Our commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

A New Direction is committed to being the most inclusive organisation we can be. At A New Direction, being truly inclusive means creating a working culture, environment and programming that is equitable, accessible and welcoming to all.

We want everyone who engages with us - whether attending an event, taking part in a programme, using our resources, or working with us - to feel welcomed, respected and able to participate fully.

We recognise the diversity of London and the inequalities that affect children, young people, and the creative workforce. We strive to remove barriers and improve access to culture and creative opportunities.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion drives everything we do. Our ambition is for A New Direction to be the most inclusive organisation we can be with:

  • A workforce and Board that reflects the community we serve.
  • A working culture where everyone feels included and able to be their whole selves at work.
  • Programming that’s accessible and welcoming to all.

How we put our values into practice

Our approach to EDI is grounded in our organisational values: equity, connectivity, trust & respect, creative culture and kindness.

These values guide how we work, make decisions, design programmes, events and resources, collaborate with partners, and create inclusive spaces.

Here is how these values guide our everyday actions and decisions to make our work more equitable, diverse and inclusive.

Equity

  • We work to remove barriers so that everyone has a fair chance to take part and succeed.
  • We understand that people have different needs and experiences, and we take steps to support this.

Connectivity

  • We build strong relationships across communities and sectors.
  • We make sure that many different voices shape our work.
  • We believe inclusion is stronger when we learn from each other.

Trust & Respect

  • We treat everyone with dignity and fairness.
  • We create spaces where people feel safe, respected and confident to share their views.

Kindness

  • We act with empathy and compassion.
  • We know inclusion is not only about policies, it is also about how we support and care for each other every day.

You can read more about how we put our values into practice in our full EDI policy.

Our EDI Policy

Our full Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Policy provides a detailed overview of:

  • The principles behind our approach
  • Our commitments as an employer, partner and programme provider
  • Our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010
  • How we embed EDI into recruitment, programme design, communications and partnerships
  • How we monitor progress and hold ourselves accountable

You can read the full policy.

What you can expect from us

Anyone who participates in our activities or works with us can expect that we will:

  • Welcome you with respect, fairness and openness
  • Communicate clearly and use accessible, inclusive language
  • Work with you to understand any access needs and make reasonable adjustments where possible
  • Create spaces where you feel able to be yourself and contribute safely and confidently
  • Listen to your feedback and act on it
  • Address concerns about discrimination or exclusion promptly and appropriately

Participants and Audiences

We plan our programmes and events with accessibility and inclusion in mind.

If you have access needs or specific requirements, please let us know. We will do our best to support your full participation.

Freelancers, Partners & Collaborators

We expect the people and organisations we work with to uphold our values and share our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Our partnership, commissioning and contracting processes include clear EDI expectations, and we prioritise collaboration with organisations that reflect and serve London’s diverse communities.

Resource Users & Website Visitors

We aim to make our online content and resources accessible and representative.

We regularly review our digital resources and welcome feedback on how they can better meet your needs.

If You Have Feedback or a Concern

We welcome all feedback about your experience with A New Direction. If you have thoughts about accessibility, inclusion, or anything you’d like to share about engaging with our work, we would love to hear from you. Your feedback helps us learn and improve.

If you ever feel you have been treated unfairly or experience behaviour that does not align with our values, please let us know so we can address it.

You can read our complaints procedure: Complaints Procedure

You can contact us at info@anewdirection.org.uk.