These policies below are still in the process of being formulated, but it's about time we told you what WW is trying to do through some of the choices we make...

Environmental Policy

We feel that we all share a responsibility to help reduce global warming. Our responsibility as a travel company is, we feel, to offer alternatives to high-emission travel rather than simply encouraging customers to pay for carbon offsets. We feel that carbon offsetting schemes - while possibly helpful to developing communities - cannot sufficiently tackle travel related emissions in themselves. We all have to decrease the amount we travel each year, and to consider more carefully how we travel when we do.

In the WalkingWomen programme we have reduced the number of holidays requiring flights, especially those requiring long haul flights. This started in 2007, and continues in 2008 - amounting to a 20% reduction so far on 2006 figures.

At the same time we are researching European destinations that can be reached by ferry or by train, either incorporating this alternative transport into the holiday price to encourage ferry/rail travel, or else helping women to book this alternative transport.

We have significantly increased the number of destinations we offer in the UK over the last 3 years, to encourage more women to holiday in the UK, and to reduce the distance that must be travelled to join a WW holiday. We have also increased the number of longer UK holidays to make it easier to have a 'main' holiday in the UK rather than only short breaks.

In 2008 we hope to create a way, using the WW website, to facilitate car sharing/lifts with other women on the same holiday. This is something that we recognise we often cannot co-ordinate sufficiently well from the office when we are busy.

In general, we encourage train travel wherever possible in the UK. All the UK venues we use are accessible by public transport, and where necessary we arrange a shared lift to reduce the cost of a taxi from the station. Our travel directions contain comprehensive train information for each destination (recently completely updated on the WW website), and we strongly recommend Gates Travel who take the hassle out of buying train or coach tickets.

Disability Policy

1. General policies

WalkingWomen will follow principles of equality and integration by working to ensure that no woman receives less favourable treatment because of her disability. We will take positive steps to fulfil our obligations as service providers under the Disability Discrimination Acts of 1995 and 2005. We will ensure that as much as possible of the WalkingWomen programme of holidays is accessible to women of all abilities.

Our aim is that disabled women should be able to participate in our walking holidays alongside non-disabled customers. If this is not possible*, we will arrange special provision where it is necessary / feasible.

We will seek to influence our partners and sub contractors to encourage DDA compliance and promote good practice. We will publicise our policies and procedures both to our customers and partners. We will up-date our policies and procedures and monitor and review them in the light of changing legislation and developing good practice.

*Constraints on full access are likely to be: Natural terrain, safety considerations, services outside our control such as accommodation and transport, different or lower standards of provision outside the UK, cost and, the possibility of changing the nature of the business delivered to other customers.

2. Code of practice

2.1 Service provision

We will ensure equality of service to disabled customers by:

• a) Providing information about our services that is clear, consistent and accessible
• b) Offering a range of holidays at differing grades and locations suitable for people with varying abilities and needs

2.2 Engagement with partners

• c) We require leaders of our holidays to be familiar this policy and their duties under the DDA
• d) We expect professionalism and fair and equal treatment of all customers

Other contracted services (accommodation, transport, publicity design):

• e) Where possible we will use accessible services and facilities such as overnight accommodation, restaurants and transport providers
• f) We make ourselves aware of accessible routes and supporting facilities by liaising with tourist information services, disability organisations and land managers / owners

2.3 Monitoring and evaluation

We will monitor and review the effectiveness of this policy relating to our disabled and non-disabled customers by:

• g) Keeping a record of enquiries and resulting up-take of holidays by disabled women
• h) Requiring our transport, accommodation and design providers to up-date us on changes in their practices
• i) Surveying our customers about their opinions and experience of our service provision

Action plan