options and choice

4.     Equality and Diversity: championing and promoting diversity and equality in everything we do, and in every aspect of our management and governance.

5.     Passion, Professionalism, Integrity and Accountability: Demonstrating these qualities in our daily work and behaviours, actively seeking opportunities to develop individual skills and the effectiveness of our services.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

As one of Sobus’ core values is “Equality & Diversity", Sobus aims to:

• Promote equality of opportunity
• Celebrate and value diversity
• Eliminate unlawful direct and indirect discrimination

Sobus will provide equality of opportunity and equal treatment as an integral part of good practice.  The organisation is committed to a working environment in which the contribution and needs of everyone are fully valued and recognised.  We will support our staff, workers, Trustees, users and contractors in not tolerating any inappropriate, violent or abusive behaviour from colleagues, other organisations or customers.

General purpose

SOBUS’s practices will ensure that staff, workers, Trustees, and customers will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, race, sex, religion or cultural beliefs, gender reassignment, marital status and civil partnership, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity.  

Sobus’ commitment to anti-discriminatory practice relates to all kinds of discrimination, as set out below:

• Direct discrimination - where someone is treated less favourably than another because they have a protected characteristic
• Indirect discrimination – when a requirement or a condition is applied which has a detrimental effect on a particular group or individual. This applies even if there was not a deliberate intention to discriminate.
• Associative discrimination – direct discrimination against someone because they associate with another person who has a protected characteristic.
• Perceptive discrimination - direct discrimination against someone because others think they have a protected characteristic even if they do not possess that characteristic.
• Harassment – unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic which violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. This applies even if the conduct is not directed at the individual or if they do not have the protected characteristic.
• Third party harassment – potential liability for the harassment of staff by others such as clients or customers.
• Victimisation – when someone is treated badly because they have made or supported a complaint under the Equalities Act or it is thought that they have done so.

Employment Practices

Sobus aims to promote equality and diversity as an employer and to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable in the context of the policy.  Selection, recruitment, training, promotion and employment practices will be subject to regular review to ensure that they comply with the Diversity and Equalities Policy.  All training opportunities will be published widely to all appropriate employees and not in such a way so as to exclude particular groups. Sobus regards discrimination, abuse, harassment, victimisation or bullying of staff, customers or others in the course of work as disciplinary offences that could be regarded as gross misconduct.