Charity Number:SC053971

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Our Beliefs

Equal Opportunities Statement

Community Café element of our service:

EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE STATEMENT OF FAITH WE BELIEVE IN...

  1. . The one true God who lives eternally in three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
  2. The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world.
  3. The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God-fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.
  4. The dignity of all people, made male and female in God’s image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement.
  5. The incarnation of God’s eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ – born of the virgin Mary; truly divine and truly human, yet without sin.
  6. The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God.
  7. The bodily resurrection of Christ, the first fruits of our resurrection; his ascension to the Father, and his reign and mediation as the only Saviour of the world.
  8. The justification of sinners solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
  9. The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who leads us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness.
  10. The Church, the body of Christ both local and universal, the priesthood of all believers – given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit’s gifts to worship God and proclaim the gospel, promoting justice and love.
  11. The personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to fulfil the purposes of God, who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth.

1. Purpose

Our Christian community café is committed to reflecting the love, welcome, and dignity taught by Jesus Christ. We aim to provide a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all customers, volunteers, and staff. This policy sets out our commitment to equality, diversity, and fair treatment in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Christian Ethos

As a Christian organisation, our work is shaped by values of compassion, hospitality, justice, and respect.
We believe every person is made in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity, regardless of background or belief.

Where a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) exists—for example, roles involving spiritual leadership, prayer, or representing the Christian ethos—these will be clearly stated in role descriptions, in accordance with UK equality law.

Our Commitment to Equality

We are committed to ensuring that no person is treated less favourably or discriminated against based on:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage or civil partnership
  • Pregnancy or maternity
  • Race, colour, nationality, or ethnic origin
  • Religion or belief
  • Religion or belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • • We also oppose discrimination based on socio economic background, immigration status, or any other irrelevant factor

Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All volunteers
  • All staff (paid or unpaid)
  • Trustees or leadership team
  • Café customers and community users
  • Partner organisations and contractors

Principles in Practice

5.1 Service Delivery

  • The café welcomes all members of the community.
  • No customer will be refused service except for safety or safeguarding reasons.
  • We will make reasonable adjustments to ensure accessibility for disabled people.
  • We will promote a warm, respectful, and non judgmental environment.

5.2Recruitment & Volunteering

  • Recruitment and volunteer selection will be fair, transparent, and based on merit.
  • A Christian commitment may be required only where a Genuine Occupational Requirement applies.
  • All other roles are open to people of any faith or none, provided they respect the café’s Christian ethos.

5.3 Behaviour & Conduct

All volunteers and staff must:

  • Treat others with dignity and respect
  • Avoid discriminatory language or behaviour
  • Challenge prejudice and exclusion
  • Promote a culture of welcome and hospitality

Harassment, bullying, or discriminatory behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action or removal from volunteering.

5.4 Training

We will provide training on:

  • Equality and diversity
  • Safeguarding
  • Inclusive communication
  • • Understanding the café’s Christian ethos

Legal Framework

This policy aligns with:

  • Equality Act 2010
  • Charity Commission guidance
  • Good practice from UK Christian charities and churches

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if legislation or organisational needs change.

As a Christian organisation, the café is founded upon and guided by the doctrinal beliefs and values of the church. These beliefs inform the ethos within which services are delivered and within which staff and volunteers operate. The Equality Act 2010 permits religious organisations to apply a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for certain roles where spiritual leadership is a required skill.  

The Trustees acknowledge their statutory responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, associated regulations, and relevant Charity Commission guidance. In fulfilling these duties, the organisation is committed to ensuring that no individual—whether an employee, volunteer, service user, contractor, or member of the public—is subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on any protected grounds.

The Trustees retain ultimate responsibility for ensuring that this policy is implemented, monitored, and reviewed at appropriate intervals to maintain compliance with current legislation and best practice in the governance of faith‑based charitable organisations.

20.03.2026