LodeStar Leisure Ltd - LodeStar Festival
Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

1. Introduction and Core Commitment
Inclusive Culture: LodeStar Leisure Ltd is a fully inclusive Equal Opportunities Organisation. We build a working and creative festival culture that is fair, welcoming, and free from discrimination.
Equality Act 2010: We ensure no employee, job applicant, artist, volunteer, contractor, or customer receives less favourable treatment based on any Protected Characteristic.
These nine characteristics are:
Age
Disability
Gender Reassignment
Marriage and Civil Partnership
Pregnancy and Maternity
Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin)
Religion or Belief
Sex
Sexual Orientation
Broader Inclusion: We actively eliminate discrimination based on socio-economic background, responsibility for dependants, health status, trade union membership, political activities, or spent criminal convictions.

2. General Statement of Application
Full Scope: This policy applies to all aspects of LodeStar Festival operations. This includes full-time, part-time, temporary, freelance, and casual staff, as well as management, artists, hirers, and customers.
Annual Reviews: Senior management reviews this policy annually. We update it in line with changes to UK employment law.
Data Monitoring: We gather and review annual statistics regarding our programming, recruitment, and event attendance to check our inclusivity.
Team Feedback: Casual and department staff hold regular feedback meetings to review on-site working conditions and practices.

3. Equality in Employment and Recruitment
Fair Selection: Our recruitment processes ensure that a candidate's protected characteristics do not influence selection. All hiring choices are based strictly on merit, qualification, and ability.
Reasonable Adjustments: We treat disabled applicants and staff fairly. We make proactive Reasonable Adjustments to interview steps, job roles, and working environments. This ensures disabled individuals can fully participate without disadvantage.
Equal Pay: We ensure all staff are paid fairly according to our company pay structure and role responsibilities. We provide equal pay for equal work. Salary scales are reviewed annually.
Training and Promotion: All staff have equal access to training, development, and internal promotion. We monitor training numbers to prevent any imbalances.

4. Family and Leave Rights
Statutory Rights: LodeStar Leisure Ltd fully supports family and domestic responsibilities. Statutory leave and pay for Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, and Shared Parental Leave are granted strictly in line with UK law.
Work Return: Employees returning from family-related leave will return to their previous job or a suitable alternative that accommodates their needs.
Flexible Working: We actively consider flexible or part-time working setups for all staff. We recognize that domestic responsibilities apply equally to all genders.

5. Equality in Event Activities and Programming
Artistic Programming: The LodeStar Festival creative programme actively promotes diversity and addresses the cultural needs of a wide audience. Our overall programming strategy is formally reviewed every two years.
Targeted Marketing: Our marketing team builds an annual strategy to promote events to diverse groups, including families, students, young adults, and minority communities. We use local networks, council channels, and libraries to share materials widely.
Audience Feedback: We conduct regular audience research and surveys to monitor the accessibility of LodeStar Festival and adapt our future plans based on the findings.

6. Breaches of the Policy:
Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
Zero Tolerance: LodeStar Leisure Ltd takes a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination, harassment, bullying, or victimisation. Complaints are handled seriously, quickly, and confidentially.
Employees and Contractors: Workers who experience or witness discrimination can raise a formal grievance using the LodeStar Grievance Procedure. Any employee found to have breached this policy will face disciplinary action. Acts of serious discrimination or harassment are treated as gross misconduct and may lead to immediate dismissal.
Volunteers and Casual Staff: Volunteers and casual crew must uphold these standards at all times. Breaches of this policy during LodeStar Festival will result in the immediate cancellation of your volunteer agreement and removal from the festival fields.
Customers, Artists, and Hirers: We expect all visitors, performers, and venue hirers to treat everyone with respect. LodeStar Festival reserves the right to refuse entry, cancel contracts, or remove any person from the site who uses discriminatory language or displays abusive behaviour.
Protection from Retaliation: No one will be victimised or treated less favourably for raising a genuine, good-faith complaint about discrimination or non-compliance.