Our new diversity and inclusion action plan

We’re pleased to announce the launch of our latest Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which sets out our renewed commitment to creating a more diverse, inclusive and supportive workplace.

The new plan builds on the progress we’ve already made and reflects feedback from colleagues across the organisation, while setting out the priorities and the practical steps we’ll be taking over the short, medium and long term too. 

The DIAP meets the standards of our own Code for Sports Governance and our Public Sector Equality Duties, which require us to publish our equality objectives and report on progress.

Our vision

Sport England’s vision for sport and physical activity is at the front and centre of Uniting the Movement, our 10-year strategy.

Through it and our day-to-day actions, we’re determined to help people in England live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives, and we are deeply committed to delivering the real and lasting change needed to achieve that. 

Our approach to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) (or to Equality Objectives, using the terminology of the Public Sector Equality Duties) is embedded in all areas of our work, both nationally and locally, because everyone deserves a positive experience when they are playing sport or being physically active, although this is not always what they feel.

How we will work

‘We are Inclusive’ is one of Sport England’s core values and because we have to practice what we preach, we firmly believe that we are at our best when everyone feels included.

We encourage every colleague to set an individual goal for themselves about being inclusive and we also want our teams to model inclusive behaviours in every interaction and decision.

These need to be everyday actions like respectful conversations, fair decision-making or real opportunities for development and progression.
 

Plus, we try to always to speak up, challenge non-inclusive behaviours and celebrate the diversity and strengths of our people.

But this plan goes well beyond any individual, internal goals for Sport England.

Uniting the Movement means we need to lead the sport and activity industry with intent and create national impact in a way that surpasses positive changes within our own organisation.

Our Tackling Inequalities Roadmap and Inclusion by Design work are examples of our leading from the front.

We’re committed to sharing our learnings with partners, in order to help spread good practice, and to deliver meaningful change.

A focus on equality, inclusion and belonging is our standard, and not as an added extra because, particularly when all the people taking part feel valued and supported, sport and activity have the ability to change lives.

Our equality objectives

Our latest Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan highlights four new equality objectives that have been developed in partnership with colleagues and are based on evidence and insight. 

These equality objectives are:

• To take proactive steps to build and sustain a workforce that reflects the diversity of wider society and the communities that we work with.
• To develop the awareness, confidence and skills of the Sport England workforce to drive forward our ambition to provide leadership to the sporting sector on inclusion.
• To promote a culture of inclusivity across Sport England by prioritising actions that create meaningful engagement with the ambitions and actions in the Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan at every level across the organisation.
• To act on new upcoming legislation, ensuring all our policies and practices align with evolving equality and inclusion legislation.

These goals will guide our actions over the next four years and everyone in our organisation has a role to play in our success.

Together we will remove barriers, measure progress with published targets and build a culture that supports equality at every level.