Our Equal Opportunities Policy

Asthma UK aims to ensure that as an employer, service provider and through its work in partnership with all those affected by and concerned about asthma, no individual or group experiences discrimination, harassment or victimisation on any grounds.

We recognise the need to continuously develop and review employment and volunteering policies and procedures to ensure recruitment, training, development and promotion decisions are made on the basis of competency, performance and ability. In the area of service provision our aim is to provide equal access to Asthma UK's services for all people with asthma.

All those involved in the work of the charity are expected to demonstrate a commitment to equality of opportunity by implementing the principles of Asthma UK's equal opportunities policy and procedures. The charity will encourage this commitment by actively creating awareness.

In working towards equality of opportunity, Asthma UK wishes to establish a culture that enables employees to successfully balance work requirements with domestic and personal responsibilities.

The charity therefore provides favourable entitlements for occupational maternity pay, parental and adoptive leave and a variety of paid and unpaid special leave (including paid time off to care for dependants and to attend medical appointments and compassionate leave). These entitlements, along with Asthma UK's flexible working arrangements help staff to achieve an effective work/life balance as well as allowing the charity to retain a skilled and valued work force.

The charity has received public recognition for its flexible, family friendly and work-life balance policies and its commitment to staff development, most recently returning as top 'not for profit' employer in the UK by being placed 3^rd in the Financial Times 2008 list of best workplaces in the UK and 23^rd in the 50 best small and medium sized workplaces in Europe. We also won the title of London and South East Employer of the Year in the 2001 Parents at Work Employer of the Year Awards, supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, and in November 2003, Asthma UK was awarded a Greater London training award and a special award from the London Learning and Skills Council in recognition of our management development programme.