Policies and other key documents
On this page you can find all the key documents that govern Intercom's work. If you have any questions about any of them, please contact us. They are all in PDF format, which can be read using the free software called Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download Acrobat Reader.
These documents are all copyright The Intercom Trust If you are intending to make multiple copies of any of these documents please check our Terms and Conditions of use in advance of making any download.
Our public information resources (helpsheets, factsheets, etc.) are available through our main Resources page.
Intercom is a charitable Trust, whose purpose and operations are governed by a Deed of Trust, which is our Constitution. The current Constitution was adopted in July 2007.
(The only substantive difference from the previous version dated 2004 is in clause 3, where the second Object, on Human Rights, is now worded in terms that correspond to current Charity Commission best practice).
Mission Statement
Our Mission Statement is "To work to build a South West where lesbian gay bisexual and trans people can live and work among our neighbours without prejudice and without fear."
Motto
Our motto is "Making Links". Intercom's well-known logo of two lynxes imposed on the map of the South West peninsula is a pun on the word "Links" in this motto. We hope and think that this image is widely recognised as a guarantee of high quality service, and as a badge of an LGB/T-led organisation which is committed to being inclusive and serving the whole community across the peninsula.
Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy
Intercom is committed to combating all forms of discrimination and promoting equality across all the diversity strands. Intercom functions as an LGB/T community charity under section 18 of the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007.1263).
Although the Human Rights Act 1998 applies in the first instance to public authorities, not to charities, Intercom strives to take a human-rights-based approach to all our work, and places human rights at the centre of our operations and our policy-making.
Confidentiality is at the heart of all our work. Everyone, whether lesbian gay bisexual or straight, and whether transgendered or not transgendered, has a right to make their own choices about when, where and how far to disclose or discuss their sexual orientation and their gender identity. We will not disclose any information we hold about any such issue, or disclose whether or not someone has had any dealings with Intercom, without their informed consent. Our funding arrangements all protect our confidentiality: see "Protecting our Independence" on our Funders page.
Protection of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
Our Policy for Protection of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults, is an important document for those who ask us for help, as important as our Confidentiality Policy and our Human Rights Policy.
Quality of Service and Monitoring Policy
This Policy formally expresses our commitment to providing a high-quality service to individuals, to our community, and to our funders, partners and stakeholders.
Volunteering Policy
Our Volunteering Policy is currently being updated, and will be released here as soon as the new version has been endorsed.
CEDAR Project Acquisitions Policy
Our CEDAR Project ("Community Experience, Data, Analysis and Research") is our research arm and resources library, researching information about LGB/T community needs, local history, relevant legislation and good practice, etc., and making it available to our own communities and our stakeholders in all sectors. To read the CEDAR Acquisitions Policy, click here.
Information, Communications and Technology Policy
Our Information and Communications Technology Policy is currently being redrafted (Winter 2008) in the light of new ICT-based project-funding, and will be released here as soon as the new version has been endorsed.