Equality and Diversity Policy

Bakewell Wool Gathering is a family-run event. We aim to embrace every member of the fibre-craft community. This includes community members who might have in the past felt sidelined or excluded. Here, you can read our Equality and Diversity Policy, which outlines how we work to achieve this aim.

Aims

Bakewell Wool Gathering is open to all members of the craft community. This is regardless of:

  • gender
  • age
  • race
  • sexual orientation
  • disability
  • any other characteristic—whether protected or otherwise.

The only requirement we have is that exhibitors and visitors treat each other with respect.

Accessibility

We aim to be as accessible as possible for all exhibitors and visitors. This includes:

  • Choosing venues which are accessible for people with mobility issues.
  • Laying out the venue so people with mobility issues can access it.
  • Creating enough space for the safe use of mobility devices.
  • Offering free access for carers who are accompanying visitors with disabilities.

In our online presence we follow WCAG. If you experience any problems, please let us know so we can help you and make changes.

Diversity

We recognise that increased diversity in the community benefits the entire community. It brings fresh skills, knowledge, and creativity which is then available to all.

All exhibitors and visitors should feel welcome and accepted, and free from discrimination.

We encourage exhibitor applications from all sections of the community. During the application process, we don’t request personal information about protected characteristics. Nor do we consider this during the selection process. We make selections purely on merit, based on the product information available to us. Our criteria is based on quality, uniqueness, and potential visitor appeal.

If we reject your application and you would like feedback about why, you can request this. Due to volume of requests it might not always be possible to provide this.

We don’t track exhibitor or visitor demographics, so we’re unable to share these.

Inclusion and respect

Every exhibitor at or visitor to Bakewell Wool Gathering should feel equally welcome and included.

Behaviour that is:

  • sexist
  • racist
  • homophobic
  • transphobic
  • otherwise offensive or inflammatory

is not acceptable. It is harassment, and has no place in our event.

Dealing with discrimination and harassment

We will not accept discrimination and harassment. We'll ask any visitor we observe behaving in a way contrary to this policy to leave the event. Exhibitors who display discriminatory behaviour can be excluded from future events arranged by us.

If at any point you are made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or excluded, please contact an organiser for help.

If you have any feedback or comments, you can use our online contact form, or email us directly with your concerns.