Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality/equity

Hope for the Future recognises that everyone is a potential change-maker but not everyone is starting from the same point. We define equity as giving more support to those who need it and justice as addressing the structural barriers to engagement. Embedded in our organisational strategy and in our aim to build common ground between citizens and their elected representatives is our aim to respond to and eliminate systemic barriers where possible. This includes putting more resources into reaching audiences who might experience more barriers than others. We have an active role to play in empowering and equipping people to take part in democracy so that everyone who wants to engage their elected representatives on climate change can do so.

Diversity 

‍As an organisation, we believe that diversity should be coupled with considerations of power, liberation and justice rather than just for diversity’s sake. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community reflecting the diversity of our society. Diversity includes people of all races, ages, all or no faiths, genders, gender expressions and sexualities, as well as those who are disabled and with neurodiversities, and diverse socio-economic backgrounds and experiences. One of our core organisational objectives is to build capacity among communities so that they are equipped and empowered to undertake constructive and meaningful dialogue with their elected representatives. Diversity means having a balance of different voices and this should be reflected in the individuals/groups that we support and the organisations we collaborate with.We believe that this diversity should be reflected in the staff team, senior leadership and trustees at Hope for the Future, as well as our overall organisational strategy. To bring diverse voices into our organisation, at all levels, we will continually reassess how we recruit for positions and look at how we can ensure that everyone feels welcome but also has an equal opportunity to get in the door. 

Inclusion

‍If diversity is having a balance of different voices, inclusion is empowering these voices to ensure they are heard on their own terms. Inclusion can mean radically different things for different people, from accessibility to outreach to empowerment. We believe that Hope for the Future has a unique opportunity to improve inclusivity in the wider political system and the climate movement because we directly support constituents and can be responsive to individual needs. Therefore we embed inclusion within the heart of our organisation strategy and day-to-day working. We recognise that inclusion is an ongoing and responsive process that includes and exceeds accessibility. Hope for the Future will strive to continuously examine our work, adjusting our ways of working which create barriers for, or marginalise, some people more than others. We believe that democracy does not work without inclusion and inclusion is vital to addressing the disproportionate effects of climate change on marginalised people and communities.

Hope for the Future,
The Workstation,
15 Paternoster Row,
Sheffield, S1 2BX
‍info@hftf.org.uk
‍0114 312 2619