Equality Scheme Summary and Disability Action Plan

Equality Scheme

Trinity Housing provides housing for the elderly, supported housing for people with special needs and general family housing.

Trinity Housing has been designated as a public authority for the purposes of Section 75.  Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires the Association in carrying out all its functions to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and also to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations.  The relevant categories between which equality of opportunity is to be promoted are:

• Persons of different religious belief;

• Persons of different political;

• Persons of different racial group;

• Persons of different age;

• Persons of different marital status;

• Persons of different sexual orientation;

• Men and women generally;

• Persons with a disability and persons without; and

• Persons with dependants and persons without.

The Equality Scheme sets out Trinity Housing’s commitment to the fulfilment of its Section 75 obligations in all parts of its work.  In its Equality Scheme, the Association gave an undertaking to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) on each policy, or group of related policies, where screening had indicated significant issues in relation to one or more of the nine equality categories.

The Association screened all of its policies during 2004-2005 as part of the Joint Equality Exercise coordinated by the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA).  The results of this exercise, including the proposed EQIA programme, were subject to a 12 week consultation period between July and September 2005.  A 5 year timetable was established to conduct Equality Impact Assessments and Trinity Housing is currently in its third year of this process (please see below for timetable and list of policies subject to EQIA):

5 Year EQIA Timetable 

As part of its duty in fulfilling its obligations under Section 75, the Association submits an Annual Report to the Equality Commission on progress of its Equality Scheme. 

Disability Action Plan

The Association also has obligations under Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Order (DDO) 2006.  The Association submitted its Disability Action Plan to the Equality Commission in June 2007.  This plan has been implemented and is subject to ongoing monitoring. 

Trinity Housing is committed to ensuring that all necessary resources are made available to support the effective promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations in all its policies and practices.

If you would like more information on any of the above or a full copy of our Equality Scheme or Disability Action Plan please contact us at:

Victoria McCullough

Trinity Housing Association

95A Finaghy Road South

Finaghy

Belfast

BT10 0BY

T: 02890 308140

F: 02890 306929

Information can be provided in alternative formats on request – please contact the office for further information.

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