It is the policy of the NBH to treat all employees, members, and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, disability or union membership status.

It is a condition of membership of the NBH that members do not allow their views on clients’ sex, age, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital, social or economic status, lifestyle, culture, political or religious beliefs to affect the way they treat their clients.

Furthermore the NBH will ensure that no requirement or condition will be imposed without justification which could disadvantage individuals purely on any of the above grounds.

The policy applies to application for membership of the NBH, to the support provided to members and to the manner in which members treat their clients.

The NBH will regularly review its procedures and membership criteria to ensure that individuals are accepted and otherwise treated according to their relevant individual abilities and merits.

The NBH is committed to the implementation of this policy and to a programme of action to ensure that the policy is, and continues to be, fully effective. The overall responsibility for the policy lies with the Legal Officer, however, all committee members, staff and NBH members are required to comply with the policy and to act in accordance with its objectives so as to remove any barriers to equal opportunity.

Any act of discrimination by committee members, employees or NBH members or any failure to comply with the terms of the policy will result in disciplinary action.