Equality matters

Staff writing in with a mirror and with glasses on.

We are proud to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and with a broad range of lifestyles.

Many of our residents are in employment and lead fully independent lives. Others may ask us to help them address particular challenges. For example:

  • Advice on training and employment opportunities
  • Guidance on where to gain debt counselling or money advice
  • Support to find a specialist care home or supported housing
  • Physical aids and adaptations to help independent living

Equality matters to us

We provide the best possible service to all our customers, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We know more about our customers than ever which allows us to tailor our services to meet your needs and communicate with you in the way that suits you best.

Examples of equality and diversity

We organise events in accessible venues and at times that are convenient so all our customers can get involved. For example, as The Guinness Partnership Customer Conference was held during Ramadan, Muslim customers were provided with a prayer room and the opportunity to eat after sunset.

Guinness South, in partnership with Stonewall, has been running a series of workshops about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender awareness for all staff.

We have launched and funded a Citizenship Enrichment Project at the Guinness Hermitage-run Xcentre, aimed at improving the independent living skills of people with learning disabilities in residential care.

Equality and Diversity Week

During Equality and Diversity Week staff at Guinness South were given the opportunity to experience what it might mean to live with a disability through a range of impairment simulation exercises, whilst considering their own attitudes and assumptions to and about disabled people.

Glasses that gave impaired vision, heavy duty gloves to reduce hand dexterity and isolation ear muffs to simulate deafness were just some of the tools used in this interactive session. Everyone was encouraged to identify possible changes in working practices following the experience.