The launch of a new policy at Cumbria Sport Partnership has led to a series of equality training courses being organised across the County.
The new policy ‘Cumbria Sport Partnership Equality Policy 2007 – 2010’ is about equality and fairness in sport and physical activity. It recognises that inequalities exist within sport that can prevent people from participating, and advocates addressing the balance so that ultimately more people have the opportunity to enjoy sport and physical activity.
The training courses, organised by the Cumbria Sport Partnership, are aimed at volunteers, coaches, officials and administrators from sports organisations and local clubs, to help increase the awareness and understanding in an effort to ensure that such clubs and coaching sessions are truly open to all, including disabled people. The courses are ‘Equality in your coaching’, ‘Safeguarding and Protecting Children’, ‘EDFS Disability Equality’ and will be held in March.
The courses have been organised as a direct result of the new policy, which has been produced by the Cumbria Sport Partnership Team and adopted recently by the Cumbria Sport Partnership Board to provide a co-ordinated approach to equality in sport.
The policy contains recommendations for a wide range of local delivers of sport and physical activity including the Governing Bodies of Sport in Cumbria, to implement a number of key equality issues including auditing, training, increasing awareness, promoting good practice, and monitoring and evaluating the differing needs of people in Cumbria.
Chris Athersmith, Chair of Cumbria Sport Partnership Board, said: ‘We are delighted to be taking steps in trying to understand the issues in Cumbria and will strive to address some of the inequalities that exist’.
‘We recognise the important role that sport can play in improving people’s quality of life and by embracing equality we hope to ensure that opportunities are available for all.’
Eddie Edge, Partnership Director said: ’Creating a more active, healthy, inclusive and safer Cumbria is at the forefront of all that Cumbria Sport Partnership strives to achieve and this policy takes us that much closer to achieving our aims.’
‘County Sports Partnerships are required to reach the Foundation level of The Equality Standard for Sport by March 2007. This standard is about making sure that we reduce the barriers to participation that face a very wide range of people whether it be through race, gender, disability, lack of facilities, or simply the cost.’
For more information regarding the Cumbria Sport Partnership Equality Policy, or for more information and to book a place on any of the training courses, please contact Nicola Cartwright at Cumbria Sport Partnership on 01229 827920 or email nicola.cartwright@barrowcrc.org.uk. Alternatively visit www.cumbriasport.com.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
The Equality Standard is a framework developed to assist sports organisationsto widen access and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity from under representative individuals groups and communities, especially women & girls, ethnic minority groups and disabled people. The standard has been adopted by all of the Home Counties Sports Councils, and helps assess the performance of County Sports Partnerships on all aspects of equality.
The Standard will enable Cumbria Sport Partnership to:
- Provide a framework for achieving equality in sport.
- Ensure democracy and the sound governance of the sport
- Increase the number of participants, members, coaches, officials, spectators and volunteers.
- Help meet legal duties
- Enhance the skills and knowledge base of Staff and Volunteers
- Increase active involvement in equality at every level
- Improve equality practices through monitoring and evaluation and review methods
- Improve chances of accessing funding and sponsorship
Cumbria Sport Partnership is one of 49 sub regional sport partnerships operating across England. Funded through Sport England, partners include Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council, Eden District Council, Allerdale Borough Council, Barrow Borough Council, South Lakeland District Council, Copeland Borough Council, English Federation of Disability Sport, Governing Bodies of Sport and the health authority.
Our purpose is to make Cumbria more active healthy and successful through sport and physical activity. Working with partners, our vision is for everyone in Cumbria to enjoy sport and physical activity as an integral part of everyday life.
Cumbria Sport facilitates a sporting infrastructure that works with all partners to support:
· The creation of a single system for sport in Cumbria
· Long term athlete development
· The development of school sport clubs and PE in schools
· The development of the Youth Games and the Cumbria Sports Awards and other competition programmes
· Coaching, club and workforce development
· Volunteer recruitment
· Facility planning and development