Walkers lead by Karen Williams and Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Cllr. Penny Smith head off with a free MP3 player given by The Active Health team at Epping Forest District Council. The MP3 contains a podcast of the walk and its interesting natural history features, narrated by Tricia Moxey and Karen Williams.
A VISION OF BRITAIN CIC - POLICY STATEMENTS
The objects of A Vision of Britain CIC are to organise activities which benefit the community and in particular to encouraging people to achieve improved physical and mental wellbeing by exploring and engaging with their local environment through art, photography, multi-media and the direct observation of the natural world.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Environmental management within A Vision of Britain CIC is operated in conjunction with our Quality Assurance procedures.
A Vision of Britain CIC does not directly operate in industries where there is a potential for serious industrial pollution. During the manufacturing of our main products, CD’s, DVD’s and photographs, we do things that have an impact on the environment in a number of ways, typically with the creation and need for disposal of waste materials and packaging. In our offices we have a lower impact on the environment.
A Vision of Britain CIC is committed to continual improvement of its environmental performance, including regulatory compliance, prevention of pollution and effective resource management and achieves this by setting clear environmental objectives and regularly monitoring progress against them by the implementation of environmental management programs, audits and reviews.
In particular, A Vision of Britain CIC will:
• Consider the efficient use of energy, water and raw materials, the sustainable use of renewable resources and the reduction of adverse environmental impacts so far as is reasonably practicable.
• Contribute to the conservation and protection of the natural and built environment wherever possible in the course of our work.
• Wherever reasonably practicable, adopt pollution-reducing technologies, processes and practices, employing environmentally sound waste management techniques such as source reduction and improved specification, re-use, re-cycling and safe disposal.
• Ensure that we comply with all relevant European, National International, TUV and local environmental regulations, working closely and positively with the regulatory agencies and other interested parties as appropriate.
• Identify areas of particular environmental risk and, in co-operation with our Suppliers, Contractors, Distributors and Dealers, the relevant external agencies and local community to prepare measures to mitigate those risks and respond to any emergency.
• Regularly measure key aspects of our environmental performance.
• Have particular regard to this policy in the procurement, operation, maintenance and disposal of our vehicles, machinery and other plant.
• Promote environmental awareness among all our staff and encourage their involvement and suggestions regarding environmental performance.
• Provide staff with appropriate levels of environmental training, through staff induction procedures and environmental awareness training, in order to create an environmentally aware workforce with an interest in environmental issues and performance.
• Expect our business partners, sub-contractors and suppliers to share our concern for the environment and to work with us in identifying and applying best practice.
• Influence the environmental performance of our business partners, subcontractors and suppliers by working with them to achieve the same environmental standards as ours, and to exchange environmental concerns to our mutual benefits.
Responsibilities
Responsibility for implementation of this policy and the necessary resource allocation rests with the Managing Director supported by the other Directors and Senior Management. Further responsibilities are designated to onsite Supervisors, who are trained to assess environmental risks and issues.
Communication and Review of the Environmental Policy
The latest revision of this policy will be displayed on notice boards or otherwise brought to the attention of all employees. It will also be brought to the attention of other stakeholders, including business partners, contractors and suppliers.
This policy is revised from time to time to reflect operational needs, regulatory issues, and to accommodate constructive input from members of our staff.
Tricia Moxey
Managing Director
21st May 2009
Review Date: 21st May 2010
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY - PART 2
A Vision of Britain CIC is committed to the protection and enhancement of the environment. It is the Policy of the Company to improve the environmental performance of its operations/activities.
It is the objective of the Company to:
• Continually strive for improvement in its environmental performance.
• Proactively pursue the minimisation of environmental impacts associated with its operations/ activities.
• Endeavour to eliminate the production of polluting emissions into the environment.
• Take proactive measures to protect and preserve wildlife / flora and their natural habitats
• Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and codes of practice pertinent to its
operations/activities. In the absence of such legislation/regulation/codes, appropriate standards shall be developed/applied.
• Set objectives and targets and review and revise them regularly with the aim of continual im provement in environmental performance.
• Appropriate employee training and instruction in sound environmental practice.
• A Vision of Britain CIC shall participate in open consultation with interested stakeholders.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
A Vision of Britain CIC is committed to achieving Equal Opportunities and, by actively promoting equal opportunities, to encouraging and assisting all employees to develop their potential to the full.
It is the policy of A Vision of Britain CIC:
To ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, ethnic or national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability and that all employees are treated with dignity and respect at work.
To review regularly all relevant Company policies to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted, trained and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities.
To ensure that the attention of all those responsible for recruitment, selection, training, grievance, disciplinary or dismissal procedures is drawn to this policy.
To communicate to and educate all employees in respect of their own responsibilities and the Company’s commitment towards the promotion of equal opportunity and equality for all employees.
To ensure that all third parties, be they potential employees, customers, subcontractors, suppliers or members of the public are afforded respect and dignity.
To remove barriers to the achievement of genuine equal opportunities wherever they are found.
It is recognised that primary responsibility rests with the Company but every employee must also respect and act in accordance with this policy to prevent discrimination and promote equality. In particular, no employee shall commit any direct or indirect acts of harassment or discrimination against another worker on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, race or religion. Such behaviour may include, but is not limited to, unwanted or unnecessary physical contact, words, writing or pictures; isolation or non-cooperation, coercion or intrusion by pestering or spying; treatment of someone less favourably or application of a particular policy or procedure that may have the effect of placing at a disadvantage any person due to their sex, race, religion, sexual orientation or medical condition.
In the event that any employee believes that they have been subjected to any treatment that represents a breach of this policy, they should report the complaint to their manager in the first instance. The matter will be investigated using the company’s formal grievance procedure.
The person with overall responsibility for the implementation and regular review of this Policy is the Chief Executive.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
A Vision of Britain CIC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the health and safety of its employees, contractors’ employees and of all those, including members of the public, who may be affected by our work.
The Company recognises the importance of discharging all its statutory obligations and duties, placing health and safety as a priority above other business objectives.
The minimum health and safety standards acceptable to us are those required by relevant legislation and authoritative guidance. All reasonably practicable steps will be taken to meet and enhance these requirements.
The Board of Directors of A Vision of Britain CIC fully endorse this Policy. They will ensure that a documented Health & Safety Management System (SMS) is maintained, containing the arrangements and organisational details of how these requirements will be achieved. The Board will ensure that the SMS is periodically reviewed to ensure it remains legally compliant, achievable, relevant and credible.
The SMS is based upon established and published good practice and describes how the Company:
• Implements its policy on Health & Safety (and consequent environment issues)
• Identifies, assesses and controls risk
• Plans safety into its operations
• Checks operations and implements any necessary corrective actions
• Provides adequate resources
• Sets goals and targets
• Involves the workforce
• Implements and operates systems and procedures
• Investigates adverse incidents and draws up preventative actions
• Ensures the Management System is complied with
Continual improvement will be achieved by effective implementation of the above. Everyone working for A Vision of Britain CIC is required to support and promote this Policy and comply with the requirements and duties contained in the SMS.