Homepage

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
Popular content on our site
Prepare to “Find Your Greatness” as search for UK's future athletes gets underway The National Lottery operator Allwyn launches ChangeMakers fund for athletes as they make a difference back home Breadth of success targeted as British Olympic and Paralympic performance aspirations confirmed for Paris Investing in sport Strategic plan 2021-31
News

Trailblazing RYA leads the way on equality

Published 17 March 2016

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has become the first National Governing Body to achieve the Advanced Level of the Sports Councils’ Equality Standard for Sport. 

The Equality Standard for Sport is a framework for assisting sports organisations to widen access and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity from under represented individuals, groups and communities. It is based around two broad themes; developing your organisation and developing your services. The Advanced level is the highest of four levels of achievement.  

The award of the Advanced Standard recognises the RYA’s commitment to increasing diversity amongst participants in sailing and boating, its staff and committees, and the progress achieved in attaining all four levels of the Standard over more than 10 years.

In meeting the Advanced Level requirements, the RYA has demonstrated that equality is mainstreamed through the organisation’s functions, policies and procedures. In their report, the Sports Council Equality Group panel particularly commended the RYA on the progress achieved in the areas of disability, age and gender.  

Special mention was given to RYA Sailability, which first and foremost considers the needs and abilities of the individual and successfully introduces over 53,000 young people and adults with disabilities to sailing every year.  

The report highlighted a demonstrable increase in the number of women and girls participating in the sport – and significant changes to the corporate governance of the organisation, which has led to wide scale reform of both the Council and the Board of Directors with the intention of becoming far more reflective of the sport and society as a whole. 

It was also recognised that RYA programmes like OnBoard and Push The Boat Out make a real impact and hold significant potential for welcoming under-represented groups to the boating community.

Areas for future action and development were identified as well – specifically continuing to gather data to gain a greater understanding of participants, and challenging external perceptions of the sport, especially amongst under-represented groups such as black and ethnic minorities and the LGBT community.

RYA Chief Executive Sarah Treseder commented: “We are very proud to be the first NGB to achieve the Advanced Standard. Whilst we celebrate receiving this award today, it's important that we use it as a platform to continue the good work and reach more people from all walks of life.

“There is plenty more to do before boating participation fully reflects the diversity of the UK population and the RYA will continue to implement sustainable initiatives to work towards that longer-term goal.  Boating is a sport that anyone can do, at any level, and we need to get that message out to everyone.”

Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, said: “Congratulations to the RYA on becoming the first national governing body to achieve the Advanced Level of the Equality Standard for Sport.  

"In doing so they have demonstrated a commitment to embedding equality throughout the organisation, which will prove fundamental to making sailing a truly inclusive sport in the UK.

"This an important milestone in the history of the Equality Standard for Sport, with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games being the only other organisation to reach this level. 
 
“We will continue to strive to reach this impressive standard ourselves and support all UK Sport funded partners, including every Olympic and Paralympic sport, to do the same.
 
“We wish the RYA every success in their ongoing equality work."
Share
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

News

Participants of the UK Sport Athlete To Coach programme taking part in a fireside conversation
UK Sport launches new programmes to support coaching across the high-performance community
21 May 2025
Headshot of Professor Nick Webborn CBE
Professor Nick Webborn CBE appointed new Chair of UK Sport
19 May 2025
Decoration image with the logos of UK Sport and Weirdo
Transforming fan experience: UK Sport introduces new engagement strategies for Olympic and Paralympic sports
15 May 2025
Looking to work in sport?
Find or advertise sports jobs in the UK
Search now
Our funders
  • Funded by UK Government
  • TNL partners
Who we work with
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • Logo of the UK Sports Institute
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
  • Logo of the British Elite Athletes Association
  • Logo for UK Coaching
  • Logo of Sport Resolutions
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About us
  • Our work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • Website terms and privacy policy
  • Editorial policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of Information
  • Welsh language scheme
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
6th Floor
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2025