We believe that promoting equality and tackling inequality are an essential part of effectively meeting need. We ask all applicants and grant-holders to take account of equalities issues, but we also seek to find out more about any barriers or additional difficulties that we as a funder might seek to address in different ways.
For instance, we have studied ways of ensuring that groups working in the areas of sexual orientation and ethnicity get adequate support.
We also review information about our own grant-making to identify and explain any patterns or apparent gaps. As example of this, in 2011 we reviewed patterns of applications and awards relating specifically to men, women or transgender people.That review highlighted differences in the number of applications dealing specifically with men and women.
As a result, we commissioned a study that considers why fewer men seem to engage with social projects and what we and groups can do to engage men in services we fund.
Please contact us for further information.