Equality Standard For Sport

Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent: Commitment to the Equality Standard for Sport

"The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Sports Partnership is committed to working proactively to ensure access to sport across the County for anyone, regardless of individual circumstance or background.

We will address barriers to participation and promote positive interventions to ensure under represented communities have the opportunity to participate in their chosen activities. In order to achieve this we will produce and implement a robust equality action plan for staff, volunteers and key stakeholders" (Partnership Director).

What is the Standard?

The Equality Standard is a framework and vehicle 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 disabled people. It will assist sports organisations in developing equality-proofed policies, structures and processes and will allow for performance to be assessed, ensuring continuous improvement in equality (Sport England).

The Standard is a collaboration of the four Home Country Sports Councils and UK Sport. Other supporting partners include the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the English Federation of Disability Sport, the Women's Sports Foundation and Sporting Equals. The standard builds on the Racial Equality Standard for sport by incorporating additional under-represented groups to encompass all areas of equity.

The standard consist of four levels of achievement, Foundation, Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced:

Foundation The organisation is committed to equality and that commitment is communicated to all staff and volunteers.
Preliminary The organisation is clear about what it needs to do to achieve equality, it understands the issues and barriers faced by under-represented groups in sport and has a robust equality action plan which all staff, volunteers and key stakeholders understand.
Intermediate The organisation is increasing opportunities for participation and involvement by a diverse range of people including representation on its own leadership, staff, board and senior volunteers. All internal policies pay due regard to diversity.
Advanced- Leadership and staff, including coaches and officials as well as participants are offered a fair and equal opportunity and are reflective of the community the organisation serves. Equality is central to the way an organisation carries out all of its work. All affiliated organisations and clubs are able to engage and develop participants, coaches, officials and administrators from under-represented groups.4 Different Levels Foundation , Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced

To view the Equality Standard Click here

What are the benefits of the Standard?

Provide a framework for achieving equality in sport
Ensure democracy and the sound governance of the sport
Increase the number of participants, members, coaches, officials, spectators and volunteers by reaching new audiences
Help meet legal duties thereby reducing the likelihood of litigation
Enhance skills and knowledge base of staff and volunteers
Increase active involvement in equality at every level
Improve equality practices through monitoring, evaluation and review methods
Improve your chances of accessing funding and sponsorship (Sport England)

What are the implications for Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent?

Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent has been put forward as a pilot CSP for the West Midlands to be fast tracked through the standard with both national and regional Sport England support. The partnership has submitted two portfolios of evidence for both the foundation and preliminary levels of the standard, and will have to address two spheres:

Developing Your Organisation This will be a reflection of the culture, policies, leadership and people.
Developing Your Services- This activity refers to the impact that policies, leadership and people have on an organisation's programmes, communications and customer service

Where are we now?

Foundation Level - Achieved - January 2007

Preliminary Level - Achieved - September 2007

Test Your Equity Knowledge by playing 'Who Wants To Be In The Know'? Click here to download the Powerpoint quiz (135kb)

Useful Links

www.vagaassociates.com/eqss/index.htm

www.sportengland.org/index/about_sport_england/equality_standard_for_sport.htm