As an almshouse and a significant heritage site, we are committed to inclusion, diversity and equality in all of our work – and accept that there is still much for us to do.

We are enhancing our strategy and approach across all that we do, including how we recruit and support our staff and develop further our almshouse community.

As an organisation with a long history we must acknowledge and learn from our past and this must inform us as we look forward and create policies fit for the future.  We are committed to listening, to supporting and to taking positive action for diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity at the Charterhouse.

We have a Diversity Working Group of staff, Brothers and governors steering the continuous development and monitoring of all our policies in this area.  Below we detail the different aspect of our organisation and business we are targeting.

History

At the Charterhouse, as with historic sites all over the UK, our long and extraordinary history includes people and associations that are offensive to many. While we cannot erase them, we are committed to both recognising these painful aspects of our past, acknowledging and accepting them as such, and ensuring we learn from them so that we can set in place appropriate policies, interventions and interpretation making changes that may be judged, and found proactive and progressive, by the standards of today and in the future.

Employment

The Charterhouse is a Living Wage Employer.

The Charterhouse is committed to promoting equity and diversity within our Employment policies, practices and procedures. We are an organisation where diversity is valued, and we want our community to reflect the diversity in our local community. We recognise our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, which protects individuals against discrimination at all stages of employment. The Charity promotes an environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. Our aim is that no employee or potential employee receives less favourable treatment or consideration in any aspect of employment policy, practice or procedure on the grounds of age, disability, sex, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership status.

Our commitment to diversity is promoted through our values:

• Honesty, by working in an ethical way

• Caring, with dignity and respect for the individual

• Fairness, towards all individuals in our community

For details of job vacancies at the Charterhouse click here.

Recruitment

Governors
As with employing staff, our recruitment processes for selecting Governors are robust, rigorous and transparent and ensure that the individuals who join our organisation have been selected and appointed through a fair and equitable process for all. We continually strive and challenge ourselves to be more inclusive in all that we do. We appoint individuals irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation, and welcome applications from all individuals who share our core values, and who reflect the wide life-experiences of those that visit, learn and live with us.

Brothers
Our culture is one that supports inclusion, diversity and equality. We oppose and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind and welcome applications from all regardless of race, colour, gender, creed, sexual orientation or religion. We welcome single people, including those widowed or divorced.

Volunteers
Our policy towards volunteer recruitment is open and inclusive.

Collections Development Policy

The collections of the Charterhouse reflect its diverse history, and in developing these collections we ensure due diligence in accordance with the Museum Code of Ethics.   In terms of display and interpretation, we aspire to a strategy that is transparent, honest, and frank.

Gift Policy

As a charity, the Charterhouse is grateful for and reliant upon public donations to support its work.   However, we will only accept gifts that are compatible with our charitable mission and that will not compromise our charitable ethos.

Investments

The Charterhouse supports the need for responsible investing. A working group has been established to consider the Environmental, Ethics, Social and Governance (ESG) impact surrounding the investments we hold and will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis, decision-making processes and its policies and practices. The working group considered the policies of the three investment managers and accepted that they were aligned to the values and ethics of the Charterhouse. The three managers of the portfolio have also committed to take ESG matters issues into consideration when assessing individual investments and actively engage with the charity to improve their ESG policies and practices.

Public Engagement

We are an almshouse charity housed in a significant heritage site which we want to share with the public and preserve for future generations. We endeavour to be as open, inclusive and accessible as possible for all visitors within the limits of taking into account the privacy of the residents, and the historic nature of the buildings.

We also have a Community Engagement programme, ensuring that we share our spaces and stories with local communities who might not otherwise be able to visit.  Click here for details of our Community Engagement initiatives.