Impact Initiatives

Who we are

Our History

Impact was founded in 1978, to resolve issues communities were facing at the time. Since then we have grown and developed extensively to ensure we respond to the needs of Sussex communities and individuals today.

Impact’s Central team provide expertise in Finance, HR, IT and facilities, health and safety and business development. This ensures each of our specialist teams can focus on excellence in service delivery and ongoing development of their services. Sharing this expertise ensures more funding goes directly into service delivery and brings financial stability across the organisation.

OUR VISION

For Sussex people of all ages to reach their potential whilst living healthy & fulfilling lives

OUR MISSION

To bring people living in Sussex the support they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives through providing the right people at the right time, and through leading collaborative working to create and deliver services

Our culture and values

Creative Disruptors:

We challenge the status quo by introducing innovative ideas and fresh perspectives. We will push the boundaries and explore new approaches to address problems and ultimately create positive change.

Champions of Better:

We believe in making positive change. We are committed to taking proactive steps to make Sussex a better place for those in need. We will provide a voice to the people who aren’t being heard and work hard to ensure they are supported. We are the people’s champion.

Passionate and Positive:

We care passionately about the people we work with and the impact we have on them. We work hard to ensure that all our actions and interventions are positive, engaging, energetic and inspiring.

Born in Sussex:

We were born in Sussex and it is where we call home. It’s in our blood and a huge part of our culture. Our community matters because they are part of who we are.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Impact Initiatives trustees and staff are committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse organisation with embedded anti-discriminatory policy and practice throughout, which will be monitored and responded to as applicable.

We recognise certain groups and individuals in society are disadvantaged because of intersectional discrimination, particularly based on race, gender, sexuality, disability, religion, gender reassignment, age or marital status. Discrimination can be experienced and that this comes in many forms; direct, indirect, intentional, or through unconscious bias and that discrimination takes place at both institutional and personal levels.

We are clear that such discrimination is unacceptable. We are committed to ensuring that our policies and practices promote inclusive and fair treatment in all aspects of our service delivery, for all our clients, employees and volunteers.

We are aware that we are a predominantly white organisation and will therefore have unconscious white bias which is something we need to address to become more accessible to minoritised communities.

We have made this commitment because we genuinely care and value this principle and do not want any individual to feel less equal or discriminated against in any way through either our actions or lack of action. We want our services to be available to all, most notably those disadvantaged and in need.

We know to meet this commitment we need to take immediate and ongoing positive action and have dedicated time and resources to this.

We will:

• reflect and take appropriate action on our current beliefs and working practices,
• recognise our current limitations and deficiencies,
• increase our awareness and learning by asking (sometimes difficult) questions.
• listen to both existing and potential clients and staff.
• develop a better understanding of the consequences of discrimination and how we can support minoritised communities.
• ensure we continually monitor, reflect, and challenge ourselves and each other regarding inequality, prejudice and ignorance directed towards all disadvantaged groups on an individual and organisational level.
• recognise this as a dynamic and continual process.
• make the changes needed to become the organisation we strive to be.

Impact Initiatives will ensure that all staff and volunteers regardless of position or seniority understand and commit to this belief and understand they each hold responsibility and play a part in ensuring it is applied throughout the organisation.