We declare our ongoing commitment to a policy of equal opportunity and equality in all sports and physical activity and to avoid unlawful discrimination as a development organisation and as an employer.
We are committed to the ‘Sport England Sport Equality Scheme’ (2012). Sport England’s definition of Sports Equality:
“Sports equality is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure that it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.”
Our commitment to equality continues to be implemented through the creation of wider opportunities and encouraging increased participation in sport and physical activity for everyone at all levels and in all roles, irrespective of any of the protected characteristics i.e. age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion or belief, or because someone is married or in a civil partnership).
We are committed to:
- Increasing awareness of equality in employment across Active Lancashire by, for example, offering training opportunities and demonstrating a balanced representation of participants through the display of visual images etc.
- Being advised by the local, regional and national Sport Equality Partners on improvements in practice;
- Promoting inclusive behaviour and best practice;
- Ensuring representation of priority groups on the Active Lancashire Board and networks;
- Promoting an understanding of the current and potential service user profile to Active Lancashire;
- Influencing best use of resources to address inequalities in participation and provision;
- Promoting innovative schemes to encourage priority groups into sport;
- Promoting the use of monitoring and evaluation to increase the participation of the priority groups;
- Securing and committing resources to achieving equality in service planning and delivery; and
- Supporting the legal responsibilities placed on Active Lancashire.
The Active Lancashire Board has endorsed our Equality Policy and the partnerships commitment towards achieving the Equality Standard - A framework for Sport.
The Active Lancashire Board
Active Lancashire’s Board is fully committed to recruiting and engaging people with appropriate diversity, independence, skills, experience and knowledge to take effective decisions that further our organisational aims and objectives.
- Active Lancashire has adopted a target of a minimum of 30% of each gender on our Board; and,
- Active Lancashire will demonstrate a strong and public commitment to progressing towards achieving gender parity and greater diversity on the board including, but not limited to. Black, Asian, minority ethnic (BAME) diversity and disability.
Equality Standard
We have been awarded the Foundation Level of the Equality Standard for Sport.
The Equality Standard is a national framework for widening access and increasing the participation and involvement in sport and physical activity from under-represented individuals, groups and communities, especially women and girls, ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities. It is endorsed by the major Sporting bodies and Governing bodies who are working to the same standards.
For further information on the Equality Standard for Sport please visit www.equalityinsport.org.
Women and Girls in Sport
We know there are inequalities that exist in local sport and intend to make sure sport is inclusive to all including women and girls by using good practice examples provided by Women in Sport.
Women in Sport provides key information to support women and girls to participate and progress in sport and fitness.
Their aim is to increase the health, fitness and well-being of women and girls by making physical activity an integral part of their lives, where physical activity is defined as sport and exercise.
Their website provides information on issues that face women and girls, research carried out by Women in Sport and information on how to get involved in sport and fitness. For more information on Women in Sport please visit www.womeninsport.org.
Racial Equality
We are committed to addressing the barriers faced by people from ethnic minority backgrounds by working with a host of agencies such as Sporting Equals.
Commitment to racial equality in sport has clear social, economic and commercial benefits. It will encourage more people from all ethnic backgrounds to take part in sport so that there is more representation at all levels from participation to coaching, management and the administration of sports.
Sporting Equals exists to promote ethnic diversity across sport and physical activity. Set up in 1998 by Sport England, in partnership with the Commission for Racial Equality, but now an independent body, they inform, influence and inspire in order to create an environment in which:
- BME communities can influence and participate in all aspects of sport and physical activity
- The governors and providers of sport and physical activity recognise and value a fully integrated and inclusive society
- Ethnic diversity is recognised and celebrated
For more information on Sporting Equals please visit www.sportingequals.org.uk.
Our Equality Inclusion Partner is: www.activityalliance.org.uk/
For further information on local equality partners please contact Beth Kay: [email protected]
