Policies

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Policy 

Our Aims:

Through our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, our aim in Suffolk is simple - to ensure that any child or young person in our region has the opportunity to make music, either by themselves or with others. Further to this, we aim to continue to build and develop a musical culture where all participants are supported and celebrated for their individuality and where our Hub offer provides the progression routes that match the needs of our varied and diverse social demographic.

It is through providing this network that we expect to not only achieve significant musical development and lifelong love of learning in our children and young people, but also promote social and emotional wellbeing.

We value diversity and actively promote equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work. We want children and young adults from under-represented groups and with a protected characteristic to see learning through the Suffolk Music Hub as a rewarding, inclusive, progressive, and worthwhile experience.

How we plan to achieve this:

• We will continue to ensure that the musical learning we provide reflects diverse cultures and communities, both in the actual music used and in the variety of methodologies used in teaching, learning, and performing.
• We will be more proactive about celebrating the diversity of the music, composers and methodologies used, including in performance situations.
• We will avoid stereotypes that suggest limits to what a young person can achieve, and that music being taught, learned and performed shows respectful understanding of its cultural background and context.
• We will treat everyone with dignity and respect and foster an inclusive and trusting culture.
• We will recognise, respect and listen to the varied needs of our communities, students & staff and provide different solutions for different needs and requirements.  
• We will value and encouraging better understanding of people's differences and things we have in common whilst challenging prejudice and discrimination.  

We commit to:

• collecting and monitoring information and data to support our understanding of how barriers and perception influence people’s access and/or engagement with Suffolk Music Hub

• become more aware of the challenges and difficulties faced by young people  

• train staff every year to be aware of and avoid any prejudice around a truly equitable, diverse, and inclusive approach to our work, and from making assumptions based on ‘common understandings’ that may create barriers  

• make clear that any form of prejudice, bias, or hate speech towards anyone has no place in Suffolk Music Hub.

Our goal is to make Suffolk County Music Service an organisation where all staff and students feel able to bring their full selves to our activities every single day and where our Suffolk communities are both represented and understood - enabling us to deliver the most highly effective service to our communities, in a well-informed manner.

Education is key, and by learning from one another we can truly become the best Hub that we can be.

Our full Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, updated in 2022, will be hosted here shortly. If you would like to speak to anyone about this, please contact any member of the Senior Leadership Team at the County Music Service at county.musicservice@suffolk.gov.uk

You can find our full EDI Strategy here

Safeguarding and Anti Bullying Policies

Safeguarding, anti-bullying and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

You can find our full safeguarding and anti-bullying policies on our safeguarding page