Equal Opportunities Policy

1. Definitions

"the Society" - the Edinburgh University Film Society
"the Policy" - this Equal Opportunities Policy
"the Committee" - the General Committee of the Society
"the Executive" - the President, Vice President, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer of the Society
"the Constitution" - the current constitution of the Society

2. Responsibility

2.1. The President is responsible for all aspects of this policy, including its maintenance. The President shall be answerable to the Committee and to the members of the Society as per the Constitution.

2.2. The Committee may appoint an Equal Opportunities Officer to assist the President in the implementation, maintenance, monitoring and furtherance of the Policy. The Equal Opportunity Officer must fulfil the criteria for Committee membership as set out in the Constitution.

3. The Committee

3.1. The Committee of the Society will seek to achieve an equal gender balance and fair ethnic and disabled representation in its structure.

3.2. All members of the committee shall be familiar with the Policy and be committed to its proper implementation.

4. Publicity

4.1. The Society's general publicity shall reflect the Policy and project it positively. Photographic stills in the magazine, posters etc. shall reflect the Policy where appropriate.

4.2. All publicity material, publications and correspondence shall, where practicable, include the statement "The Edinburgh University Film Society is an Equal Opportunities organisation." or similar.

4.3. The Society magazine shall be available for any member on request in large print.

4.4. This Policy shall be published on the Society world-wide-web site, and shall be publicised and made available to members and other interested parties in such ways as the Committee deems appropriate.

5. Cultural Policy

5.1. The policy of the Society is to advance the education of the public in the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the arts; particularly the arts of film and allied visual techniques, by means of lectures, discussions and exhibitions.

The mix of film titles chosen by the committee for exhibition will represent the widest range of cinema, within the limitations of availability of material.

6. Training

6.1. The Society shall liaise with the British Federation of Film Societies and Edinburgh University Students' Association to ensure that the Committee receive training and/or refresher courses on Equal Opportunities.

6.2. It is the President's or Equal Opportunities Officer's responsibility to ensure that the Committee is familiar with all aspects of the Policy including communication skills, technical skills, e.g. the use of infrared hearing systems, wheelchair lifts etc. and caring skills, e.g. the maneuvering of wheelchairs in confined spaces. At the Executive's discretion, they shall arrange additional training for the Committee to ensure that this is the case.

6.3. All Committee members shall have the right to participate in any and all activities where new skills can be learnt or taught, with the aim of maximising their contribution to the Society.

7. Membership

7.1. No-one shall be refused membership of the Society on the grounds of their gender, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or religious beliefs, except as in accordance with the Constitution.

7.2. No member of the Society shall be refused membership of the Committee on the grounds of their gender, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or religious beliefs, except as in accordance with the Constitution.

8. Premises and Equipment

8.1. Wherever possible, premises used for meetings, lectures, discussions and exhibitions shall be chosen to meet the needs of disabled people.

8.2. The Society shall encourage the owners of venues used by the Society to improve access for disabled people, and wherever possible, shall improve its own equipment to improve the enjoyment and accessibility of the Society's discussions, lectures and exhibitions for those with hearing or sight impairment.

9. Review of Policy

9.1. It is the intention of the Society that the Policy shall be kept under regular review, to ensure that the commitment to equality of opportunity is maintained.

9.2. This policy shall be formally reviewed and re-approved every three years.

October 27th, 1997.