We are committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion within our venue, and creating an environment free from discrimination.

In order to provide a safer space for all we commit to the following:

• We will operate a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for harassment or discrimination of any kind.

• This means we do not tolerate any kind of discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, ancestry, place of origin, race, citizenship, religion/spirituality, age, marital status, family status, HIV status.

• We will encourage our customers to report any incident that makes them feel uncomfortable and work with them to ensure their complaint is resolved.

• We commit to training our staff on how to approach disclosures with urgency and compassion, making sure that the incident is reported appropriately. 

• We commit to offering a diverse program of events. We will actively engage with our queer community to collaborate on events which centre and benefit marginalised groups.

• We aim to ensure our venue is a space where these groups can feel safe and emboldened to be themselves without fear.

• We promise to listen and engage with our customers, staff and community, to ensure that we continue to learn and grow. As such this document is a guideline that can be subject to review.

In cases of marginalised and oppressed groups including but not limited to the LGBTQ+ community, disabled people, and people of colour, we aim to recognise our individual and systemic privileges which can make us complicit in engaging in discrimination (for example exhibiting implicit bias) in order to better respond to reported incidents.

In order to combat this we will commit to educating ourselves, holding ourselves accountable and remaining responsive to criticism. Friends of the Joiners Arms encourages everyone to speak out about all incidents of discrimination, harassment or bullying at our events and within our venue. We aim to promote safer avenues for incidents to be reported so that the affected people/s can do so without compromising their own safety.

We are committed to responding immediately to incidents of discrimination and working collaboratively to meet the needs of the person or group of people that have experienced the incident and advising the best course of action.

Creating a safer space is about cultivating a culture of respect in order to fortify a safe and  fun environment. This means that as well as our own policy and procedure we want to offer our customers clear outlines for how we can all commit to best practice in order to look out for each other. Always tell staff if you are concerned about someone.

It is everyone’s responsibility to get consent if they want to engage in any activity with another person. Sexual activity also requires consent. If you do not get consent, you are at risk of doing something the other person doesn’t want you to do. You might disrespect and hurt someone. You need to get consent for any sexual activity or intimate contact – not just sexual intercourse. This includes kissing and touching. Grabbing someone’s breasts, genitals or buttocks is sexual assault, so is making someone touch you. Any form of sexual activity with another person without her/ his/ their consent is sexual assault.

• Check for enthusiastic consent before dancing with someone.

• When someone says 'no' to dance with you, you accept their 'no' immediately, say 'ok, thanks', and move on.

• Note that consent is context specific: Yes to dancing is a yes to dancing, not to anything else. You need to ask again if you want something else with no expectations.

• Respect the physical, mental and emotional boundaries of others – ask for consent before engaging in any form of intimate physical contact.

• Avoid making assumptions about the identity, experiences and/or histories of other people.

• Keep in mind that intoxicated people are not always able to give consent. In the same way that bar staff are trained to not give alcohol to intoxicated people, you too can be aware of the impact of alcohol by keeping a look out for signs of intoxication and/or alcohol poisoning.

• Respect yourself.

• Respect other people: their bodies, their dance moves, their clothes, their choice and their right to privacy.

• Respect the physical space: help keep it clean, watch where you put your things, clean up after yourself.

• Respect the bar staff and security staff.

• Sex-positivity

• Please recognise that consent and boundaries are important, please respect your own and others.

• Joiners Heart will not tolerate any fat shaming, slut shaming or sex negative behaviors.

• Not all disabilities are visible, please do not question/invalidate an individual's request for access support/reasonable adjustments

• Please drink responsibly and know your own limits. Know that “‘I’m drunk/I was drunk” is no excuse for violating any safe space guidelines.

• We want to foster a culture of responsibility. If you notice someone is quite drunk and not doing well, please let staff know so they can help.

• Ask for help when you need it.

• Speak up if someone hurts you or makes you uncomfortable.

• Be open to feedback about your behaviours. We are dedicated to being open to feedback about our events and our values.

• Be sensitive to and aware of other people’s boundaries and comfort levels.

• Be mindful and respectful of what an accountability process may look like. We reserve the right to handle situations in ways that fit and honour our guidelines and values.

• We will always commit to work towards building knowledge and reducing harms internally as well as externally. We will make sure that we work towards collective accountability as well as ensure that our events, our hosts, and our organisation is continuously learning and engaging in measures that will build our internal knowledge, training and resources as well as knowledge, training and resources of any partners and collaborations.

• Show appreciation that the performer is an artist sharing their experiences with you.

• Do not touch the DJs or artists equipment.

• Please refrain from negative behaviours directed towards the performers, DJs and artists.

• Do not touch performers unless they have explicitly asked you / consented to being touched. Performers will do the same in explicitly asking for your consent before touching you.

• Show appreciation for your bartender by being polite.

• Do not touch the bartender’s equipment, go behind the bar or behind the DJ booth.

• Please refrain from engaging in any negative behaviour directed towards the staff, as they are our hosts for the evening.

• Please respect the space you’re in and be respectful towards the staff.

• Let the staff do their jobs.

Physical

• Unnecessary touching, gestures or assault

• Any form of violence, fighting, spitting etc.

Verbal

• Unwelcome remarks

• Intimate/personal questions, suggestions and propositions

• Threats

• Abuse or name-calling

• Malicious gossip

• ‘Jokes’ or ridicule base on personal characteristics

Non-Verbal

• Offensive literature or pictures

• Flags or emblems

• Graffiti

• Letters, notes, emails and texts

Customers will be able to approach any member of staff to report a concern or complaint.

The staff member will be able to discreetly connect them with the safer spaces representative of that night, who will usually be the General Manager or Assistant General Manager.

The Safer Spaces Representative will then utilise training to help resolve the issue as best they can.

Customers will be invited to a quiet private space (most often the back storage room, outside the back exit of the venue, but they will check with you to see where you feel most comfortable) to report the incident. If required, the customer can be supported by a friend or request another member of staff to sit in with them. (This may be required if the gender of the safer spaces representative is a barrier to the customer feeling safe.)

Customers should be offered water or a fizzy drink, to aid with potential shock and make them feel more comfortable.

The customer will have the opportunity to confidentially report the incident.

Upholding our zero-tolerance policy means any incidents reporting harassment or discrimination will result in immediate ejection of the perpetrator from the premises, as a minimum.

Police may be called depending on the severity of the incident and/or the discretion of the afflicted party.

Once the perpetrator has been removed, the customer will be asked if they need anything else. They can either return to their night or have staff assist in getting them home by calling them a cab. We endeavour to avoid face to face confrontation between the affected party and the perpetrator.

All complaints against staff, performers and promoters will be taken seriously and investigated. Where relevant, the disciplinary policy will be followed. 

Alternatively customers can report concerns via the email: friendsjoinersarms@gmail.com

This is a confidential email straight to the venue Management Committee.

We will aim to reply to complaints received to this email as soon as possible however initial response can take up to one week.

We will then ask if you would like to discuss further action in person, via zoom or in another agreed safe location.