The Sports Horizons Programme

BRIDGEND COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCILSPORTS DEVELOPMENT UNIT

PROMOTING EQUITY THROUGH SPORT

INTRODUCTION:

This policy has been produced by Bridgend Sports Development Unit to complement the Equal Opportunities policy of Bridgend County Borough Council. It provides a framework to implement a co-ordinated approach to sports equity and create more opportunities for all people to take part in throughout the County.

It is intended that the policy will impact on anyone providing sporting opportunities including voluntary commercial organisations and individuals.

What is Sports equity?

The ‘Sports Horizons’ programme of Bridgend Sports Development recognises the need to redress imbalances in participation and to remove barriers to create genuine opportunities.

“Sports Equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure that it becomes equally accessible to all members of society, whatever the age, ability gender race, ethnicity, sexuality or social / economic status”

(Sport England).

It cannot be assumed that any sport is open and accessible to all members of the community. Within Bridgend County Borough the following priority groups are identified:
 

* Inactive Young People via the Children and Young Peoples partnership

* Women and Girls via gender equity studies

* Disabled People via the community strategy

* Socially and economically disadvantaged via the community strategy

In addition to population groupings there are a series of high ranking multi- deprivation wards that are restricted in access and opportunity, particularly ‘Communities First’ wards and pockets of deprivation.
 

Sports Equity statement for Bridgend

‘Bridgend Sports Development Unit recognises the role that sport has in improving the quality of life and by embracing the issues of sports equity, aims to ensure that opportunities are available to everyone. Bridgend Sports Development Unit is committed to providing sporting opportunities, which achieve equality of access and choice. It is recognised that inequalities exist and the unit will take positive action to minimise them’.

Policy issues and recommendations:

1. AUDIT

* We will maintain an awareness of population profiles based on a system of zone management ...including the Welsh multiple deprivation index.

* We will maintain details of activities and facilities available at community level comparing access and ...opportunity between zones.

* We will utilise sports council studies and conduct strata surveys with post code analysis to identify ...participation by age, gender and location.

* We will work in partnership with other local authorities to develop and share best practice.

* We will survey partners based on their accessibility to special populations.

* We will maintain a strategic development plan with sports equity a core principal.

2. TRAINING

With regard to sports equity, it is recognised that training is important because it can:

* Enhance awareness of issues/good practice

* Increase knowledge of Sports equity

* Remain up to date with current guidelines and practices

* Challenge assumptions and influence change

* Sports equity training will be incorporated into the annual training programme available to staff and ...community partners

* We will pro-actively target women and girls and people with disabilities on training courses

* We will utilise grant aid such as community chest to remove 'price as a barrier' to access training

* We will employ a Disability Sport Officer who can develop the knowledge to lead on issues of sports equity

3. AWARENESS

By gaining an awareness of issues facing priority groups it is possible to develop strategies to attract under represented groups into sporting and physical activity in planning, delivery and participation:

* We will support and promote the Bridgend County Borough Council ‘Bridge Card’ scheme to provide ...cost effective access.

* A pricing review will be conducted both for individual charges and group activity involving consultation ...with partners.

* Community consultation and forums will be used to inform the sports development process.

* We will encourage coaches, officials and volunteers to become familiar with the principals of sports ...equity and effect change within their organisations

4. PROMOTION

We recognise that appropriate communication will be essential to the success of the ‘Sports Equity’ policy:

* Information will be provided in formats that are appropriate to the target audience.

* The ‘Sports Equity’ policy and that of governing bodies will be promoted to participants, coaches, ...officials and volunteers.

* Appropriate imagery and wording will be used on promotional literature, positively promoting sport ...equity.

5. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The impact of the policy will be monitored and evaluated in a number of ways:

* We will maintain records of organisations who are committed to sports equity principles.

* We will maintain records of participation in sports equity or similar training.

* We will gather feedback from participants in courses and activities to assist in planning future service

....improvements.

* We will attempt to provide preferential terms for partners who endorse the equity policy.

6. REVIEW AND REPORTING

To enable the sharing of good practice and address the challenges presented by this policy, a co-ordinated approach to the review of monitoring information will be essential. The review will be integrated within the performance review structure of the Bridgend Sports Development Unit.

7. CONCLUSION

Sports equity is about fairness in sport and providing individuals with equality of opportunity and choice. The adoption and implementation of this 'Sports Equity' policy are necessary to eliminate discrimination. This is an opportunity for Bridgend Sports Development Unit and partners to initiate joint action that will improve access to sport for all.