About diversity

Diversity and equality are about the rights of the individual. But when fully embraced, they will enrich the culture of your organisation and the sport you represent.

At its heart, diversity means enabling the participation of under-represented groups. It's about giving everybody an equal opportunity to engage in sport – as competitors, volunteers, officials or administrators – regardless of their ability or background.

Protecting the rights of individuals and advancing equality of opportunity for all is not just a crucial responsibility of all National Governing Bodies; ensuring their actions and decisions meet the Equality Act 2010 is also a legally obligation.

Under the Act, the following are classed as protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex and sexual orientation.

While every NGB is encouraged to promote positive action across all protected characteristics, this toolkit provides support to these specific under-represented groups. It has been created by Sport England's national equality partners the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS), Sporting Equals, StreetGames and Women's Sport & Fitness Foundation (WSFF). It uses their collaborative 70% proof banner as together, these charities offer unique and valuable insight and expertise into around 70% of your market: disabled people, women, people from black and ethnic minorities, and young people living in disadvantaged communities.

For more information on how you can support under-represented groups, take the challenge.

For details of organisations able to provide further information on equality within sport and on equality issues in general, see our Contact us page.
Please visit the Office of Public Sector Information website to read more about the Equality Act 2010 and protected characteristics.