Accessible information
To request text from this site, or any of our publications, in larger print or on audio tape please contact us by e-mail to publicity@leedsfestivalchorus.co.uk or phone 0113 267 6923.
Equal Opportunities Policy
LFC aspires to offer, to everyone who supports our dedication to performing classical choral music to the highest standards, an equal opportunity to be part of our membership, to work with us, to join our associated groups or to form part of our audience. We have an Equal Opportunities Policy which is reviewed every three years.
Improving Equal Opportunities
Leeds Festival Chorus introduced an Equal Opportunities Policy in 2006. We reviewed it and our practices in 2009. We also looked at other organisations’ policies. Here is a report on what we found and what we are going to do.
The overall scores in the survey were all positive. But many people suggested further improvements.
Most people who replied saw that subscription levels and ticket prices have to reflect the costs of concerts and rehearsing. However, people worried whether individuals on low incomes could always play a full part in our activities.
On subscriptions, people welcomed the free membership for under 26s we introduced. But they remained concerned about those who are unwaged, on low pensions, and workers on contract or seasonal work. We do not want to lose any members through inability to pay the full subscription. So the Committee would like to encourage anyone who has difficulty to discuss their situation with the Treasurer or the Choir Coordinator.
People praised the half price tickets available to unwaged people at most concerts. In 2008 we also achieved ticket concessions for the Ripon concerts. From the December 2009 concert we have provided a £2.50 ticket concession (increased from £1.50) for the over 60s at LFC’s own independent concerts.
The ethnic mix of the chorus remains very limited. This may be linked to the type of music that we perform. We do not envisage radically changing that. However, we are going to explore further a suggestion, made by a member, that we run some events with musicians from other cultures and see what this leads to.
The Committee was grateful for all the suggestions made in the surveys. There were more than we can list here. Though we cannot take all forward, we shall pursue many during 2010 and 2011.
Three special studies also provided useful information. The first study examined access to buildings. LFC is well equipped to provide appropriate adjustments for disabled members and audiences. We have not tried to describe every conceivable eventuality – that would be a waste of time at this stage. But we have a two pronged approach. We believe that accessibility should not be a barrier, and we commit ourselves to work out detailed solutions with individuals and experts when the need arises. So if individual members, or potential members, have specific needs, please talk to us.
The second study examined joining arrangements for members and found these to be working well. We shall promote further the buddy scheme for new members and encourage all existing members to play a role in welcoming and befriending new members so they can participate as fully as they wish in LFC’s activities, both musical and social.
The third study looked at communications. People said that LFC’s written and web material was of a high standard. Even so, we need to make a few changes to help people with visual disabilities easily to get the information they need about us.
We have revised the Equal Opportunities Policy to make it shorter and clearer, and to reflect changes since 2006. The fundamental principles, however, remain valid. A copy of the current Policy is available from here.
Overwhelmingly, the review made positive findings. It praised the quality of work done on Equal Opportunities by Leeds Festival Chorus. To all members, Friends and other supporters who helped our review: thank you for your feedback and for suggesting further improvements to build on three years of successful achievement.
Audience
We perform or promote concerts only in venues which conform to the accessibility requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
We offer concessions to people who are less likely to be able to afford the full price for our concerts - typically for over 60s, under 18s, full-time students, unwaged people and wheelchair users with companions. Contact the relevant box office for details for individual concerts.
We can make printed material we produce available in accessible formats upon request.
Membership
We hold our rehearsals only in venues which conform to the accessibility requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
All people under the age of 26 at the start of our singing year are exempt from paying the annual subscription and there is a concessionary subscription rate for older students. Members finding particular difficulty with subscriptions or other charges can have a confidential discussion with our Treasurer.
When recruiting new members, we use an open and fair procedure based solely on assessing appropriate musical skills. We ask auditionees in advance whether they have any special needs and, if so, do our best to accommodate them - please contact our Choir Co-ordinator.
Previous page: Executive Committee
Next page: Contact us