Client / Guest ED&I and Anti-Racist Policy
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that everyone that attends events run by Nikki Wetherell or under Celestial Soul is not unknowingly or knowingly committing unlawful discrimination.
This policy underpins our commitment to delivering services and making services accessible to a diverse range of people and safeguarding the protected characteristics covered by the Equalities Act 2010. Age, Sex, Race, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Religion or belief, Sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity for all facilitators, staff, volunteers, clients and guests.
To comply with and commit to the Equalities Act 2010 and beyond to ensure we create services and events that are diverse and inclusive that includes behavior of guests and clients regardless of individual beliefs.
Guests and clients are asked that during our events and coaching that you are committed to being kind, non-judgmental, do not make assumptions, are self reflective, and contribute to the inclusion of all participants and staff members.
All staff members that work for Celestial Soul or Nikki Wetherell, agree to the ED&I and Anti-racism policy before events by reading and completing a signed agreement that is part of the facilitators agreement. We ask all guests and clients to do the same. This policy is included in the client agreement paperwork that you will sign on booking any events and reflect what is written here.
We strive to advertise and make our services accessible to everybody to work towards equity and create events with a diverse range of guests. All guests are expected to be respectful to all members of staff and guests regardless of individual beliefs.
All guests and clients are asked to report any incidents of of unacceptable behavior, discrimination, harassment, victimization or bullying as soon as possible to Nikki Wetherell or another acting manager/organizer so the incident can be investigated, an official report made and consequences implemented. You can see the procedure at the bottom of this policy. This can include removal from an event without refund.
We (Celestial Soul)/ I (Nikki Wetherell) are committed to zero-tolerance on discrimination, victimization, harassment, bullying to anyone unintentionally or intentionally, regardless of if they are a guest, client or facilitator. I/we reserve the right to refuse entry, ask anyone to leave at any point or end a contract without refund or transfer of their place to another event, time or person due to discrimination, harassment, victimization or bullying, regardless of intention, or if the action is covert or overt and through any medium.
Not every event will be suitable for every person, but we aim to provide a range of events, workshops, and 1-2-1 offerings at a variety of venues and online, so that there is accessibility across the year for all people through our services. Whilst taking in to account the safeguarding of all groups of people including Trans and Non-Binary people, and the intersectionality of our service users and sensitive nature of some of our events. We ask service users to only chose the events and tickets that are suitable.We reserve the right to refuse entry or ask you to leave without refund.
We ask all service users to be mindful that if you are someone with protected characteristics, it does not mean that you are the expert of everyone’s experiences and ask that you always approach everyone as an individual without judgment and with an open heart and mind.
Never assume age, gender, sexuality, religion or belief, sexual preferences, relationship status, ability or disability, or if they have/ can have / want children.
Never out anybody. Other peoples genders and sexuality is not open for discussion or mention without their prior enthusiastic verbal consent.
Whilst we can not force you to do anything, we do ask that clients actively educate themselves on anti-racist behavior to help protect fellow service users from subconscious racist behavior. You will find a blog post here on resources we recommend and things to bare in mind as a bare minimum. Regardless of positive intention racist behavior will not be accepted. Being not racist is not enough. Being anti-racist means not being a bystander and taking an active part in unlearning our own implicit racism, ignorance to language and history, and and calling in others be be anti-racist too.
Should racist behavior be witnessed before or during an event either online or in person, we encourage it to be reported to us for investigation . You can see our disciplinary procedures at the bottom of this policy. Guests/clients understand that should they be accused of racist behavior, pr any other form of harassment, they can be asked to leave immediately without refund or transfer to another event or person, and may be banned from any future events.
Whilst we do our best to ensure everyones safety, any victims of any racist abuse will be offered the cost of the perpetrators ticket to be donated to a charity of their choice, or for themselves transferred by BACS, as a small amount of compensation and apology. We will also seek to ensure that any victim of harassment, abuse or bullying is taken as a priority, to a safe place and looked after however needed, and the perpetrator dealt with as soon as the victim is safely away from the situation and looked after.
Anyone wishing to attend any events as a guest or client must agree to the ED&I and Anti-racism policy by signing the client/guest agreement forms.
If you have not returned your forms and use our services you agree to our terms by default. It is your responsibility to read all paperwork and the agreements before signing them and understand that should you break the terms of our policy you could be asked to leave.
By attending any events ran by Nikki Wetherell/Celestial Soul, I understand that should I consciously or unconsciously break the ED&I and Anti-racism policy, I may be asked to leave without financial compensation, refund, transfer of ticket.
We ask that you take this policy seriously as it will be reinforced, to ensure that we are ALL actively working to create inclusive, diverse spaces for everyone to enjoy and minimize the potential for trauma.
Grievance Procedure Goals
In the unfortunate instance that you witness or experience harassment, victimization or bullying of any kind there is a procedure that we follow. When there is an incident we have 3 main goals. Aside from protecting victims of harassment, prejudice and victimization, we want to create systematic change to reduce harmful behavior to vulnerable people. So approach situations with a view to invite self reflection before discipline.
To make sure the victim is safe as a priority.
To take the incident seriously
To find a solution where the victim feels heard and vindicated
To work towards education, self reflection and inviting the perpetrator in to make amends where appropriate, improve behavior and uncover subconscious bias and bring consciousness to unacceptable behavior and work towards change.
Should it be necessary, remove the person causing harm immediately.
Grievance Procedure
In the case of an incident at an in person event
If possible and you feel safe please report the incident immediately to the manager or person in charge. If you are a witness get the person away from the situation and find a member of the team.
They will get to you a place away from the person/situation and to a place you feel safe and get you anything or anyone you need.
They will ask you to explain what happened when your ready and take any notes needed to make a written official report.
We will ask you if you what you would like to happen, depending on the seriousness of the incident. Some may require the immediate removal of the accused. Or it may be possible to find some resolution between parties involved if the victim feels comfortable.
Once you are OK and with your consent, we will speak with any witnesses and approach the person to discuss the matter and take a statement.
In the case of online incidents
Please screenshot the incident and email it to hello@celestialsoul.co.uk
The person will be messaged and spoken to.
If necessary the person will be removed from any media and depending on the incident not allowed to any future events.
Definitions
Equality can be described as breaking down barriers, eliminating discrimination and ensuring equal opportunity, resources and access for all groups of people
Diversity can be described as celebrating differences and valuing everyone. Each person is an individual with visible and non-visible differences and by respecting this everyone can feel valued for their contributions which is beneficial not only for the individual but for the Charity.
Equality and Diversity are not inter-changeable but inter-dependent. There can be no equality of opportunity if difference is not valued and harnessed and taken account of.
Equity - Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. Equity and equality are not the same.
Zero-tollorence - refusal to accept antisocial behaviour, typically by strict and uncompromising application of the law.
Racial Harassment - intimidation or exclusion of a person because of their race, ethnicity or national origin through any means whether nonverbal, verbal, written, graphic, sexual or physical nature related to actual or perceived race, colour, national origin, ethnicity, cultural background, physical characteristics, or linguistic characteristics of a national origin group. includes racial slurs regardless of intent, gestures, insignias, acronyms (e.g. KKK), name-calling or symbols (e.g. swastikas, confederate flags) that make an individual feel threatened or uncomfortable.
Discrimination - the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially the nine protected characteristics covered by the Equalities Act 2010; race, religion or belief, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and disability.
Victimization - the action of singling someone out for cruel or unjust treatment.
Bullying - The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online.
Staff members - including facilitators, instructors, organizers, volunteers, anyone working for or behalf of Celestial Soul / Nikki Wetherell paid or unpaid.
Clients & Guests - Anyone using the services provided by Nikki Wetherell or Celestial Soul. Including any person that has paid for the service or received the service free of charge as a gift or prize.