Sport NI recognises that the foundation of the Sporting System is to get people active, through physical activity.
Sport NI will work with its partners to create a more inclusive and supportive sporting culture that ensures that key elements of the Sporting System are delivered, such as improving accessibility for all.
In order to ensure that any strong Sporting System remains equitable and inclusive for all, Sport NI has established cornerstones for its work. Sport NI’s Corporate Plan 2021-26 ‘The Power of Sport’ has four cornerstones – one of which relates specifically to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI):
“Build a positive and inclusive sports culture in Northern Ireland”
Sport NI expects its partners, including funded organisations, to similarly reflect this aspiration.
Sport NI’s Corporate Plan 2021-26 ‘The Power of Sport’ targets sustained participation in sport and activity generally, and specifically from under-represented groups. Challenges remain however for people with a disability, women and girls, and those from ethnically diverse communities to participate and engage in sport.
For example, one in four people in Northern Ireland has a disability or long-term health condition. This equates to approx. 463,000 people or notable 24.3% of the population (2021 NI Census). Disabled people in Northern Ireland remain half as likely to participate in sport and active recreation as non-disabled people.
In Northern Ireland, Women’s participation in sport is significantly lower than men. In 2021/22, The Continuous Household Survey recorded that 48% of adults had participated in sport at least once within the last year (excluding walking), while 40% had participated in sport over the last 4 weeks. Females were less likely to have taken part in sport at least once within the last year than males (40% and 55% respectively).
In regard to people from ethnically diverse communities, findings and research make clear that racism and racial inequalities still exist within sport in the UK. The five Sports Councils responsible for investing in and growing sport across the UK, have come together to explore racial inequalities in sport and to look at how reflective our sporting system is of UK society. This led to establishing the Tackling Racism and Racial Inequality in Sport Review (TRARIIS)
Sport NI has developed three EDI Engagement and Delivery plans, addressing the under-representation of disabled people and women in sport, as well as racial inclusion. These plans are intended to support the wider sports sector to understand and recognise the issues for disabled people, women and ethnically diverse communities in sport, as well as collectively bringing about change. Each plan is operate to 31 March 2026 and progress inclusion within these specific areas.
Sport NI will work closely with relevant external groups and communities, as well as internally across teams and investment strands, to identify potential solutions. The plans focuses on programming and activity across four key pillars:
LINKS TO EACH PLAN:
- Women
Whilst we have seen an increase in the support for, and the profile of such under-represented groups, there is much still to do. Alongside participation rates, the representation of people with a disability, women and girls and those from ethnically diverse communities within club membership, coaching workforce, and sport leadership positions is significantly lower than the general population in sport and physical activity.
To develop robust baseline data that accurately reflects the sporting environment, Sport NI engaged with the sports sector to complete a wider Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) survey that captured data in the areas of Leadership, Workforce and High Performance from a Female, Disability and Ethnically Diverse Community perspective.
The purpose of the survey was to hear from the Recognised governing bodies of sport regarding the EDI of their organisations. Sport NI encouraged all funded and recognised governing bodies complete this survey and return live data of their sport. The findings and outcome of the survey will help inform future programmes, projects, and investment, ensuring equitable sporting opportunities for all.
The survey opened 5th September 2024 and closed 20th November 2024, with a final return from 43 NGBs.
The following results were identified.
Sport NI also hosted an EDI Sports Development Networking event on 23rd October 2024 where more than 80 sports representatives gathered to discuss key issues in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in sport. Please see below information from the event:
