Charity trustees are reminded that most of the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 came into force on 1 October. Charities are allowed some exemptions from the provisions of the Act as regards discriminatory treatment: they can restrict the people to whom they provide services, but such restrictions must be contained in the charity’s constitutional documents and also the restrictions must provide help relating to disadvantages that particularly affect someone with a ‘protected characteristic’ or represent a fair, balanced and reasonable way of achieving a legitimate aim.
Click here to see guidance from the Charity Commission on this topic.