KSO’s diversity, equality and inclusion policy
The trustees of Kensington Symphony Orchestra (“KSO”) are committed to encouraging diversity, equality and inclusion and to creating a safe environment where all KSO members, “extra” musicians, audiences and other people with whom KSO works are included and treated with dignity and respect.
1. Purposes
The purposes of this policy are to:
1.1 apply inclusive practices and considerations to the development and delivery of artistic programmes offered by KSO to the public;
1.2 promote diversity and a supportive and inclusive KSO culture;
1.3 provide for equality, fairness and respect for KSO members, “extra” musicians and others with whom KSO works; and
1.4 avoid unlawful discrimination on the basis of all protected characteristics as defined in the Equality Act 2010, i.e. age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, gender, sex and sexual orientation.
2. Definitions
Diversity is the range of human differences and the inclusion of people with different characteristics and individual traits. This includes protected characteristics as defined in the Equality Act 2010, as well as socio-economic status and different perspectives and life experiences.
Equality is ensuring that individuals and groups are not treated more, or less, favourably on the basis of their specific protected characteristics.
Inclusion is involving and valuing human differences and viewing such differences as strengths so that individuals feel valued, respected and supported.
3. Policies
3.1 Trustees, and anyone to whom they delegate tasks and responsibilities, such as repertoire planning and marketing, will integrate consideration of diversity and inclusion into artistic planning, public-facing materials and internal communications.
3.2 Trustees will promote diversity and inclusion, demonstrating leadership and proactivity as far as they are able to in the context of their volunteer roles, and will seek to include diverse inputs, to the extent that this is relevant, from internal and external sources in decision-making. This will include asking for and taking into account the views of all KSO players, including and especially those who experience minoritisation in the classical music sector, as far as is practicable. Views expressed by audience members will also be taken into account.
3.3 The risk of bias in selection processes will be mitigated and removed to the greatest extent possible, in line with current best practice.
3.4 The trustees are the guardians of these policies. All participants in KSO, in whatever capacity, expect that the orchestra’s rehearsals and concerts will be a safe and inclusive space for everyone. This includes any communications by anyone representing the orchestra or participating in its activities, in any manner. The trustees will rigorously uphold this shared expectation and will investigate all reports of discriminatory language or behaviour promptly, taking appropriate action where this is found, after investigation, to be necessary. Anyone engaging with KSO, in any capacity, who experiences such behaviour, or has concerns around this, should refer to section 6 below.
4. Communication
This policy will be communicated to KSO members and is available on KSO’s website.
5. Review
The board of trustees will review this policy annually and make changes as required. They will deliver a verbal update on any actions taken and progress made at each AGM.
6. Making trustees aware of any breach of this policy
If you have experienced discrimination as a player or audience member, or have any feedback on this policy or on diversity, equality and inclusion at KSO, we would like to hear from you, so that we can continuously improve and can investigate all reported incidents appropriately. Please contact trustees@kso.org.uk.
If you need to report an incident, the chair of trustees, or an appropriate person delegated by the chair of trustees, will, as quickly as is practicably possible, investigate your experience, recommend any actions that should be taken and inform you of the outcome in writing. If your comment relates to a trustee, please use the same channel.
• Adopted on 6 April 2023