Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Equality Act 1998 requires Sport Northern Ireland, while carrying out its functions, to have:
Public authorities are also required to produce an Equality Scheme which explains how they intend to fulfil these duties. The Equality Scheme Action Plan is the output document of the equality commitments we have made.
Sport Northern Ireland’s Equality Scheme sets out how we intend to comply with these duties, including the screening of policies for equality implications, conducting equality impact assessments, maintaining a register of organisations and individuals with whom we will consult in respect of equality of opportunity.
Download Sport Northern Ireland’s most recent equality-related publications:
Equality Scheme Action Plan 2025/26
Disability Action Plan (1st January 2025-31st March 2026)
Disability In Sport Engagement and Delivery Plan 2024/26
Women In Sport Engagement and Delivery Plan 2024/26
The Racial Inclusion Engagement and Delivery Plan 2024/26
Equality Impact Assessment Sport NI Corporate Plan 2020/25
Sport Northern Ireland Section 75 Equality Consultation
In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and commitments made within our published Equality Scheme, Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) currently is consulting on the equality screening, Equality Impact Assessments, as identified below of the following new or significantly revised policies and plans attached. This also contains Rural Needs Impact Assessments.
Sport NI would welcome your views on the outcome of the screening process, or Equality Impact Assessment Process in relation to our Section 75 obligations and in particular Sport NI’s statutory duties: (i) to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation; between men and women generally; between persons with a disability and persons without; and between persons with dependents and persons without; (ii) to promote good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.
The closing dates for submissions are identified below.
Responses should be submitted to:
A Campbell
The House of Sport
2a Upper Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 5LA
Or via email to alicampbell@sportni.net
If you would like the opportunity to meet with a member of Sport Northern Ireland to discuss any of the above policies, please contact A Campbell.
Disability Action Plan 2024-26
Disability Action Plan (1st January 2025-31st March 2026)
Sport Northern Ireland’s (Sport NI) Disability Action Plan 2024-2026 sets out how we intend to meet our statutory obligations and how disability issues will be more effectively mainstreamed by making sure they are central to policy and decision making within Sport NI.
This Disability Action Plan is a statement of Sport NI’s commitment to meeting its statutory obligations to have regard to the need to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people and to encourage participation by disabled people in public life.
Uploaded: 3rd June 2025
Section 75 Screening Document for Disability Action Plan 1st January 2025 to 31st March 2026
NB This is an interim DAP and the 2026-2031 DAP is in development to align to the Corporate Planning cycle.
Now closed.
Sport NI Environmental Climate Change Policy
Sport-NI-Environmental-Climate-Change-Policy 2023
In addressing the issues relating to the environment, climate change, and sustainable development Sport NI aims to:
• Ensure compliance with all legislative and government policy requirements in terms of environmental responsibility.
• Ensure environmental issues and climate change are considered in the development of Sport NI’s Corporate and Business Plans.
• Ensure environmental issues and climate change are considered in the implementation of Sport NI’s operations including (but not limited to): administration, investment (both capital and revenue), advocacy, and service provision.
• Promote responsible and efficient use of natural and recycled resources.
• Ensure that staff are able to implement the Environmental Policy by raising awareness and educating employees to ensure that all staff have the knowledge, skills and understanding to implement this Policy.
Uploaded: 20th March 2023
Section 75 Screening Document for Sport NI Environmental-Climate-Change-Policy
Rural Needs Impact Assessment document for Environmental Climate Change Policy
Now Closed.
Community Planning Investment Programme 2025/26
The aim of the Community Planning Investment Programme is to increase participation in sport and physical activity by supporting local councils to deliver inclusive, community-based projects. These projects are co-designed to respond to local priorities and tackle barriers to participation, including those experienced by rural dwellers. The programme promotes social inclusion, health and well-being, and accessible, no-cost or low-cost physical activity, especially for underrepresented groups.
In line with the Sport NI Equality Scheme, you are invited to review the Section 75 and RNIA screening outcomes by clicking on the links below. We welcome any comments which should be forwarded to info@sportni.net
Uploaded: 30th July 2025
Section 75 Screening and EQIA Document for Community Investment Programme 2025/26
Rural Needs Impact Assessment Document for Community Investment Programme 2025/26
Closing Date: 22nd October 2025
Special Olympics Ireland 2025/26
The investment will deliver sporting activities to people with learning disability across Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on participation in sport, thereby improving physical and mental health, educational attainment, while supporting volunteers and helping to address social exclusion.
In line with the Sport NI Equality Scheme, you are invited to review the Section 75 and RNIA screening outcomes by clicking on the links below. We welcome any comments which should be forwarded to info@sportni.net
Uploaded:30th July 2025
Rural Needs Impact Assessment Document for Special Olympics Ireland Investment 2025/26
Section 75 Screening and EQIA Document for Special Olympics Ireland Investment 2025/26.
Closing Date: 22nd October 2025
Safety in Motorsport
This investment in Motorsport is designed to improve the levels of safety for motorsport participants and spectators across the multiple disciplines of the sport. The aims are to enhance safety practices at motorsport events and venues, to upgrade the physical infrastructure at motorsport events and venues, reducing the hazards for both participants and spectators and to enhance the perception of motorsport among participants, spectators and the wider public by promoting best practice safety protocols, ultimately mitigating chances of injury or fatality.
In line with the Sport NI Equality Scheme, you are invited to review the Section 75 and RNIA screening outcomes by clicking on the links below. We welcome any comments which should be forwarded to info@sportni.net
Uploaded: 8th September 2025
Section 75 Screening Document for Safety in Motorsport
Rural Needs Impact Assessment Document for Safety in Motorsport
Closing Date: 1st December 2025
Special Olympics Investment Revised for 2024-2025
The purpose of this specific project is to provide investment into Special Olympics Ireland to deliver sporting activities to people with learning disabilities across Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on participation in sport, thereby improving physical and mental health, improving educational attainment, supporting volunteers, and helping to address social exclusion.
Uploaded 11th March 2025:
Section 75 Screening Document for Special Olympics Ireland 24-25
Rural Needs Impact Assessment Document for Special Olympics Investment 2024/25
Closing date: 6th June 2025
Outscape Investment 2025/26
Support for the delivery of the Outdoor Recreation Action Plan (2025–2026) through investment into Outscape.
The 6 key themes highlighted in the ORAP are noted below, within each of these themes are a number of actions please see the link below: Structures and Partnerships/ Legislation, Policy and Responsibilities/ Making the Outdoors More Accessible/ Investment of Time, Energy and Resources/ Communication, Marketing and Promotion and Research and Monitoring.
https://www.sportni.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Our-Great-Outdoors.pdf
In line with the Sport NI Equality Scheme, you are invited to review the Section 75 and RNIA screening outcomes by clicking on the links below. We welcome any comments which should be forwarded to info@sportni.net
Uploaded: 31st July 2025
Section 75 Screening Document for Outscape Investment 2025/26
Rural Needs Impact Assessment Document for Outscape Investment 2025/26
Closing date: 23rd October 2025
Special Olympics Investment
Revised for 2024-2025
The purpose of this specific project is to provide investment into Special Olympics Ireland to deliver sporting activities to people with learning disabilities across Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on participation in sport, thereby improving physical and mental health, improving educational attainment, supporting volunteers, and helping to address social exclusion.
Uploaded: 11th March, 2025
Section 75 Screening Document for Special Olympics Ireland Investment 24-25
Rural Needs Assessment Document for Special Olympics Ireland Investment 24-25
Rural Needs Assessment Document for Special Olympics Ireland Investment 24-25-update
Now Closed
Disability Action Plan 2024
Sport Northern Ireland’s (Sport NI) Disability Action Plan 2024 sets out how we intend to meet our statutory obligations and how disability issues will be more effectively mainstreamed by making sure they are central to policy and decision making within Sport NI.
This Disability Action Plan is a statement of Sport NI’s commitment to meeting its statutory obligations to have regard to the need to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people and to encourage participation by disabled people in public life.
Uploaded: 28th June 2024
Section 75 Screening Document for Disability Action Plan 2024
Rural Needs Impact Assessment document for Disability Action Plan 2024
Now Closed
Creating Opportunities Investment 2024
Sport NI has designed a programme of investment that will create opportunities to connect communities, enabling more people to take part in sport and physical activity throughout Northern Ireland. In particular, the project will focus on creating opportunities to ‘level the playing field’, to ensure accessibility and inclusion is felt and experienced by those who have been traditionally excluded from not only participating in sport but also taking up active roles in coaching, officiating and or leading as part of a Board.
This project will provide financial support to upskill and sustain the sporting workforce. In line with the Sport NI Equality Scheme, you are invited to review the Section 75 and RNIA screening outcomes of this programme by clicking on the links below. We welcome any comments which should be forwarded to info@sportni.net
Creating Opportunities Investment Screening Template
Uploaded: 11th March 2024
Section 75 Screening Document for Creating Opportunities Investment2024
RNIA – Creating Opportunities Grants Programme
Now Closed
District Councils Community Planning Programme 2024
Sport NI is a statutory partner in Community Planning, across all 11 District Councils in Northern Ireland. At the heart of Sport NI’s corporate plan ‘The Power of Sport’, is the ambition to increase and sustain participation in sport and physical activity through connected communities. Rates of participation in sport and physical activity vary with those most inactive coming from our most deprived communities and also many of our minority communities.
Community planning is an opportunity to work collaboratively with partners to make the greatest impact at community level and prioritising those who are in greatest need. This investment will deliver projects in sport and physical activity right at the heart of the community, in areas Local Authorities have prioritised. In line with the Sport NI Equality Scheme, you are invited to review the Section 75 and RNIA screening outcomes of this programme by clicking on the links below. We welcome any comments which should be forwarded to info@sportni.net
Upload Date: 21st May 2024
District Councils Community Planning Programme Screening Template
Section 75 Screening Document District Councils Community Planning Programme
Rural Needs Impact Assessment Document for District Councils Community Planning Programme
Now Closed
Sports Systems Investment Programme 2023/ 2024
We recognise the deep-rooted inequalities in sport, which mean people have been excluded because the right options and opportunities have not been there. This is at the heart of any future investment into the Sports System. Sports Governing bodies are central to the delivery of sport in Northern Ireland so we want to have real conversations to maximise their impact and help us understand and address these inequalities.
Uploaded: 19th January 2024
Section 75 Screening Document for Sports System Investment Programme 2023/24
Rural Needs Impact Assessment document for Sports System Investment Programme 2023/24
Now Closed
District Councils Community Planning Programme 2023
Sport NI is a statutory partner in Community Planning, across all 11 District Councils in Northern Ireland. At the heart of Sport NI’s corporate plan ‘The Power of Sport’, is the ambition to increase and sustain participation in sport and physical activity through connected communities. Rates of participation in sport and physical activity vary with those most inactive coming from our most deprived communities and also many of our minority communities.
Community planning is an opportunity to work collaboratively with partners to make the greatest impact at community level and prioritising those who are in greatest need. This investment will deliver projects in sport and physical activity right at the heart of the community, in areas Local Authorities have prioritised. In line with the Sport NI Equality Scheme, you are invited to review the Section 75 and RNIA screening outcomes of this programme by clicking on the links below. We welcome any comments which should be forwarded to info@sportni.net
Uploaded: 5th December 2023
Section 75 Screening Document for District Councils Community Planning Programme 2023
Rural Needs Impact Assessment form for District Councils Community Planning Programme 2023
Now Closed
Information will be made available on request in accessible formats such as Braille, audio formats and large print. Information will also be provided in minority languages to meet the needs of those who are not fluent in English.
You may also wish to view the Sports Council Equality Group’s (SCEG) Equality in Sport Website. This has been created to provide a wide range of equality-related material to assist all sporting organisations become more equitable and to provide a service to all sectors of the population.
Creating Opportunities Investment 2023
Sport NI has designed a programme of investment that will create opportunities to connect communities, enabling more people to take part in sport and physical activity throughout Northern Ireland. In particular, the project will focus on creating opportunities to ‘level the playing field’, to ensure accessibility and inclusion is felt and experienced by those who have been traditionally excluded from not only participating in sport but also taking up active roles in coaching, officiating and or leading as part of a Board.
This project will provide financial support to upskill and sustain the sporting workforce. In line with the Sport NI Equality Scheme, you are invited to review the Section 75 and RNIA screening outcomes of this programme by clicking on the links below. We welcome any comments which should be forwarded to info@sportni.net
Date Uploaded: 8th November 2023
Section 75 Screening Document for Creating Opportunities 2023
Rural Needs Impact Assessment Document for Creating Opportunities Grants Programme 2023
Now Closed
Environmental Climate Change Policy 2023
In addressing the issues relating to the environment, climate change, and sustainable development Sport NI aims to:
• Ensure compliance with all legislative and government policy requirements in terms of environmental responsibility.
• Ensure environmental issues and climate change are considered in the development of Sport NI’s Corporate and Business Plans.
• Ensure environmental issues and climate change are considered in the implementation of Sport NI’s operations including (but not limited to): administration, investment (both capital and revenue), advocacy, and service provision.
• Promote responsible and efficient use of natural and recycled resources.
• Ensure that staff are able to implement the Environmental Policy by raising awareness and educating employees to ensure that all staff have the knowledge, skills and understanding to implement this Policy.
Uploaded: 20th March 2023
Sport-NI-Environmental-Climate-Change-Policy 2023
S75-Screening Document for -Environmental-Climate-Change-Policy
Environmental Climate Change Policy 2023
Now Closed
Sports Systems Investment Programme 2023/24
We recognise the deep-rooted inequalities in sport, which mean people have been excluded because the right options and opportunities have not been there. This is at the heart of any future investment into the Sports System. Sports Governing bodies are central to the delivery of sport in Northern Ireland so we want to have real conversations to maximise their impact and help us understand and address these inequalities.
Uploaded: 19th January 2023
Section 75 Screening Document for Sports Systems Investment Programme 2023/24
Appendix to Screening Document for Sports Systems Investment Programme 2023/24
Rural Needs Impact Assessment Document for Sporting Systems Investments Programme 2023/24 (upload)
Now Closed
Sports System Investment Programme 2022/23
We recognise the deep-rooted inequalities in sport, which mean people have been excluded because the right options and opportunities have not been there. This is at the heart of any future investment into the Sports System. Sports Governing bodies are central to the delivery of sport in Northern Ireland so we want to have real conversations to maximise their impact and help us understand and address these inequalities.
Uploaded: 19th January 2023
Section 75 Screening Document for Sports Systems Investment Programme 2023/24
Appendix to Screening Document for Sports Systems Investment Programme 2023/24
Rural Needs Impact Assessment Document for Sporting Systems Investments Programme 2023/24 (upload)
Now Closed
Data Protection Policy Statement Sport
Northern Ireland is fully committed to complying with UK data protection legislation. Sport Northern Ireland will follow procedures to ensure that all employees, contractors, consultants, and other parties who have access to any personal information held by or on behalf of us are fully aware of and abide by their duties and responsibilities under these laws.
Uploaded:
Sport NI Data Protection Policy Statement
Now Closed.
Please contact Sport Northern Ireland should you require additional information or these reports in an alternative format: info@sportni.net
