UK Sport has this week achieved the Foundation Level of the Equality Standard, with the assessment panel commending the portfolio of evidence submitted.
Achieving the Foundation Level means UK Sport has demonstrated it has met three key outcomes: a commitment to equality; a policy for equality that has been communicated and understood by all staff; and an awareness of its current profile and position in terms of equality.
“This marks a key milestone in our equality drive,” said Charlie Edward, UK Sport’s Equality Policy Officer. “We’ve worked hard to get to this stage and the aim now is to achieve progressively higher levels of the Standard over the coming years.”
Working through the Equality Standard is a key part of UK Sport’s Equality Strategy which sets out commitments to staff, external partners and individuals with which it works, funds and supports. The overall aim of the Strategy is to transform UK Sport into a world-class organisation in terms of:
- Employment, policies, procedures and programmes
- Service delivery that provides leadership, co-ordination, support, advocacy and influence on equality matters.
As well as progressing its own commitment to equality, UK Sport also provides dedicated support for national governing bodies to help them work through the Standard.
“The Standard represents the most significant collaborative effort by all the Sports Councils in the area of equity and equality,” said Edward. “We are currently supporting 11 national governing bodies work towards the Foundation or Preliminary Level of the Standard and we look forward to bring more on board in the future.”
The bodies currently being supported by UK Sport are: UK Athletics; British Triathlon; British Judo; British Gymnastics; Amateur Rowing Association; British Cycling; British Canoe Union; Royal Yachting Association; British Equestrian Federation; British Swimming; and Grand National Archery Society.