strategic equality plan - sport...

STRATEGIC EQUALITY PLAN2012-2016

Updated December 2013

FOREWORD

Sport Wales has always been committed to diversity, in terms of the services it provides, the facilities it controls and the people it employs. We are proud of the actions taken to date.

Whilst much has been done in the past, we welcome the new equality legislation and recognise that it gives Sport Wales the opportunity to look for new ways of improving access to our services, our facilities and to employment, and to ensuring that no groups are unfairly discriminated against.

Given the importance of this legislation and the Strategic Equality Plan, we are committed to having an annual review, to ensure as much progress is made as quickly as possible.

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CONTENTS

3 Our Vision for Sport in Wales

4 The Role of Sport Wales

5 Corporate Planning at Sport Wales

6 Sport Wales’s Equality Objectives

10 Demonstration of the steps taken to meet our objectives

10 Evidence and information

11 Consultation and Engagement

12 Headline progress to date

APPENDIX Legal Context

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OUR VISION FOR SPORT IN WALES

The sport sector believes there is a need for a step change in the way sporting opportunities are planned, developed and promoted and shares the Welsh Government’s vision for Wales articulated in both Climbing Higher (2005) and Creating An Active Wales (2009):

‘An active, healthy and inclusive Wales, where sport, physical activity and active recreation provide a common platform for participation, fun and achievement, which binds communities and the nation and where the outstanding environment of Wales is used sustainably to enhance confidence in ourselves.’

The sport sector has responded to Creating an Active Wales by producing a Vision for Sport in Wales which set outs a vision of Wales as a proud sporting nation, supported by an aspiration to get every child hooked on sport for life and for Wales to be a nation of champions.

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Our vision is to UNITE A PROUD SPORTING NATION, where EVERY CHILD is HOOKED ON SPORT FOR LIFE and Wales is a NATION OF CHAMPIONS. Our vision is supported by clearly defined priorities:

1. Sporting InnovationWales has a sports sector that embraces collaboration, encouraging new ways of delivering opportunities to increase participation and improve elite performance.

2. Skills for a Life in SportEvery child and young person is provided with the skills and confidence from an early age to be physically literate through high quality, engaging sporting experiences.

3. Sporting CommunitiesWe have communities with sport at the heart of them, offering joined up opportunities for every child and young person to undertake at least five hours of safe, high quality sport every week and sustaining their engagement throughout their adult life.

4. Sporting ExcellenceWe are a nation that excels in nurturing sporting talent and delivers on-going success on the international stage.

5. Growing a Skilled & Passionate WorkforceAll those involved in sport, whether in a professional or voluntary capacity, are supported to pass on their skills and passion for sport to the people of Wales.

THE ROLE OF SPORT WALES

Sport Wales are a national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and physical recreation in Wales. We are the main adviser on sporting matters to the Welsh Government and are responsible for distributing National Lottery funds to both elite and grassroots sport in Wales.

Employing around 140 staff across 4 sites: Cardiff, Carmarthen, Deeside and Plas Menai, we fully subscribe to the Welsh Government's vision for a physically active and sporting nation, and aim to not only improve the level of sports participation at grassroots level but also to provide our aspiring athletes with the support required to compete successfully on the world stage.

We see our role as bringing partners and people together; local authorities, governing bodies of sport, communities, coaches, adults, young people, children and the entire nation to support, participate and excel in sport.

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CORPORATE PLANNING AT SPORT WALES

EQUALITY OBJECTIVES

Our equality objectives are set out to ensure that we as an organisation not only meet the duties set out in the Equality Act 2010, but also increase participation in sport by understanding the reasons for non-participation and enabling access for protected groups, challenging partners on their contribution to providing opportunities for all and ensuring that Sport Wales drives a culture of inclusiveness both internally and in the wider sporting world.

The objectives are recognised within our clearly defined priorities as set out in our Corporate Plan, Community Strategy and within local level planning, which all contribute to our vision of ‘Uniting a Proud Sporting Nation’.

Following the production of the annual Public Sector Equality Duty review, our objectives have been reviewed and are detailed later within the plan.

Equality Group Structure

In our original plan we committed to setting up an Opportunity for All Group to ensure equality and diversity considerations were integrated into all work undertaken by the organisation. The group was to be represented by departments from across the organisation who would take a pro-active role in terms of tackling inequalities.

Following a review of the effectiveness and the value added by the Opportunity for All Group, the group will now be referred to as the Equality and Diversity Operational Group and will be responsible for our Equality Scorecard and action plan. The group will influence delivery of the action plan across the organisation, and will play a scrutiny and challenge role in ensuring that equality feeds through internal team and group planning, and that measureable outcome is communicated and reported against.It will also continue to implement policy, respond to emerging issues and promote innovative practice across Sport Wales. However, it will be the departments and individuals who will consider and drive diversity and inclusiveness at a local, operational level.

The group will report into a newly appointed Equality Board, which sits at Senior Management Level. This group will have representation from Sport Wales Board Members and our Senior Manager responsible for Equality. This work will identify high level priorities for Sport Wales and will monitor and scrutinise Sport Wales SEP, our operational plan and funding. The terms of reference for this group are in the appendices.

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PROMOTION & REPORTING

Best practice and success in equality and diversity at Sport Wales and within the sporting community will be promoted through Sporting Snapshots and our monthly Team Sheet. Departmental and individual objectives will also recognise the importance of work on equality and diversity. Quarterly reports against our Equality Operational Plan will be presented to our Equality Board, where our work on equality and diversity will be challenged and scrutinised to ensure we are doing all we can to promote participation in sport for all.

STRATEGY REVIEW

In line with our Corporate Plan, the Sport Wales Strategic Equality Plan will be reviewed in 2016.

SPORT WALES EQUALITY OBJECTIVES

EQUALITY OBJECTIVE 1:

Embrace Equality and Diversity within Sport Wales and through our Policies

What The Evidence Says:

Outcome:An organisation that is diverse, where the workforce feels valued and treated fairly, and where the impact of equality of opportunity is recognised by staff and is integral to policy

What We Are Going To Do:

1. Improve the representation of our workforce in line with local and national populations

2. Develop a culture that encourages creativity, performance and inclusiveness

3. Structures and strategies are in place to equip managers and supervisors with the ability to effectively manage diversity and inclusiveness

Protected Characteristics:Age; disability; gender reassignment; pregnancy and maternity; ethnicity; religion or belief; gender; sexual orientation

Evidence Base:

Assessment of impact on protected characteristics across policy and strategy; staff profile; complaints and grievances (public and staff); staff surveys; performance monitoring; staff appraisal; procurement policy

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Appropriately Engage, Consult, Inform and Challenge Ourselves and Our Partners


Outcome:

A transparent organisation that engages appropriately and challenges its partners to engage appropriately to advance equality of opportunity between those people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not


Protected Characteristics:Age; disability; gender reassignment; ethnicity; religion or belief; gender; sexual orientation

Evidence Base:Assessment of impact on protected characteristics across policy and strategy; engagement with consultative groups; dissemination of grant to protected groups; key partners plans; attainment of the equality standard for sport


Increase Female Participation in all Aspects of Sport


At every age, females are less likely to take part in sport on three or more occasions a week compared with males.

From a wealth of survey data and qualitative research conducted by Sport Wales and externally, we understand that the reasons for this difference are influenced by many factors. These factors include a lack of enjoyment among older pupils in Physical Education (PE) and school sport; feeling less confident; social and cultural issues; stereotypes surrounding sports participation and a historical sporting infrastructure that can make it more difficult for females to access sporting opportunities compared with males.

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Outcome:

Sport in Wales is accessible to, accessed by, and organised by a higher proportion of females, where the drop off rate of participations aged between 15 and 24 is significantly reduced, and the number of females undertaking 3 occasions of sport each week is increased


1. Set long term target for 28 Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) to establish appropriate representation on Boards (e.g. improved gender balance) to enable decision making to better reflect the development of the sport (UK Governance 2013-17)

2. Deliver a women and girls communications campaign to highlight issues and influence participation levels

3. Work with key partners to increase opportunities for women and girls participation opportunities in 2014/15

4. Promote women and girls work internally and externally and share good practice.

Protected Characteristics: Gender, age

Evidence Base:Sport Wales survey results (Active adults, active young people). Active young people programme data, workforce statistics, National Governing Body membership


Increase Participation amongst Disabled People in all Aspects of Sport


Evidence suggests that disabled people have reduced access and opportunity for involvement in physical activity and sport. This is demonstrable within school (intra and extra-curricular) (SW School Sport Survey, 2013) and in leisure and lifestyle choices (EFDS, 2012). Whilst the participatory gap is closing, it is still not reflective of non-disabled people’s experiences.

Outcome:To provide open and equal access to opportunities for physical activity, including sport, to disabled people throughout Wales.

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1. Work in partnership with key stakeholders involved in the sport, education and leisure sectors to enhance understanding, confidence and appropriate provision of opportunity.

2. Increase numbers of disabled people involved with intra- and extra-curricular physical education, and engaged in physical activity (including sport)

3. Increase numbers of disabled people involved with the provision of sport across Wales (coaches, officials, volunteers, and employed staff within NGBs and other sport organisations)

Protected Characteristics: Age; disability

Evidence Base:

Work with Disability Sport Wales, Sport Wales survey results (Active Adults; School Sport Survey); Active young people programme data, workforce statistics, National Governing Body membership


Increase Participation in all Aspects of Sport amongst our Ethnic Minority Communities


Outcome:To be better informed to engage and challenge partners to address inequalities of opportunities with respect to Wales’s ethnic minority communities


1. Increase the number of children and young people taking part in regular sport and physical activity from a BME background

2. Increase the number of children and young people from a BME background who are members of a sports club

3. Increase the number of coaches and volunteers from a BME background

4. Increase the investment into BME specific clubs, groups and sessions via Community Chest and Development Grants (other lottery grants)

Protected Characteristics: Ethnicity, age, gender

Evidence Base:Sport Wales survey results (Active Adults; School Sport Survey); Active young people programme data, workforce statistics, National Governing body membership

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Increase Participation in all Aspects of Sport amongst children from Deprived Communities


Successive Active Adult Surveys have identified that adults in lower social grades are less likely to either participate or volunteer in sport, with the gap between the highest social grade and lowest in terms of volunteering being over 10%.

The 2011 School Sport Survey identified that at both primary and secondary school children and young people in schools with a high percentage of free school meals being less likely than their peers to be participating as regularly in sport, particularly in the community.

Outcome:To be better informed to engage and challenge partners to address inequalities of opportunities with respect to Wales’s deprived communities


1. Improving and sharing the evidence for what works in increasing participation from deprived communities

2. Ensuring poverty is not a barrier to having an opportunity to participate in community sport

3. Ensuring poverty is not a barrier to developing and maximising talent

4. Increasing the level of adult volunteering in communities experiencing poverty

Protected Characteristics: All

Evidence Base:Sport Wales survey results (Active Adults; School Sport Survey); Active young people programme data, workforce statistics, National Governing body membership

Protected Characteristics not addressed through the Sport Wales Equality Objectives

Whilst all of the protected characteristics are included with Objective 1 and 2, we realise that in some cases the response rate or sample size may be too small to publish statistics in compliance with data protection laws. In this situation it may be difficult to target action.

Objectives, 3, 4, and 5 directly relate to particular protected characteristics (gender, ethnicity, disability) and with objective 6 driven by the Welsh Governments drive on economic equality. Using the data and evidence that we currently have, Sport Wales can

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clearly justify the need to concentrate our efforts in this area in order to make the biggest difference. This work is certainly not conclusive and we will strive to link with and better understand the needs of all protected groups.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE STEPS TAKEN TO MEET OUR OBJECTIVES

The Diversity & Inclusiveness Strategy Group will work to scorecards which detail each objective, describe what success will look like for the objective, establish the data we will use to measure our success and provide an action plan which details our progress.

The group will report to the Sport Wales Equality Committee.The developments in our work will be updated on the Equality pages of the Sport Wales website and reported on annually.

The Sport Wales Diversity & Inclusiveness scorecards can be found under the heading ‘Sport Wales Equality Objectives and Actions’ on the Equality page of the Sport Wales website.

EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION

MONITORING INFORMATION

Sport Wales monitoring information can be found under the heading ‘Sport Wales Monitoring Information’ on the Equality page of our website. Equality Impact Assessments are also available here.

PROCUREMENT POLICY

Sport Wales’s procurement Policy can be found under the heading ‘Procurement and working with contractors’ on the Equality page of the Sport Wales website.

SPORTS PARTICIPATION DATA

Sport Wales’s sports participation data details participation data and reports categorised by protected characteristic, this can be found under the heading ‘Participation data’ on the Equality page of the Sport Wales Website.

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WORKFORCE DATA

Sport Wales Workforce data broken down by characteristic where possible can be found under the heading ‘Workforce data’ on the Equality page of the Sport Wales website.

CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT

As an organisation we understand the need to engage with all groups to ensure that we listen to the widest perspective when improving what we do and how we operate. We regularly consult with key partners, including Disability Sport Wales and acknowledge the need for wider consultation amongst groups with a protected characteristic.

Sport Wales has led the development of the ‘Young Ambassadors’ movement. We regularly consult with this diverse group of young people.

We have put our Equality Objectives out to consultation through our website and direct to our stakeholders. A small group of partner agencies met to discuss our proposals. Sport Wales’ employees have also had the opportunity to comment through managers, websites and instant messaging.

In addition, the following organisations were invited to make comment on our objectives:

Stonewall, Cardiff Ethnic Minority Communities, Federation of Disability Sport Wales, Age Cymru, Sport Structures, Welsh Assembly Government, Chwarae Teg.

HEADLINE PROGRESS TO DATE (to 1st June 2013)

Sport Wales first produced a single equality scheme and action plan in 2009. We have regularly monitored our actions and reported annually to the Board against these. The organisation has previously benefited from appointing Equality Champions and the Equality agenda has been driven at Director and Manager level through an Equality Steering Group.

Whilst our structure for embedding diversity and inclusiveness into the workplace has changed and developed, the leadership and engagement afforded has continued and if anything has been enhancing the diversity and inclusiveness agenda at Sport Wales.

Whilst we understand that we still have a long way to go, we are really pleased with our progress to date and excited about what the future will bring.

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Developments include:

Development and implementation of the Diversity & Inclusiveness in the Workplace strategy Outcome focused approach to the management of diversity and inclusiveness initiatives Embedding equality into the partner self-assessment tool and taking 49 partner

organisations through the self-review process in 2013/14 Improvement on Stonewall Workplace Equality Index placing Launch of LGB research into sport participation Development and launch of the BME and LGBT Sport Networks Development and launch of the LGBT Sport Charter Review and launch of diversity and inclusiveness related policies Appointment of 4 Young Ambassadors as Equality Champions Establishment of a high level Women and Girls task and finish group. (which will now

merged into a newly established Equality Committee).

APPENDIX

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THE LEGAL CONTEXT

The Equality Act 2010 came into force on 1 October 2010, providing a legal framework that will protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all.

The Equality Act simplifies, strengthens and harmonises the 116 pieces of current legislation to remove inconsistencies and make it easier for employers, service providers and the public to understand and comply with it.

A major feature of the new Act is that it introduces a Public Sector Equality Duty covering 9 protected characteristics:

1. Age2. Disability3. Gender Reassignment4. Pregnancy and Maternity5. Race6. Religion and Belief7. Sex (Gender)8. Sexual Orientation

PUBLIC SECTOR EQUALITY DUTIES

The General Duty

The aim of the General Duty is to ensure that public authorities and those who carry out a public function consider how they can positively contribute to a fairer society through advancing equality and good relations in their day-to-day activities. Public bodies are required to have due regard to the need to:

1. Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct that is prohibited by the Act

2. Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not

3. Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not

Specific Duties in Wales

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The Equality Act 2010 made provision for Welsh Government to be able to make regulations that place specific public sector equality duties on relevant Welsh public authorities listed in Part 2 of Schedule 19 of the Act.

The Specific Duties in Wales are set out in the Equality Act 2010 (Statutory Duties) (Wales) Regulations 2011 and came into force on 6 April 2011 and require the listed bodies to undertake and develop the following:

• Objectives• Strategic Equality Plans• Engagement• Assessing Impact• Equality information• Employment information• Pay differences• Staff training• Procurement• Annual reporting (by Public Authorities and Welsh Ministers)• Publishing• Review• Accessibility

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Equality Board Terms of Reference

To provide strategic leadership across all of Sport Wales on equality issues.Specifically:• To scrutinise Sport Wales’ Strategic Equality Plan and delivery of the associated action plan• To review Sport Wales’ strategic equality priorities and objectives and set future priorities• To scrutinise all Sport Wales activities from an equality perspective• To provide appropriate governance in respect of the funding allocated to achieving Sport

Wales’ equality priorities

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