Equality and Equal Opportunities Policy 

The Hygiene Bank is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do. We recognise our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and are committed to creating an environment where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. 

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination on the basis of the following protected characteristics: 

  • Age 
  • Disability 
  • Gender reassignment 
  • Marriage and civil partnership 
  • Pregnancy and maternity 
  • Race 
  • Religion or belief 
  • Sex 
  • Sexual orientation 

In carrying out our work, The Hygiene Bank will seek to: 

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010. 
  • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. 
  • Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. 

What we mean by discrimination
Under the Equality Act 2010, unlawful behaviour includes: 

  • Direct discrimination – treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic. 
  • Indirect discrimination – applying a policy or practice that disadvantages people who share a protected characteristic without objective justification. 
  • Harassment – unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. 
  • Victimisation – treating someone unfairly because they have made, supported or raised a concern about discrimination. 
  • Failure to make reasonable adjustments – not taking reasonable steps to remove barriers where required under the Equality Act 2010. 

Who this policy applies to
This policy applies to everyone involved with or connected to The Hygiene Bank, including trustees, staff, volunteers, partner organisations and all those who benefit from or engage with our services. 

Our aims
The Hygiene Bank exists to bring communities together to tackle hygiene poverty by providing essential hygiene and personal care products to people who need them. 

We are committed to ensuring that everyone can access our services, volunteer, work with or support The Hygiene Bank without fear of discrimination. We aim to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected, valued and able to contribute. 

We strive to ensure that our services are accessible according to need and that our partnerships reflect and serve the diverse communities in which we work. 

Our commitments
The Hygiene Bank is committed to: 

  • Tackling social exclusion, inequality, discrimination and disadvantage. 
  • Treating everyone with dignity, fairness and respect, and valuing diversity. 
  • Promoting equality of opportunity and inclusion throughout our work. 
  • Delivering services, communications and information that are accessible, appropriate and fair, including providing alternative formats or reasonable adjustments where practical. 
  • Working collaboratively with communities to ensure our services respond to local needs. 
  • Encouraging participation from communities that have traditionally experienced disadvantage or under-representation. 
  • Seeking, wherever possible, to ensure that the diversity of our trustees, staff, volunteers and ambassadors reflects the communities we serve. 
  • Allocating resources fairly and transparently. 

Reasonable adjustments
The Hygiene Bank is committed to making reasonable adjustments, where appropriate, to reduce barriers for people who work, volunteer, govern, partner with or access support through the organisation. 

Requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered on an individual basis, taking account of the person’s needs and the practical circumstances. We will work with individuals to identify appropriate solutions wherever reasonably possible. 

For this policy to be effective, everyone involved with The Hygiene Bank shares responsibility for upholding its principles. We aim to embed equality, diversity and inclusion throughout our policies, procedures, day-to-day activities and relationships with others. 

Responsibility for implementation
Overall responsibility for ensuring this policy is implemented and reviewed rests with the Board of Trustees. The Board will oversee implementation, receive appropriate assurance on the effectiveness of this policy and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion remain embedded within the organisation’s governance and decision-making. 

Trustees, staff and volunteers are all responsible for promoting equality, preventing discrimination and acting in accordance with this policy. 

How we put this policy into practice
The Hygiene Bank will: 

  • Work to ensure that everyone who receives our support has fair access to hygiene and personal care products. 
  • Ensure that no service user, employee, volunteer or trustee is treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. 
  • Promote equality, diversity and inclusion across our activities. 
  • Be committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, selection and volunteering practices. Decisions relating to recruitment, appointment, development and progression will be based on merit, suitability and organisational need, without unlawful discrimination. 
  • Make adherence to this policy a condition of employment and volunteering. 
  • Ensure that trustees, staff and volunteers are aware of this policy. 
  • Monitor our services, communications and events to help ensure they are inclusive, accessible and responsive to the needs of the communities we serve. 
  • Continue to learn, listen and adapt our practices to strengthen equality and inclusion across the organisation. 

Anyone who believes this policy has not been upheld, or who experiences or witnesses discrimination, harassment or victimisation, is encouraged to raise their concerns through The Hygiene Bank’s Handling Complaints and Whistleblowing Policy. Concerns will be taken seriously, considered promptly and handled fairly. No individual will be treated unfavourably for raising a genuine concern in good faith. 

Monitoring and review
The Hygiene Bank is committed to reviewing the effectiveness of this policy on a regular basis. Appropriate record keeping and review will help us understand our progress, identify opportunities for improvement and support continuous learning. 

The Board of Trustees will review this policy every two years, or sooner if there are significant changes in legislation or organisational practice. 

Approved 1st July 2026