Equality and Diversity

Scottish Hockey has long been committed to promoting equality and diversity in all aspects of our sport, including those participating in hockey as well as those managing the sport. As evidence of this commitment we are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the Intermediate Level of The Equality Standard in Sport.

Sporting organisations including National Governing Bodies, Sports Councils, Local Authority organisations and sporting trusts and foundations etc. are required to achieve varying levels of the Equality Standard in Sport. It is framework for assisting sports organisations to widen access and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity from under represented individuals, groups and communities. Based around two broad themes: developing organisations and developing their services, there are four levels of achievement; Foundation, Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced.

Scottish Hockey has been working hard over the past two years and we are delighted to that we have progressed from the Preliminary Level been awarded the Intermediate Level.  This makes Scottish Hockey one of only five organisations in Scotland to achieve this level. As an indication of how far on we are, the next level, Advanced, has only been achieved by one organisation to date, LOCOG, the 2012 Olympic Games Organisers.

In order to reach this level Scottish Hockey has worked had at ensuring that Equality & Diversity issues are imbedded in the heart of our organisation. We have developed an Equality Action plan which has evolved as a result of on-going work over the last few years and a growing mass of evidence collected through audits and specifically focused projects in order to better understand who our participants and workforce are and what barriers there are to participation in the sport of hockey in Scotland. The Action Plan details the objectives and actions that Scottish Hockey will set about achieving going forward.  The plan is a flexible working document and will evolve, taking into consideration any new evidence resulting from further audits and information gathering.

Based on the information collated in these audits we have implemented several programmes and projects aimed at either addressing any inequalities; or working alongside partner organisations who represent those with protected characteristics to establish if there are any barriers stopping them playing hockey. These projects include the likes of the Aberdeen Asset Women in Coaching Programme, which gave funding to assist in developing top level female coaches; we have had increased involvement in disability hockey, making the sport more accessible or those with impairments. We have actively sought to balance the gender make up of our Board and have targeted the development of young female umpires. In addition to this we have developed projects getting women back into the sport later on in life and we have built up relationships with a range of partner organisations including BEMIS who represent Ethnic Groups, LEAP Sports who represent LGBT groups and Scottish Disability Sport Scotland amongst others.

 

We are very proud of this achievement and are delighted to be one of only a handful of organisations to have reached this level.  Should you want further information on this, or have any stories relating to equality and diversity, please contact Louise McIntyre.

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