Code of Ethics and Conduct

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Including our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Organisation: Disability Connect Mentoring Limited (trading as Disability Connect), company number 13268728
Policy owner: Steven Jones, Director
Approved by: Board of directors on 17th October 2026
Version: 1.0
Next review: October 2027

This code sets out the values that guide Disability Connect and the behaviour we expect from everyone involved in our work: directors, staff, volunteers, contractors, mentors, mentees and partners. Everyone agrees to it before they start working with us.

• Lived experience is expertise: Disabled people are the experts in their own lives. We pay mentors for their expertise and act on what they tell us.
• Nothing about us without us: Disabled people shape our work, from design to delivery and review.
• The social model of disability: People are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairments. Our work removes those barriers.
• Respect: We treat everyone with dignity and courtesy.
• Integrity: We are honest, keep our promises and use money responsibly.
• Openness: We share what we learn, including what does not work.

Because we sometimes receive public money, we follow the Seven Principles of Public Life, also known as the Nolan Principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

We are committed to equality for everyone. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment or victimisation because of any of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also take account of other disadvantages, such as caring responsibilities and where people live.

In practice, we:

• make reasonable adjustments so everyone can take part, and fund them in our projects
• provide information in accessible formats, including Easy Read and large print, and use captions in online sessions
• design our recruitment, training and materials with disabled people
• pay mentors fairly and promptly, and support them to check that payments do not affect their benefits
• never ask anyone to share more about their disability or health than they choose to
• collect equality information only with consent, and use it to check we are reaching and supporting people fairly

Treating people with respect

• Be respectful and inclusive in what you say and write, online and in person.
• Do not bully, harass or discriminate against anyone. This includes sexual harassment, which we will not tolerate. As an employer, we take all reasonable steps to prevent it.
• Challenge or report behaviour that falls short of this code.

• Keep mentoring relationships professional. Do not start a romantic or sexual relationship with someone you are mentoring, or who is mentoring you.
• Do not lend or borrow money, sell things to each other, or give or accept gifts worth more than £25.
• Mentors are not counsellors, or advisers on benefits, legal or medical matters. Help people find the right support instead.

• Keep what is shared confidential, unless there is a safeguarding concern or the law requires otherwise.
• Do not share information about a mentee’s organisation outside the mentoring relationship without permission.
• Follow our Data Protection Policy.

• Use the platforms we approve for sessions, and do not record a session without everyone’s agreement.
• Do not post about people you meet through our work, or their organisations, without their permission.
• Do not speak for Disability Connect on social media or to the press unless we have agreed it.

• Be honest in all records, timesheets and claims.
• Declare any conflict of interest, and follow our Fraud, Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy.
• Use Disability Connect money, equipment and information only for our work.

• If you are unhappy with how you have been treated, tell us at info@disabilityconnect.org.uk. We will acknowledge your complaint within five working days.
• If you are worried about someone’s safety, follow our Safeguarding Adults Policy.
• If you are concerned about wrongdoing, use our Whistleblowing Policy.

Breaking this code may lead to a mentoring relationship being paused or ended, disciplinary action, or the end of someone’s involvement with us.

• Safeguarding Adults Policy (available online)
• Privacy Statement (available online)
• Data Protection Policy (available on request)
• Whistleblowing Policy (available online)
• Fraud, Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy (available online)
• Conflicts of Interest Policy (available on request)

The board reviews this code every year, and we ask mentors for their views when we do.

This document is available in other formats, including Easy Read and large print. 

Contact info@disabilityconnect.org.uk.