sport.walessport.wales/media/1836190/sport_wales_… · web view · 2016-07-06employing around...

Sport WalesPublic Sector Equality Duty Report

Reporting Period:March 2015-April 2016

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Content

Introduction

Background to Sport Wales

Management of equality and diversity within Sport Wales

Fostering good relations with those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Eliminating discrimination and advancing equality of opportunity

Eliminating discrimination and advancing equality in service usage

Eliminating discrimination and promoting equality in employment

Moving Forward

Appendix: Positive Action Case Studies

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Introduction

Sport Wales has made good progress during the last 12 months embedding the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 including the specific public sector duties set for Wales (listed in appendix 1), and on its progress toward meeting the 6 equality commitments made within the Sport Wales Strategic Equality Plan 2012-2016. These commitments are:

1. Embrace Equality and Diversity within Sport Wales and through our Policies2. Appropriately Engage, Consult, Inform and Challenge 3. Increase Female Participation in all Aspects of Sport4. Increase Participation amongst Disabled People in all Aspects of Sport5. Increase Participation in all Aspects of Sport amongst our Ethnic Minority

Communities6. Increase Participation in all Aspects of Sport amongst children from Deprived

Communities

Within this report, Sport Wales will demonstrate the work it has undertaken to meet the specific duties identified in appendix 1 and on the progress it has made against the commitments detailed above.

Background to Sport Wales

Sport Wales is the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and physical activity in Wales. We are the main adviser on sporting matters to the Welsh Government and are responsible for distributing National Lottery funds to both elite and grassroots sport in Wales.

Employing around 160 staff across 4 sites: Cardiff, Carmarthen, Deeside and Plas Menai, we fully subscribe to the Welsh Government's vision for a physically active and sporting nation, and aim to not only improve the level of sports participation at grassroots level but also to provide our aspiring athletes with the support required to compete successfully on the world stage.

We see our role as bringing partners and people together; local authorities, governing bodies of sport, communities, coaches, adults, young people, children and the entire nation to support, participate and excel in sport.

Our vision is simple: ‘Uniting a Proud Sporting Nation, where Every Child is hooked on Sport for Life.’

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Management of equality and diversity within Sport Wales

Equality Objectives

In January 2012, Sport Wales published specific and measurable outcome-focused equality objectives, the publishing of which followed a period of consultation with our staff, partners and key stakeholders. The objectives are recognised within our clearly defined priorities as set out in our Business Plan, which contributes to our vision of ‘Uniting a Proud Sporting Nation, where Every Child is hooked on Sport for Life’ and within local level planning

Development and transition into our Second Strategic Equality Plan

Extensive time and focus has been contributed to the development of our second Strategic Equality Plan, which will set out clear direction for our Equality work for the period 2016-2020. Our equality objectives will not only impact on Sport Wales as an organisation, but the whole sports sector and wider stakeholders. The development of our second Strategic Equality Plan has been a significant piece of work for the organisation this year. It has been managed as a project, with an appointed Project Manager (Sport Wales Corporate Equality Lead), Project Executive (Sport Wales Director) and a Development Team (Specific function equality leads). Our High Performing Organisation Sub Group have supported this work and have monitored progress.

Elements of this project have included

Review and analysis of progress and learning Mapping and identification of gaps Consideration for political drivers Alignment of Sport Wales strategy Development of thematic areas Consultation: All Staff, stakeholder and general public Training for Sport Wales Board and Directors Action planning Alignment to Sport Wales business planning The development of a system for scrutiny The development of the Strategic Equality Plan document The development of a communications Plan

Accountability

During the reporting period 2015-16. Work has focused around strategic development and scrutiny of Equality and Diversity. We have specifically looked at ownership and accountability from the top of the organisation. The decision was taken to disband our Equality Board and to develop three Board Sub Groups. (High Performing Organisation, Community Sport and Elite Sport). Each Board Sub Group now has a designated Equality

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Lead. The Equality Lead is responsibility for reporting progress to the Sub Group and advocating consideration for equality with respect to Sub Group business.

Fig 1 below outlines accountability and scrutiny for equality

Board Sub Group Equality Leads report progress against the quarterly milestones to their respective Board Sub Group.

The HPO Sub Group (High Performing Organisation) has overall responsibility for scrutiny and can request further

explanation from the relevant Board Sub Group where progress is limited. Sport Wales Corporate Equality Lead

attends this meeting and has overall responsibility for reporting progress and for providing support across all levels of

the organisation. Our annual equality report will be signed off by the HPO Group, who will develop recommendations

for Board to approve. The Sport Wales Corporate Equality Lead and Equality Lead for HR will coordinate the annual report with the Leadership Team.

Leadership

Leadership comes from the top of the organisation where there is full support for diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace and through our service provisions. Board members are regularly speaking and campaigning on equality and diversity issues with the government, challenging national governing bodies and partners on the work they are doing to remove barriers to sport participation and promoting our work through local and national media.

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Fostering good relations with those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Equality Impact Assessment

During 2015 Sport Wales revised its approach to Equality Impact Assessment, Equality Impact Assessment are now

conducted via facilitated group discussions at strategy and policy level.

Papers presented to Board and Board Sub Groups where required, should be accompanied by an Equality Impact

Assessment, both Board and Board Sub Group should provide scrutiny and should request further information as

required. Commencing April 2016 an Equality Impact Assessment log is contained within Sport Wales annual Business

Plan. The Sport Wales Leadership Team is responsible for ensuring that this is updated. The Sport Wales Equality Lead

will provide support and will undertake quality assurance screening.

Consultation and Engagement

Sport Wales undertakes an annual partner review survey; we are keen to engage with partners to self-reflect.

We have recently established our Equality and Diversity Critical Friends Group. This group consists of Equality Leads from a range of public sector organisations along with representatives from Equality Organisations including WEN Wales, Chwaraeteg and Diverse Cymru.

The purpose of group is to assist with the scrutiny of our key strategic work areas in relation to Equality, and to provide scrutiny in relation to our Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) process. Also, to provide reassurance and challenge where a second opinion is required.

The role of group members is to play a key consultative and ‘critical friend’ role through effective challenge, support and advice to Sport Wales, on the equality impact of their policies, procedures and strategic initiatives.

In addition to this Sport Wales has developed working relationships with organisations that represent equality or specifically work with under representative groups. We are keen to engage and work together with organisations that are ‘best placed’ and have expertise in the area of equality. For example, Sport Wales has recently commissioned WCVA to develop a long term Business Plan to increase participation in sport amongst BME Communities across Wales. We also commissioned Diverse Cymru to conduct a series of public consultation events during August 2015.

Equality networks that were originally established by Sport Wales, now operate independently. LGB@T Sport Cymru is now a constituted organisation and has accessed Sport Wales Funding to develop a website and to deliver training.

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Eliminating discrimination and advancing equality of opportunity amongst those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Headline successes

The Sport Wales Board better represents diversity - 55% of Board members are female.

Our Board Sub Groups have an appointed equality representative. A system for the scrutiny of equality work and assessment of impact has been

agreed. We have redeveloped our equality impact assessment process to make it relevant

and valuable. Equality measures are embedded into the organisation scorecard. Tackling inequalities in Community Sport is one of our community sport investment

outcomes. We invested £2.35 million in ‘Calls for Action’ funding in 2015, specifically to tackle

inequalities. Working in partnership with WCVA we were successful in engaging with the voluntary sector.

‘Asking the right questions’ resources to help support and challenge partners with respect to embedding equality have been developed and implemented.

Networks representing BME Community groups and the LGB&T Community have been established to support the sports sector. They now operate independently from Sport Wales.

Sport Wales commissioned comprehensive research into sport participation in BME Communities (2015).

Welsh Government Sponsored Bodies and equality partners have joined our Equality and Diversity Critical Friends Groups to provide advice and challenge on high level decision and strategy.

We have been awarded EHRC funding to recruit equality advisors to provide support to our sports.

Sports are now required to progress through the Equality Standard for Sport, a support package is provided to our sports. There are currently 10 NGBs working towards the intermediate level and 5 NGBs are working towards preliminary level.

Sport Wales is an active member of the UK Sports Councils Equality Group, the group has recently developed a website to support sports and has produced a range of guidance information on protected characteristics, e.g.; Transgender Guidance for sport.

The sport sector in Wales has developed a Governance and Leadership Framework for Wales which sets out good governance and leadership principles for the sector. The fourth principle refers to a balanced, inclusive and skilled board and, as a minimum, Sport Wales expects that sports bodies ensure that their board

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composition adequately reflects the community served by the organisation and the diversity of society.

Sport Wales successfully commissioned WCVA to develop a long term business plan to increase participation amongst BME Communities in Wales.

The Sport Wales National Outdoor Centre (Plas Menai) has completed a refurbishment of its 300 level accommodation. All the rooms have been modernised and refreshed. This includes the disabled access room.

Plas Menai runs a Saturday pay & play multi activity club for children called Menai Dragons, its aim to make participation in the outdoors safe and sustainable to all. They have worked with partnership with Gwynedd Youth, Gwynedd Blind Society to run team building and activity days.

Our Communications team has developed an equalities plan to showcase diversity in sport.During 2015, a programme to roll out IT equipment to staff to allow for remote and flexible working has successfully been delivered.

Advancing Equality of Opportunity in participation in sport

Sport Wales School Sport Survey (2015), illustrates an increase in participation in relation to our ‘Hooked on Sport’ measure (participating at least 3 times a week) amongst girls, disabled people, ethnic minority communities, children from deprived communities.Sport Wales recognise that priority should be given to tackling inequalities in sport.

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Fig 3: (Sport Wales School Sport Survey Diversity Stats 2015)

Sport Wales Active Adult Survey: 2014

The 2014 results show an increase in the ‘hooked on sport’ measure (participating at least 3 times a week) since 2012 (41%), building on the rise in Welsh sport participation seen since 2008 (29%) and sustaining participation since the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

The survey reveals that there are still gaps in participation between males (46%) and females (35%), disabled (29%) and non-disabled (48%) and those from Wales’ most deprived areas are less likely to be hooked (39%). The survey revealed that 45% of Welsh speakers are hooked on sport.

Sport Wales Further Education (FE) Survey 2015

The Survey reveals gaps in participation between males (59%) and females (40%). A difference in frequent participation rates between students with or without disabilities is shown. 32% of students with a disability were hooked on sport compared with 51% of those with no reported disability. By ethnic group, students from mixed/multiple ethnic groups

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were more likely to be hooked on sport than white students, with 59% reporting taking part three or more times a week compared with 49% of white students. As with the School Sport Survey findings, fewer Asian/Asian British students reported being hooked on sport (38%). On this occasion, we are unable to report the percentage of Black/Black British students who were hooked on sport due to a smaller positive response to this measure from this cohort.

Hooked on sport and Welsh language speakers

The School Sport Survey and Active Adults Survey both show that Welsh speaking respondents are more likely to be frequent participants than non-Welsh speaking respondents. The FE Sport Survey reflects this pattern – overall, 58% of Welsh speakers are hooked on sport compared with 46% of non-Welsh speakers.

Diversity in the Governance of Welsh Sport (As of January 2016)

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Research and Insight

Understanding participation and nonparticipation in sport amongst Black and minority ethnic groups in Wales, 2015

The research identified a wide-range of constraints which reduce the likelihood of people from BME communities taking part in sport. These broad factors are not unique to BME communities, nor will they be new to those working in sports development, yet their prevalence and intensity should not be underestimated.

Social alienation – For asylum seekers as well as older migrants who lack language skills this was particularly an issue. Without contacts and friendly support people are less likely to be aware of sporting opportunities or have company to go with them. For those with children they are also less likely to have family or friends who can provide childcare.

Racism – Many viewed racism as an unremarkable and inevitable aspect of everyday life in Wales with accounts ranging from hatred to misunderstanding. The findings suggest that racism was more common in rural areas such as ‘the valleys’ and may be most frequently experienced by white minorities (such as Polish and Gypsy Travellers). While many experienced racism playing sport, for others sport provided a space to escape the discrimination experienced in their everyday life.

Inappropriate provision: A lack of ethnic minority coaches is particularly an issue for those lacking English skills, while for South Asian (predominantly Muslim) women and those women conscious of their bodies a lack of single-sex facilities/sessions is a major barrier.

Cultural Expectations: a) Gender roles: The research highlighted evidence of some females receiving less

support or being actively deterred from participating in sport by their family and wider community.

b.) Sport vs. Academic priorities: For many adults that took part in the research there was an acknowledgment that their parents (first and older second generation migrants) had not seen the value of sport, and that education, viewed as a passport to a better life, had been their main priority.

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Sport Wales National Centre Customer Survey 2015

Number of participants 444

Sex %Male 226 57.95%Female 160 41.03%Transgender 4 1.03%Prefer not to say 54

Sexual Orientation %Heterosexual/ straight 351 96.16%Gay man 4 1.10%Gay woman/ lesbian 3 0.82%Bisexual 7 1.92%Prefer not to say 79Excluding prefer not to say not answered 365 100%

Age16 - 19 years 31 8.45%20 - 24 years 36 9.81%25 - 34 years 88 23.98%35 - 44 years 69 18.80%45 - 54 years 76 20.71%55 - 64 years 50 13.62%65+ years 17 4.63%Prefer not to say 77Excluding Prefer not to say/not answered 367 100.00%

DisabilityYes 18 4.74%No 362 95.26%Prefer not to say 64Excluding Prefer not to say/not answered 380 100.00%

Disability typePhysical disability 7 38.89%Learning disability 3 16.67%Sensory: visual impairment 1 5.56%Sensory: hearing impairment 6 33.33%Not answered 1 5.56%Excluding Prefer not to say/not answered 18 100.00%Welsh speakers

I'm fluent in Welsh 55 14.25%

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I speak a fair amount of Welsh 17 4.40%I can only speak a little Welsh 43 11.14%I can only say a few words 92 23.83%Do not speak any Welsh 179 46.37%Prefer not to say 58Excluding Prefer not to say/not answered 386 100.00%

ReligionChristianity (including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations)

168 47.46%

None 167 47.18%Buddhism 1 0.28%Islam 2 0.56%Hinduism 4 1.13%Judaism 0 0.00%Sikhism 1 0.28%Agnostic 5 1.41%Other 6 1.69%No response 90Excluding Prefer not to say/not answered/none 187 100.00%

RaceWhite Welsh 205 55.26%White Other British (English/ Scottish/ Northern Irish/ British

122 32.88%

Other White 25 6.74%WHITEAsian/ Asian Welsh/ Asian British 7 1.89%White Irish (Eire) 5 1.35%Mixed 0 0.00%Chinese/ Chinese Welsh/ Chinese British 3 0.81%Black/ Black Welsh/ Black British 4 1.08%Other 0 0.00%NON WHITEPrefer not to say 73Excluding Prefer not to say/not answered/none 371 100.00%

Specific Equality questions were added to this survey in relation to the following;

Please tell us what you like about the facilities and how they meet your personal needs

Are there any changes or improvements that Sport Wales could make so that the facilities better suit your personal needs

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Comments included;

3 (0.06%) users said there was poor access for disabled people/people with mobility problems; better access needed for disabled; more parking spaces for disabled1 (0.02%) user said that a welsh language service was needed.

Grants information

Sport Wales’s online grants management system has recently been launched. This will bring about significant improvements to our reporting capabilities.The new on-line grants system will capture varying data although we will prioritise the impact of grant investment upon those who share a protected equality characteristics.

The new online system will allow us to capture our impact around the following categories:

Age Welsh Language Ethnicity. (In particular BME) Gender Disability

The data will be used to further inform the work of the Community Sport Team. Where inequalities exist in accessing of grant aid. Positive action schemes will be deployed.

During 2015, Community Grant allocation equates to £1,729,818 and Development Grant allocation equates to £1,465,851.

Eliminating discrimination and promoting equality in employment

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Embrace Equality and Diversity within Sport Wales and through our Policies

The key outcome from this objective is that we become an organisation that is: ‘Diverse, where our staff feel valued and treated fairly’.

We want our staff to excel regardless of their gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion or belief, culture, disability, background or life experiences, and therefore look to develop a diverse and inclusive working environment where staff are allowed to be themselves, their differences are recognised and their contributions are valued.

Our 3 goals for diversity and inclusion in the workplace are therefore:

1. Workforce Diversity: Ensuring we have a diverse, high performing workforce.

2. Workplace Inclusion: Developing a culture that encourages creativity, flexibility, and fairness to enable individuals to be themselves, have their differences recognised, perform to their full potential and have their contributions valued.

3. Sustainability and Accountability: Developing structures and strategies to equip managers and supervisors with the ability to manage diversity within their teams, be accountable, measure and act on results of these measures, and embed a culture of inclusion within their team and the wider organisation.

This is reported within the section management and leadership of equality in Sport Wales

Workforce Diversity

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CURRENT EQUALITY STATISTICS FOR SPORT WALES (As of February 2016)

Age %Less than 20 <520-24 <525-29 7.530-34 8.735-39 20.240-44 14.545-49 14.550-54 13.355-59 11.660-64 2.965-69 <570-74 <575-79 <5Over 80 years <5No age listed <5AVERAGE AGE 43 YEARS

Religion %Prefer Not to Say 28.3Other Philosophical, Spiritual Belief or Religion <5

No Religion <5Christianity 37.6Church of England <5Nothing detailed 30.1

Hours by GenderFemale Full-time 31.2% Female Part-time 23.7%Male Full-time 39.9% Male Part-time 5.2%

Maternity No’sLeavers in 12 months to 01/02/16 5

Disability %

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Ethnicity %Prefer Not to Say <5White 81.5Asian - Chinese <5Black/African/Caribbean - Caribbean

<5

Mixed/Multiple - Other Backgrounds

<5

Mixed/Multiple - White & Black Caribbean

<5

Nothing detailed 12.7

Sexual Orientation %Prefer Not to Say 5.2Heterosexual/Straight 68.2Gay Woman/Lesbian <5Gay Man <5Nothing detailed 26

Gender %Male 45.1Female 54.9

Hours %Full- time 72.8Part-time 27.2

Yes <5No 5.8Nothing Detailed 93

Marriage & Civil Partnerships %Divorced <5Married 46.8 Partnership 9.8Separated <5Single 16.8Widowed <5Nothing Detailed 18.5Prefer Not to Say <5

Specific Equality Training and briefings

Training Opportunity Protected Characteristic Offered to: Date of training Sport Wales Equality Objectives: Staff consultation

Age, Sex, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Gender Reassignment, Ethnicity, Religion and Belief, Marriage and Civil Partnership, pregnancy and maternity, Welsh Language, Socio Economic Disadvantage.

All Staff May – September 2015

An introduction to Equality and diversity


Sport Wales Institute Staff

5th November

Equality Impact Assessment: An Introduction to Sport Wales Process


All Staff 23rd and 25th of June

Equality Impact Assessment

Age, Sex, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Gender

Leadership Team

9th November 2015

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Welsh Speaker %Fluent 6.4Partial <5Non 22.5Prefer Not to Say 69.9

Nationality %British 39.3English <5Scottish <5Welsh 39.3South African 16.8Other <5Nothing Detailed <5Prefer Not to Say <5

Reassignment, Ethnicity, Religion and Belief, Marriage and Civil Partnership, pregnancy and maternity, Welsh Language, Socio Economic Disadvantage.

Unconscious Bias (Webinar session)


All Staff 15th May 2015

Dyslexia Awareness Training

Disability All Staff 9th, 18th and 25th October

Welsh Language Welsh Language One staff member requested this

On-going

Sport Wales Staff Day:In insight targeting under representative groups (Welsh Refugee CouncilPositive Futures)

Socio Economic Disadvantage, Sex, Ethnicity

All Staff 3rd February 2015

An Introduction to Sport Wales Equality Objectives


All new starters

On-going

Equality: Roles and Accountability


Sport Wales Directors

4th November 2015

Equality: Board role and responsibility

Age, Sex, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Gender Reassignment, Ethnicity, Religion and Belief, Marriage and Civil Partnership, pregnancy and maternity, Welsh Language,

Board members

24th November

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Socio Economic Disadvantage.

Embedding Equality into Sport Wales Business Planning


Leadership Team

17th December 2016

Work Place Inclusion: Staff Survey:

Over the last 12 months, Sport Wales have seen an improvement in its inclusivity index, raising from 78.29% in 2014/15 to 81.46% in 2015/2016. This index looks to understand whether staff members feel they can be themselves at work and how safe they feel challenging and speaking up in the workplace.

I feel I am treated with respect with regard to my… %

Age 92.3

Disability 92.3

Gender Re-assignment 90.8

Marriage and Civil Partnership 82.4

Pregnancy and Maternity 92.3

Race 89.4

Gender 90.1

Sexual Orientation 90.8

Complaints, Grievances, Disciplinaries:

Sport Wales has an Anti-Bullying, Harassment, Discrimination and Victimisation policy which clearly sets out standards of behaviour, detailing in particular those that are deemed unacceptable by the organisation and the likely consequences if any breach of these behaviours is founded. Processes are also available for complaints made by the general public. At present we do not proactively record whether the complaints or grievances made are related to any of the protected characteristics cited within the Equality Act 2010.

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Of the five complaints or grievances received, one complaint or grievance for this period was attributed to bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation of individuals within the protected groups.

Four disciplinary hearings were conducted during 2015/2016 for various matters, but again none were related to bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation. The employees ranged from 26-75 years and represented 100% males. Due to the small number of disclosures in relation to ethnic origin, religion, disability and sexual orientation, we have not been able to report on these areas.

Leavers

2015/16 saw a staff turnover rate 5%. The Sport Wales leavers spanned all age ranges with the majority falling within the 25-39 years age category (78%). Furthermore, 67% were women and the remaining 33% men. None of leavers disabled. Due to the small numbers of disclosures in relation to ethnic origin, religion, disability and sexual orientation, we have not been able to report on these areas.

Recruitment

Equality monitoring data is provided voluntarily by applicants for Sport Wales vacancies.

591 individuals applied for 32 roles within 2015/16. 12% of applicants were from BME backgrounds. 21% were female, 59% male, with 20% preferring not to say and <1% citing other. The age breakdown of candidates is as follows:

Age %

<25 years 42

25-34 years 16

35-44 years 17

45-54 years 6

55-64 years <5

65+ years <5

Prefer not to say/blank return 18

Equality Mark and Standards:

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Sport Wales have achieved the Stonewall Workplace Equality Chartermark, ranking 3 rd out of 7 in the Leisure & Arts classification, again demonstrating our commitment to creating an inclusive work environment for LGBT staff, applicants and the community it serves.

Moving Forward

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An internal mapping and review exercise, which included learning from Equality Impact Assessments, outlined the following themes for improvement:

1. Research and insight: A greater understanding of the profile of sport and our elite athletes, further insight to understand customer needs and improved reliability of data.

2. Embedding culture change for Sport Wales: Equality objectives reflected in all of Sport Wales’ functions and greater quality assurance of Equality Impact Assessments. The governance and workforce of Sport Wales to better reflect diversity. Staff to have the skills to manage diversity.

3. Embedding culture change for funded partners: Improved scrutiny in relation to equality and diversity, clear expectations for partners, the sporting workforce to understand diversity and better represent the community that it serves. Sports boards to better reflect diversity, and equality is embedded into planning and monitoring processes.

4. Customer need: A greater focus on customer needs and satisfaction.

5. Education and Training: Educate the sport sector in culture and diversity awareness.

6. Engagement: Collaboration and involvement with organisations who represent those who share a protected characteristic.

Sport Wales Strategic Equality Plan for the period 2016-2020 will be published on the Sport Wales website on the 1st April 2016.

The intention for year one of the Strategic Equality Plan is to further develop ‘whole organisational engagement’. Through delivering our equality action plan for 2016/17 we will build on our knowledge and will further develop our leadership team to continue to lead change across the organisation. In year one, we hope to achieve the following outcomes:

The Leadership team has a thorough understanding of our progress as a whole organisation.

The Leadership team are confident, accountable and demonstrate a level of ‘Unconscious Competence’ in relation to Equality Impact Assessment.

In relation to our externally facing work we will communicate our Equality Objectives and work with all of our partners to ensure that they understand how they must contribute. We will set clear expectations for partners in the future. In addition, the action plan focuses on understanding the profile of the sporting infrastructure, our customers and their needs. We will identify where there are gaps and opportunities for positive action.

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Appendix

1: Examples of recent Sport Wales Communication in relation to gender equality.

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2: Positive Action Case Studies

Cricket without Boundaries

The Cricket without Boundaries project aims to make cricket more accessible for Black and Minority Ethnic communities in Cardiff and create a thriving BME cricket network capable increasing and sustaining participation in cricket.The project focuses on young people aged 13-25 and provides a range of activities including doorstep clubs, indoor cricket and mid-week cricket.It is coordinated by Cricket Wales in partnership with Glamorgan CCC and a variety of delivery partners including Welsh Asians, Grangetown Allstars and Cardiff Gymkhana Cricket Clubs plus Cardiff Youth Service, YMCA Plasnewydd, Oasis Cardiff and Sport Cardiff.In total, 7 ‘street’ hubs were set up in places where there was little cricket provision and no infrastructure. Across these hubs 81 children participated with activities arranged on the children’s doorsteps, ensuring there was no logistical disadvantage.

One of the aims of the project was to develop an informed local network and forum of local leaders and volunteers so that they are ready to sustain this activity. A recruitment campaign took place using social media, word of mouth and attendance at meetings. 10 volunteers became ‘ambassadors’ and these have now progressed to the carry out some volunteer training.

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Bridgend Girl Power

Current statistics show that 30% of children are obese, and that in the UK 1 in 3 girls aged over 11 are overweight. Girl’s participation in physical activity was identified as an area of focus for Bridgend County Borough Council, after research revealed a decrease in numbers between school years 6 – 9. The council decided to review the facilities and services available for girls, In 2012, a consultation with local girls was carried out, which aimed to establish the key areas of importance within the programmes, and to highlight the main barriers preventing girl’s from being more active. Individual groups were set up in local schools to be run by the girls themselves, giving them ownership of the programmes and encouraging them to take the lead.

Since being created, girls have been given the opportunity to take part in modern activities such as Zumba, ‘glow in the dark’ sports, tag rugby and aqua sports, They have set up a series of affordable girl-only “Funky Fitness” classes for 13-18 year olds and have initiated the “Pass It On” campaign which encourages girls to pass on good deeds, such as taking someone to a fitness class if they are too shy to attend alone. They also helped to establish the US Girls programme, which involves offering different sports activities, as well as the chance to get your hair and nails done, with the option to dip in and out of activities. This has seen the biggest ever participation rate for girls attending after school activities.

Spotlight on participation for female refugees The Welsh Refugee Council’s Women Get Active project is a 12 month pilot programme for female asylum seekers and refugees. Participants are women who typically have been excluded from or unable to access physical exercise either for cultural, economic, or religious reasons.

The programme includes offering three one-hour exercise sessions a week, to two different groups. The participants are offered basic diet and nutrition information, and are encouraged to participate in additional fitness activities. To encourage participation, the programme includes a transport reimbursement scheme, and free crèche facilities. Those who are interested in being champions for their respective communities are being supported, coached and trained to become accredited either as a Sports Leader or Sports Coach.All participants have said that they have seen definite improvements in both their fitness levels and body shape, and are now very keen to do more exercise, try new activities, and learn more about diet and nutrition. A considerable number of the participants are taking anti-depressants and/or sleeping tablets, but since exercising with the programme, the women have said that they have noticed a reduction in their depressive symptoms, with several approaching their doctors to reduce their medical dosage. The programme has allowed the participants to make new friends and connections, both with the project coordinator, and each other.

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Gym solution puts families first

Gym and Junior is a project which operates a unique, family friendly exercise facility in a converted church in the Cathays area of Cardiff. The project came about after a survey was taken to find out what local parents would like from a fitness facility, being aware that many new mums are trying to lose baby weight and keep fit. Overwhelmingly, many of the people surveyed said that going to a gym wasn’t an option, as the increased cost and logistical issues from cost of gym membership, childcare fees and finding regular childcare in the evenings and at weekends made it too expensive and difficult to organise. Gym and Junior allows adults of all ages to exercise in a dedicated room, whilst their children have an active soft-play area immediately adjacent. With this initiative Gym and Junior overcomes childcare as a barrier to exercise, thereby allowing parents to work out guilt-free without the expense of childcare.

Positive Futures

Positive Futures works with the most hard to reach children across Gwent. Children that display anti-social behaviour, those who are turned off from education. Positive futures uses sport as a tool to change the lives of perhaps the hardest to reach children. It provides diversionary activities, helps to build key skills and confidence and shows them that the future is positive. The Police Crime Commissioner along with Newport Live manages and delivers the project. Sport Wales provided 70K to develop the project across Gwent in 2015. So far 7,285 individuals have been engaged in the programme, and 384 young people have achieved qualifications with 16 moving onto employment.

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