Equalities, diversity and inclusion

Amaze is an organisation set up to empower children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and their families. We champion inclusion and lobby against inequality experienced as a result of a special educational need, disability or long-term health condition. 

We challenge prejudice, promote equality and value diversity. We want the families we support, the staff we employ and the volunteers we involve to feel welcome, and we won’t tolerate discrimination or unfair treatment. We believe that direct or indirect discrimination is wrong and ensure that our policies and practices provide equal treatment for everyone. 

Intersectionality

Amaze is aware that protected characteristics and disability combine for many families in Sussex, which impacts experiences of SEND. As an organisation we are committed to looking harder at how different kinds of discrimination are interconnected, which can create even greater inequality. This is called ‘intersectionality’.

Our EDI goals

Our equality, diversity and inclusion goals are to: 

  • Increase our knowledge of EDI issues, being open-minded and patient with our learning
  • Strengthen our communications to be more inclusive and diverse
  • Target and adapt our services to meet the needs of diverse communities, reducing barriers to access as much as possible
  • Ensure representation of families is reflective of the diversity of local communities
  • Develop diversity of our workforce and inclusive practices

Our EDI work so far

Some of the things we’ve been doing to advance equalities and diversity in Amaze include: 

  • Focused work on different equalities strands to extend our insight and strengthen our practice.  This includes SEND specific strands, such as building our understanding of neurodiversity and of the experiences of families with children and young people with complex health needs/severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities. And focused work on understanding gender diversity and Tackling Racism.
  • Working to reduce any barriers to accessing our services and targeting provision where it’s needed, as far as possible within our means. For example, we run groups for dads, young women, parents of children and young people with complex needs, etc. recognising the different experiences and support needs of different members of the community
  • Continuous development of how we communicate and engage with families, such as Amaze’s language around disability
  • Creating an organisational culture where ‘voice’ is encouraged and diversity of thought is welcomed. We support staff forums to gather and respond to emerging needs and ideas (eg a menopause forum and a neurodiversity in the workplace forum).  We have recruited young trustees to join our board.
  • Ensuring we comply with equality law and implement good practice in all aspects of employment. We maintain up to date policies and procedures.
  • Created an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) reporting form (.doc 33kb) where, in the unlikely event you experience discrimination, abuse or microaggressions at Amaze, you can easily report it direct to our CEO.