Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and Equal Opportunities Policy

1. Policy objectives

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) ensure fair treatment and opportunity for all. It aims to eradicate prejudice and discrimination on the basis of an individual or group of individual's protected characteristics.

The Houghton Trust is an equitable and inclusive organisation. This policy aims to ensure that the Houghton Trust will treat all its employees, officers, committee members, volunteers, and beneficiaries equitably, by focussing on promoting fairness and eliminating discrimination.

2. Definitions

Equality:

• Fairness: ensuring that individuals, or groups of individuals, are not treated less favourably because of their protected characteristics.
• Equality of opportunity: ensuring that those who may be disadvantaged can access the tools they need to obtain the same, fair opportunities as their peers.

Diversity:

• Recognising, respecting and celebrating each other's differences. A diverse environment is one with a wide range of backgrounds and mindsets, which allows for an empowered culture of creativity and innovation.

Inclusion:

• Creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, through becoming more aware of unconscious biases, and learning how to manage them.

Protected characteristics

The following are legal protected characteristics, under The Equality Act 2010:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

Discrimination on the grounds of any of these characteristics is illegal. Discrimination can take many forms including direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, bullying, harassment and victimisation

Scope of Policy

The following individuals are covered by this policy:

• Trustee Directors, employees, officers, and committee members of the Houghton Trust, and consultants.
• Members of the Avian Pathology Advisory Board and Editorial Board.
• Applicants for Houghton Trust grants (research grants and travel grants).

Trustee Directors, Employees, Officers, and Committee Members of the Houghton Trust

Trustee Directors are typically nominated initially from the existing Membership by current Trustee Directors and then formally elected at the next AGM, nominated and seconded by the Membership. New Members and Officers are invited to join by recommendation of existing Trustee Directors and Members and Officers and/or an advertisement to invite applications for membership.

In nominating and appointing new Trustee Directors and Officers, the Committee will consider (1) EDI, and (2) the need to address any gaps in skills and knowledge of the Committee.

Members of the Avian Pathology Advisory Board and Editorial Board

There are six elected members of the Advisory Board, two of whom are usually replaced at each global congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA). New members of the Advisory Board are nominated by the Houghton Trust Committee and ratified by the WVPA Bureau at the WVPA Congress. New members of the Editorial Board are nominated and appointed by the Houghton Trust Committee. In appointing new Advisory Board and Editorial Board members, the Committee will consider (1) EDI and (2) the need to ensure regional representation, including from Africa and Asia.

Our aim is to provide an environment where the individuals listed above (Trustee Directors, Employees, Officers, and Committee Members of the Houghton Trust, and members of the Avian Pathology Advisory Board and Editorial Board) feel:

• Welcome
• Able to represent their sector
• Included in decision making
• Able to participate
• Safe and free from discrimination, bullying, harassment and vilification

Beneficiaries of Houghton Trust grants (research grants and travel grants)

The Houghton Trust offers grants to early career researchers (ECRs) and researchers from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), in the field of avian disease, through awarding competitive international Travel Grants (TG), Small Project Research Grants (SPRG), Researcher Mobility Grants (RMG), and Vacation Studentships (VS).

TG applications are open to researchers of any nationality; RMG applications are open to researchers of any nationality provided that the other partner (either host institution or mobile researcher) is UK-based; SPRG and VS are open only to researchers from UK institutions.

Applications must be received by the Houghton Trust Secretary by the respective application deadlines. Each application is reviewed by a minimum of three members of the Houghton Trust Committee, and the criteria considered during review are:

• Applicant is an ECR (and/or from a LMIC [TG and RMG only]).
• Research topic is relevant to the scope of the Houghton Trust’s publication Avian Pathology journal.
• Application is sufficiently detailed and carefully prepared (and, for SPRG, RMG and VS applications, the proposed work is scientifically sound and objectives achievable in a 1-year timeframe).
• Costs are reasonable.

In making decisions on funding, the Houghton Trust Committee will consider: (1) Overall quality of each application against the assessment criteria, (2) EDI and the desire to fund as diverse a set of applicants as possible within the assigned budget.

Houghton Trust-sponsored lecturers

The Houghton Trust sponsors lectures and presentations at relevant meetings, such as the global and regional WVPA Congresses, meetings of the British Veterinary Poultry Association, and meetings of the British Ornithology Union.

Lecturers for the global and regional WVPA Congresses are nominated by the Houghton Trust Committee and selection is made by the WVPA Bureau.

Presenters at meetings of the British Veterinary Poultry Association and meetings of the British Ornithology Union are nominated by the Houghton Trust Committee and selected by agreement with the meeting organisers.

In nominating and selecting Houghton Trust-sponsored lecturers and presenters, the Committee will consider: (1) Reputation of the nominee and relevance of their research; (2) EDI; and (3) The need to ensure representation from different countries and/or research institutions.

4. Commitment of the Houghton Trust to EDI and Equal Opportunities

We will:

• Not tolerate discrimination, harassment, bullying, or victimisation.
• Identify barriers to participation for under-represented groups and reduce these when possible.
• Provide a welcoming environment by thinking positively about how we can include people rather than focusing on potential barriers to participation.
• Not make assumptions and will try to speak to people about any reasonable adjustments they believe might be made to enable them to participate and discuss how these could be made.
• If reasonable adjustments are required to make an event/activity accessible, we will make those reasonable adjustments.

5. Responsibilities

The Trustee Directors of the Houghton Trust are responsible for implementing and overseeing this policy.

6. Procedure for addressing grievances

• Complaints will be investigated as described in the Houghton Trust Complaints Policy and will be resolved as quickly as possible.
• If a formal complaint is not made, but the Trustee Directors consider an issue to warrant investigation and action, the Committee will appoint an Investigating Officer and independent panel as per the Houghton Trust Complaints Policy.

7. References

• The Houghton Trust Articles of Association
• The Houghton Trust Byelaws
• The Houghton Trust Payment Policy
• The Houghton Trust Grants & Publications Policy
• The Houghton Trust GDPR Policy

8. Review of EDI/Equal Opportunities Policy

• This policy will be reviewed annually at the Houghton Trust Annual General Meeting of the Houghton Trust.
• Any questions about this policy may be addressed to the Secretary sue.baigent@outlook.com
• This Policy was prepared in December 2025.