Hockey, swimming and yachting share success in sports equity

Monday 09 October 2006

Following more than a year of dedicated work in the field of sports equity, the Scottish Hockey Union, Scottish Swimming and the Royal Yachting Association Scotland, have been awarded the Foundation level of the Equity Standard: A Framework for Sport.

The award is recognition of the commitment of these organisations to sports equity, and to providing equality of access and opportunities to take part in sport at all levels for all groups in Scottish society. The Equity Standard exists to ensure that opportunities within sporting organisations and sport in Scotland will be open and accessible to all, regardless of personal characteristics such as race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religious or political belief, age or social background.

To achieve Foundation level of the Standard, organisations must be able to demonstrate that they are committed to equity. Practically, this involves taking action, including the publication and communication of an equity policy, setting accountability for equity at a senior level, and taking steps to better understand the equity position and profile of the organisation.

Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “Our congratulations go to the Scottish Hockey Union, Scottish Swimming and the Royal Yachting Association Scotland for achieving the Foundation level of the Equity Standard.

“It’s encouraging to see that nine governing bodies have now successfully achieved the Standard. sportscotland is committed to ensuring equity across scottish sport and we look forward to supporting the remaining governing bodies working towards achieving this.”

All the successful governing bodies of sport will be invited to the UK Equity Standard seminar on 6 December at Murrayfield where they will be formally presented with their certificates of achievement. Thereafter, sportscotland will support and advise the successful governing bodies as they begin to work towards achieving the Preliminary level of the Standard.

• The Equity Standard was launched in November 2004, and is a joint initiative between the four home country Sports Councils and UK Sport. It aims to support the work of the sports sector by providing a framework for sports organisations to help them to engage with people from all backgrounds, break down barriers to participation, and promote more equitable practices in their sports.
• sportscotland published its Equity Strategy: Working Towards Diversity and Inclusion in Sport in September 2005. This Strategy sets out how sportscotland will implement the Foundation and Preliminary levels of the Equity Standard in its own organisation, and also how it will support and encourage its partners in sport to do the same.
• The aims of the Equity Standard support the overall strategic visions of Sport 21 2003-2007, the National Strategy for Sport in Scotland, one of which is for Scotland to be a country where sport is more widely available to all.
• In April of this year, the Scottish Equestrian Association, Triathlon Scotland and Basketball Scotland were three of the first organisations in the UK to achieve the Foundation level award. The Scottish Cyclists Union, the Scottish Canoe Association, and Scottish Gymnastics have also achieved Foundation level. Scottish Athletics Ltd, Scottish Amateur Rowing Association and the Scottish Judo Federation are currently working towards this level.
• Progress through the Equity Standard is not yet a condition of sportscotland investment, but this link to investment is likely to emerge in due course..