At England Athletics we work to grow opportunities for everyone to experience athletics & running, to enable them to reach their full potential. Our vision is that athletics & running will be the most inclusive and popular sport in England, led by a network of progressive clubs and organisations and supported by a sustainable, respected and trusted governing body.
To improve equality, diversity and inclusion in athletics and running we will:
- Ensure that the principles of equality and diversity are owned and are embedded throughout the Leadership of England Athletics
- Improve our understanding of equality and diversity issues within our organisation by better understanding the equality profile of our sport and organisation
- Raise awareness of and embed the principles of equality and diversity throughout our organisation by regularly reviewing our policies, procedures and practices to ensure they are inclusive and do not discriminate; and provide information for clubs, coaches, officials and members to help them tackle inequality and discrimination in athletics and running
- Understand and tackle barriers for under-represented groups in athletics and bring athletics and running to new audiences. We will encourage all sections of society to participate in our sport
Our commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion across our sport can be demonstrated though:
- Our current work aiming to achieve the Advanced Level of the Equality Standard for Sport by 2021
- Our work as a signatory to the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation
- Being a signatory of the Governments Sports Charter anti-homophobia and transphobia campaign
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Board Champion:
“My personal belief is that businesses should constantly look to improve conditions for their employees, stakeholders, communities, and environment; In effect what one would term core corporate social responsibility. But moral responsibility, especially for public, sporting organisations is also of paramount importance, and goes further and deeper; it’s about the need for such bodies to address and embrace such issues as inclusion, diversity, equality – and ultimately dignity.”
Leshia Hawkins