The Equality Standard:
A Framework for Sport.

All those who are were present at the WCA’s AGM or have recently renewed their membership will be aware that the WCA is aiming to achieve the Foundation level of the Equality Standard for Sport by the end of 2006.

What is it?

The Equality Standard (the Standard) is a framework to guide sports and community organisations towards achieving equality. It will assist organisations in developing structures and processes, assessing performance and ensuring continuous improvement in equality.

The Standard draws on lessons from Achieving Racial Equality: A Standard for Sport, published by Sporting Equals in December 2000.

The Standard is a collaboration of the four Home Country Sports Councils and UK Sport, and is supported by the CCPR, the Women’s Sports Foundation, the English Federation of Disability Sport and Sporting Equals.

Role of the Equality Standard

Although many sports organisations maintain that they have an ‘open door’ policy, this has not necessarily changed the traditional levels of participation and involvement in sport. Research shows that many sports have low participation levels by women and girls, ethnic minority groups, disabled people and, in some cases, young people, and these groups are therefore under-represented.

What the Standard covers

It is recognised that the equality areas that need to be addressed for any organisation will depend on the sport, the role and environment. However, it is also recognised that all organisations are bound by specific equality legislation.

The benefits of the Standard for the WCA

• 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 the skills and knowledge base of your 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.

• And, for those organisations that have started to address equality issues, to:

• Build on existing good practice in equality.

• Assess and review current equality policy.

• Assess and review equality performance and achievements.

• Open the wonderful range of Paddlesport opportunities for all, and put smiles on people’s faces.

The Standard explained

The Standard is based on two broad areas of activity and four levels of achievement. All four levels must be supported by relevant evidence, which will be verified through an evaluation process, which will be undertaken by both UK Sport and the Sports Council for Wales.

In defining the equality needs for sports organisations, the Standard has identified two areas of activity:

Developing Your Organisation – what your organisation is. This will be a reflection of the culture, policies, leadership and people.

Developing Your Services – what your organisation does. This is reflected in the impact that policies, leadership and people have on your organisation’s programmes, communications and customer service.

There are four levels to the Standard. Each level has been developed to take account of the different starting points of different sports organisations. The outcomes from each level are as follows:

Foundation

• Your organisation is committed to equality.

• Your organisation has an equality policy that has been communicated and is understood by staff and key volunteers.

• Your organisation is aware of its current profile in terms of equality.

Preliminary

• Your organisation understands the issues and barriers faced by under-represented groups in sport.

• Your organisation has a robust equality action plan which all staff, volunteers and key stakeholders understand.

• All staff and volunteers within your organisation understand the principles of equality and their role in delivering against your action plan.

• Partner organisations and new audiences are aware of, and are engaged in, the delivery of your action plan.

Intermediate

• Your organisation has increased the diversity of its leadership, staff, board and senior volunteers.

• All internal policies pay due regard to diversity.

• You have a staff/volunteer team with a strong understanding and commitment to equality at head office, regional, county and club membership levels.

• You have increased the diversity of people participating in and using your services.

• People inside and outside your organisation are aware of your success and achievements in working towards equality.

Advanced

• Leadership and staff are reflective of the community your organisation serves.

• Equality is central to the way your organisation carries out all of its work.

• All of your programmes and investment pay due regard to the diverse groups you serve.

• Participants, coaches and officials are reflective of the community.

• All affiliated organisations and clubs are able to engage and develop participants, coaches, officials and administrators from under-represented groups.

• There is an increase in the number of athletes from under-represented groups in performance and elite sport.

Our Submission:

The WCA will be seeking to achieve the Foundation Level of the Standard by the end of 2006. Our submission will be in the form of a Federal Portfolio of Evidence that will be presented to UK Sport by the BCU UK. On achieving the Foundation Level WCA will then review the time scales for achieving the subsequent levels.

What we have done so Far: Key Tasks

1: WCA has set accountability for equality at the highest level. The Standard now forms part of the Board’s Standing Agenda.

WCA Director Emma Aldridge has been appointed as the Board Representative responsible for Equality Issues, whilst CEO Richard Harvey will be responsible for the day to day line management of the issue.

Both can be contacted in the first instance via the WCA Office on 01678 521199.

2: The WCA is in the process of conducting an audit of:

• the equality profile of staff, volunteers, board, coaches and officials. Many of you would have received an Equality Questionnaire in the last six months.

• profile of elite performers

• Its human resources policies

• Its marketing and communications

• The profile of members, participants, service users.

• WCA will be analysing the findings in terms of trends and equality impact.

• Those of you who have recently renewed your membership would have noticed that there is now an Equality Monitoring Form that accompanies your registration papers.

• WCA would be grateful if you could take the time to complete and return this form. There is no obligation to complete this form as part of membership regulations; however, completion will allow the WCA to conduct an appropriate review of its services. Any forms and information will not be shared with third parties and will remain confidential. The information will only be utilized for monitoring purposes.

3: The BCU Board and Subsequently the WCA Board has adopted the following policy for Equality.

• To comply with its legal obligations

• in favour of any group that is under represented in its membership, the sport as a whole or its workforce;

• To work towards the equitable provision of its services to all sections of the community.

• To avoid disadvantaging any person by conditions or requirements, that cannot reasonably be justified.

• to embed Equal Opportunities into all BCU Policies, plans and strategies

4: A specific Section of the WCA Web site has been allotted to Equality. This can be accessed directly via the Home Page of www.welsh-canoeing.org.uk Further updates in relation to the Standard and key information on the issues will be published in this section in the future.

 

Finally WCA would like to thank all of you who have helped with the process so far. We look forward to Achieving the Foundation Level of the Standard in 2006.

Richard Harvey