Partnership Achieves Equality Standard

This month witnessed the partnership achieving he Foundation Level of The Equality Standard - A Framework for Sport Accreditation.  This is a framework for widening access and increasing the involvement in sport and physical activity from under represented individuals, groups and communities, especially women and girls, ethnic minority groups and disabled people.

“The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent County Sports Partnership is committed to working proactively to ensure access to sport across the County for anyone, regardless of individual circumstance or background” commented Executive Board Chair, Laurence O’Neill.

The Partnership is now one of only six such organisations to have achieved the Equality Standard nationally and is eager to hear from people seeking advice and support for participation projects and initiatives, which target under-represented groups.  The partnership has also produeced an Equality Action Plan (2006-2009).  This plan will actively engage all partners to deliver against 7 key objectives that address inequalties. 

For more information on equality please see the Sports Equity page on the Partnership’s website www.sportacrossstaffordshire.co.uk or contact Naomi Bird on (01785) 619585 or nbird@staffordbc.gov.uk

Sports Equity Vision for The West Midlands

Sport England West Midlands have commissioned John Smith Consulting to draw together a vision for sports equity and undertake a review of sports equity infrastructure and delivery at the regional and sub-regional levels of the West Midlands. This work will be carried out during February-April 2007.

The prject aims to achieve the following 7 objectives:

• To draw together a vision for sports equity in the region to inform the future ‘refresh’ of the Regional Plan for Sport
• To facilitate shared consideration of barriers, issues, processes and solutions
• To identify the extent of the current regional, sub-regional and district level sport sector equity infrastructure (posts, networks, forums etc.)
• To utilise the Active People Survey results for the Region and sub-regions to identify key sports equity initiatives, highlighting practical examples, critical success factors and opportunities for improvement in sports equity
• To identify the specific challenges and needs which key delivery partners at the regional and sub-regional level have in relation to achieving 1% year-on-year increases in participation in sport and active recreation for groups considered currently under-represented in the region
• To highlight links to key policies, drivers, funding opportunities and national, regional and local networks
• To make recommendations and present options for developing effective strategic partnerships and delivery structures to support continuous improvement in delivering sports equity in the region and meet participation targets for under-represented groups 

Please visit www.vagaassociates.com to track progress, or access briefing notes, questionnaires and presentations.