The first ever Equality Standard was launched in November 2004 by Lord Carter. It is a framework for assisting sports organisations to widen access and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity from under represented individuals, groups and communities especially women and girls, ethnic minority groups and disabled people. It is based around 2 broad themes; ‘developing your organisation’ and ‘developing your services’ and there are four levels of achievement; Foundation, Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced.

Developing the organisation relates to what an organisation is, in terms of its’ culture, policies, leadership and individual people within it. Developing the services relates to what the organisation does – i.e. the impact that policies, leadership and people have on the customers, programme, communications and overall satisfaction and service.

The Standard draws upon lessons learnt from ‘Achieving Racial Equality; a Standard for Sport’, published by Sporting Equals in December 2000. It is collaboration between all four home county Sports Councils and UK Sport. The Standard is endorsed and fully supported by the Women’s Sports Foundation, English Federation of Disability Sport and Sporting Equals.

To achieve any of the four levels, relevant evidence must be submitted and verified across functional areas. The exact process and validation of the Equality Standard will depend on the level being strived for. A formal accreditation process has been developed including the use of an independent panel.

How Merseyside Sports Partnership is achieving and maintaining the standard

Merseyside Sports Partnership achieved the Foundation level of the Equality Standard in July 2007 and has submitted a portfolio for the Preliminary level. Numerous partners have helped evidence these portfolios including full support from the Merseyside Sport Partnership Board members.

“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”

Jean Stephens – Director of Merseyside Sports Partnership

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)

Fairness and Inclusion Training

The action plan, within the Preliminary level, looks at the ways in which we understand the issues and barriers faced by under represented groups in sport. An element of this plan includes Fairness and Inclusion training, e-learning which originated from Sport England.

We can all learn more about each other, and through this knowledge we can each make positive steps to ensure we work in an inclusive and positive environment, and bring this approach into work with our partners. If you would like to have a go at the training please visit www.fairnessandinclusion.org and work through the three modules on the following areas;

Module 1 – Basic Awareness for Fairness and Inclusion
Module 2 – Making Fairness and Inclusion a reality
Module 3 – Positive management of a diverse workforce

Are there any specific action points you are going to put in place as a result of this learning? If so please fill in the action plan and send it back to Julie Leasor – J.Leasor@ljmu.ac.uk

This will be used confidentially as part of the consultation with our partners on increasing awareness of equality across the partnership.

To read our Equity Statement please click here.

To read our Action Plan please click here.

For further information

www.equalitystandard.org
www.sportengland.org/the_equality_standard_summary.pdf
www.wsf.org.uk
www.cre.gov.uk
www.sportingequals.com
www.efds.net