Executive Directors Statement
Northumberland Sport works in partnership with a range of organisations. We aim to ensure the people of Northumberland can access and enjoy quality sporting and physical activity opportunities. The Partnership includes a large number of statutory and non-statutory agencies and a broad network of stakeholders, all of whom contribute to our strategic direction and operational activities.
Sport can and does play a major role in promoting the inclusion of all groups in society. However, inequity has traditionally existed within sport, particularly in relation to gender, race and disability.
What is Sports Equity?
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequity and taking steps to address it. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure that it becomes equally accessible to all members of society, whatever their age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or socio-economic status.
Our Vision
Northumberland Sport works collectively with its partners to realise a shared vision:
‘‘To develop and increase participation in sport, building healthy and successful communities’’
Our Commitment
The partnership delivers across the County, providing opportunities for all people to develop their sporting skills and realise their full potential. Although participation in sport is a worthwhile end in itself, the work of Northumberland Sport and its partners has a significant impact in helping to deliver key benefits in many associated areas, such as regeneration, social inclusion, crime reduction and health improvement.
The partnership works across the six districts of Alnwick, Berwick upon Tweed, Castle Morpeth, Wansbeck, BlythValley and Tynedale. Each district has its own unique and distinctive identity and communities. The County has a diverse mix of urban and very rural localities. Northumberland Sport recognises this diversity and works to ensure its programmes are not only accessible to all, but that any potential for inequality in sports provision is addressed. The partnership aims to reduce inequality in participation in sport, and attract more women and girls, ethnic minorities, disabled people and low-income groups to be involved in sport at all levels.
Northumberland Sport is also a key player within the Regional Sports Equality Network. We will continue to work with and influence our regional partners to champion sports equity at a regional level.
Embedding Equality within the Delivery System for Sport
As the lead sub-regional partnership for the coordination and development of community sport (and in making links with school sport), Northumberland Sport will ensure that equity in sport is delivered at every level through our growing network of sport and physical activity alliances. We will do this through our work to secure resources for sport and through emerging sport and physical activity planning mechanisms at a local level.
Conclusion
Whilst we are proud of our achievements to date in promoting sporting opportunities for underrepresented groups, we also recognise that much work still needs to be done in widening access for quality sporting and recreational activities for all. Northumberland Sport is committed in its role in tackling inequality through sport by placing equality and social inclusion at the heart of our planning, strategy and delivery mechanisms.
