MSP seeks to be an organisation that is inclusive, we value diversity and seek to create a culture where our team and the people using our services can flourish free from all forms of discrimination. We acknowledge that our organisation is not as representative of our local communities that we need it to be, and we strive to improve this. We want to develop a diverse range of skills and experiences through our staff team, volunteers and trustee board.

MSP is committed to reflecting and responding to the diversity of the communities of Middlesbrough.

We take an intersectional approach, which recognises that people from multiple marginalised groups may experience more than one form or discrimination, and that factors such as gender, class, ethnicity, disability status, religion, and age can all impact, adding multiple layers to individual experiences.

MSP is committed to being an anti-racist organisation. We acknowledge that racism exists, is insidious, extremely harmful and can intersect with other forms of oppression, creating additional layers of trauma for survivors of Violence Against Women and Girls.

We recognise that racism manifests in different ways, and we understand that it is present within systems and structures and that as individuals we can perpetuate racism. Being anti-racist means that we will proactively do everything that we can to acknowledge the impacts of racism, that we will educate ourselves and be actively aware to recognising and calling it out when and where it manifests. We will work to address power imbalances and to promote equity.

As part of our commitment to anti-oppressive practice we will be further developing an anti-racism policy, anti-racism strategy and putting in place training for the whole of our team. We will be held accountable for this work to our board of trustees, with our Chair of Trustees and CEO leading on this work.