Our Policies
At Lyra we strive to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for every child, young person and adult that interacts with our work. We believe that everyone should be included, represented and treated with dignity and respect.
Our commitment to equity, equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do and we recognise that this requires us to be proactive, sensitive, courageous and open.
We acknowledge the multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination that exist in all aspects of our society, and those which are specific to the young audiences and youth arts sector. We recognise the part we have to play in challenging the status quo and reducing the risk that our actions contribute to, or perpetuate, harm, bias and inequality. Creating a truly inclusive and diverse culture in our organisation is an ongoing process and we know we have a long way to go. As an organisation working with and for children and young people, we take this responsibility especially seriously.
We’re committed to frequent review and examination of our practice. Our policies and action plans are live documents that will change as we learn and develop.
Anti-Racism
Lyra is committed to being/becoming an anti-racist organisation
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We uphold that an anti-racist approach is imperative to delivering work that nurtures and supports young audiences and those who work with them. We acknowledge that racism intersects with other forms of discrimination and recognise that developing an anti-racist approach means tackling all forms of oppression and injustice.
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We have been part of a small working group to tackle racism in the sector, as part of the Young Audiences Group (YAG), a collective of arts organisations and individuals in Scotland making work with and for children and young people. Collectively, we have created a set of anti-racist commitments.
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We know that we won’t always get things right and welcome feedback and ways to improve. If you’d like to get in touch with us, please do:
Anna Plasberg-Hill, Engagement Producer - Anti-Racism Champion (anna@lyra.co.uk)
Child Protection & Safeguarding
Lyra is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children working with the company. Lyra recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation. All staff (including freelance employees and volunteers) will work together to encourage the development of an ethos embracing diversity and respecting the rights of children.
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Download Lyra's Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy Statement
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If you’d like to get in touch with us, please do:
Anna Plasberg-Hill, Engagement Producer - Designated Child Protection Officer (anna@lyra.co.uk)
Natalia Barua, Engagement Artist - Designated Child Protection Officer (natalia@lyra.co.uk)
Complaints
Lyra recognises that participants, parents/carers and/or volunteers have the right to make a complaint about any matter related to their involvement with Lyra. This could be in relation to another participant, a volunteer, a member of the paid staff, or the manner in which they are being treated by Lyra. In addition, any other person is entitled to make a complaint about the organisation.
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If you wish to make a complaint please follow our Complaints Procedure
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Environmental Sustainability
Lyra is committed to continually improve and monitor our environmental impacts.
We aim to reduce our environmental impact in our everyday operational practice and to incorporate environmental factors in our business decisions and at strategic planning levels.
We will lead by example, encouraging associates, customers and suppliers to do the same. We wholly support and comply with, or indeed exceed, the requirements of current environmental legislation and codes of practice:
Goals
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Reduce, reuse and recycle the waste produced by our operations
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Increase energy efficiency
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Make sustainable travel choices
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Purchase products and services that do the least damage to the environment, where possible, and encourage others to do the same.
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Risk-assess environmental impact of any new processes in advance of introduction and build in an environmental check to project planning
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Embed environmental approaches into our company workings and ethos
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Reduce the carbon footprint of the organisation
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Appoint a Board Director with overall responsibility for the compliance of our environmental policy
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Appoint a staff member with overall responsibility for the implementation of our environmental policy
We are members of the Green Arts Initiative.
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If you’d like to get in touch with us, please do:
James Preston, Executive Producer - Environmental Sustainability Champion (james@lyra.co.uk)
Fair Work
Lyra is committed to the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First policy. We are striving to be an organisation which sees employees engaged in what we do, supported through training and development opportunities, and we promote positive approaches to make Lyra a flexible and dynamic place to work.
