1. Purpose of this Code

Pride in Ely CIO (hereafter referred to as Ely Pride) exists to promote equality, diversity, acceptance, support, education, and inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people in Ely and the surrounding area.

This Code of Conduct supports Ely Pride’s charitable aims, including the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, the provision of support for LGBTQIA+ people, the advancement of public understanding, the organisation of LGBTQIA+ Community Spaces, and the delivery of inclusive Events.

Ely Pride’s first responsibility is to the safety, dignity, wellbeing, and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people. Public access to Ely Pride spaces and Events intended for general attendance is welcome where it is consistent with that purpose.

This Code applies to all Ely Pride Events, Meetings, Activities, Groups, Online Spaces, Public Communications, and associated spaces.

It may also apply to conduct occurring outside Ely Pride-operated spaces where that conduct reasonably affects Ely Pride, its community, its representatives, its charitable aims, safeguarding responsibilities, or the safety, dignity, wellbeing, or inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people.

This includes, but is not limited to, publicly visible social media activity, public statements, public online profiles, public comments, messages, recordings, or other publicly accessible communications.

This Code applies to Attendees, Members, Trustees, Committee Members, Volunteers, Organisers, Performers, Stallholders, Contractors, Partners, Sponsors, Service Users, and anyone acting on behalf of, participating in, or otherwise connected to Ely Pride.

2. Our Commitment

Ely Pride is committed to providing safe, welcoming, and respectful spaces for LGBTQIA+ people.

Ely Pride does not seek to regulate private beliefs, private thoughts, or lawful personal opinions held in private.

However, public behaviour, statements, communications, or actions that harm, harass, intimidate, degrade, exclude, or promote hostility toward LGBTQIA+ people may be dealt with under this Code.

Action under this Code must be based on conduct, communication, behaviour, or evidence that can reasonably be considered by Ely Pride.

3. Respect and Inclusion

Everyone involved with Ely Pride is expected to treat others with dignity, courtesy, and respect.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Using people’s stated names and pronouns

• Respecting gender identity and gender expression

• Respecting sexual orientation and relationship identity

• Allowing people to participate without hostility, intimidation, ridicule, or judgement

Repeated, deliberate, or targeted misgendering, deadnaming, or disrespect will be treated as a breach of this Code.

4. Unacceptable Conduct

Ely Pride has zero tolerance for behaviour that is discriminatory, abusive, harassing, intimidating, degrading, or unsafe. This includes but is not limited to: homophobic, biphobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory conduct, hate speech, slurs, abusive language, harassment, threats, intimidation, disruptive behaviour, hostile online conduct, harmful stereotypes about LGBTQIA+ people, or behaviour creating a hostile or unsafe environment.

5. Public Conduct and Evidence

Ely Pride may take into account public behaviour, online conduct, written statements, social media posts, public comments, witness accounts, screenshots, recordings, or other evidence where that material reasonably indicates conduct that may breach this Code.

Ely Pride will not act on private belief alone.

6. Trustees, Committee Members, Volunteers, and Representatives

Trustees, Committee Members, Volunteers, Organisers, Moderators, Spokespeople, and others acting in a Representative capacity hold a position of trust.

Public conduct, statements, communications or behaviour by these Representatives which may result in action where it:

• Conflicts with Ely Pride’s charitable aims or Code of Conduct

• Undermines the safety or inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people

• Damages trust

• Creates safeguarding concerns

• Brings Ely Pride into disrepute

Such matters may be investigated by the Trustees, who may take any lawful, reasonable, and proportionate action available under this Code, the governing document, and any other relevant policy or procedure.

7. Authority and Trustee Procedures

This Code of Conduct forms part of the conditions of participation in Ely Pride Events, Activities, Groups, Meetings, Online Spaces, Volunteer roles, Committee roles, and associated Activities.

This Code is sufficient authority for Ely Pride to issue warnings, refuse entry, remove individuals from Events or Groups, suspend participation, end Volunteer involvement, remove Committee Members from committee positions, restrict access to services or activities, refuse future involvement, or take other reasonable and proportionate action in response to breaches of this Code.

This Code also applies to Trustees. However, because Trustees are formally appointed office holders with separate legal duties and governance responsibilities, any action relating to the appointment, suspension, removal, resignation, disqualification, or governance status of a Trustee will be handled in accordance with Ely Pride’s governing documents, charity law requirements, and any applicable Trustee procedures.

Nothing in this Code limits Ely Pride’s ability to take immediate safeguarding or operational action in relation to a Trustee where necessary to protect Attendees, Volunteers, Beneficiaries, Events, Services, or The Organisation itself.

8. LGBTQIA+ Community Spaces

Some Ely Pride Events, Meetings, Support Groups, Activities, or Spaces may be limited to LGBTQIA+ people, or to particular groups within LGBTQIA+ communities, where this is necessary to support wellbeing, safeguarding, privacy, dignity, confidence, or community inclusion.

9. Enforcement

Ely Pride Trustees may take action in response to a breach or suspected breach of this Code of Conduct. All other named associated persons or organisations should seek remedy for breach of The Code of Conduct by directly contacting Ely Pride.

Ely Pride may temporarily or permanently delegate some or all enforcement responsibilities under this Code as it sees fit, including, but not limited to:

Designated Event Leads

Safeguarding Leads

Volunteer Coordinators

Venue Management

Contracted security providers acting on behalf of Ely Pride.

Action may include warnings, refusal of entry, removal from Events or Groups, suspension, removal from roles, refusal of future involvement, or referral to venue security, safeguarding leads, or relevant authorities.

Serious breaches may result in immediate removal without prior warning.

10. Evidence and Records

Ely Pride may gather and retain information relevant to the consideration of alleged breaches of this Code of Conduct in order to support fair, reasonable, proportionate, and informed decision making.

This may include, where appropriate:

• Written incident reports

• Witness accounts

• Screenshots or copies of public online content

• Messages or communications sent to Ely Pride or its representatives

• Photographs, recordings, or publicly available material

• Venue, security, safeguarding, or organiser reports

   

Ely Pride is not required to apply criminal or court standards of evidence when considering action under this Code. Decisions may be made on the basis of reasonable belief, safeguarding concerns, risk assessment, patterns of behaviour, witness evidence, publicly available information, or other relevant material available to Ely Pride at the time.

Evidence gathering and record keeping should be undertaken lawfully, proportionately, and with regard to safeguarding, privacy, confidentiality, and the wellbeing of those involved.

No person acting on behalf of Ely Pride is expected to place themselves at risk of harm, intimidation, abuse, or unsafe confrontation for the purpose of collecting evidence or enforcing this Code.

Ely Pride may retain records relating to breaches of this Code where reasonably necessary for safeguarding, governance, operational, legal, insurance, or organisational purposes.

11. Acceptance of this Code

By attending, volunteering, performing, trading, partnering, serving, representing, engaging with, or participating in Ely Pride Events, Meetings, Groups, Online Spaces or any other activities run by or on behalf of Ely Pride, Individuals, Businesses, Organisations or any other entities agree to follow this Code of Conduct and accept that Ely Pride may take action under it where appropriate.