EduCare and Inclusion in Sport launch online Equality and Diversity in Sport training course

Safeguarding and duty of care training specialists, EduCare, has launched its Equality and Diversity in Sport training course for sports clubs, national governing bodies, and leisure providers.

Produced in partnership with Inclusion in Sport, an organisation supporting sports clubs, charities, and businesses to improve their practice through diversity and safeguarding in sport, the course will help users to understand what equality, diversity, inclusion, and unconscious bias are.

The course will also support users to consider their role in sport and how this impacts inclusion, as well as how to promote best practice in their own organisations.

Dawn Jotham, EduCare’s Pastoral Care Specialist, explained the timeliness of the course and why she was delighted to work with Inclusion in Sport:

“According to government figures, currently ethnic minorities make up 13 per cent of the UK population, whilst 22 per cent of the population have reported a disability and over one million people identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. We want our course to show just how much equality and diversity matter and embrace the notion that everyone’s differences should be valued and appreciated.

“It is so important to ensure that sports practitioners are trained in understanding how to ensure everyone they come across is treated fairly and with respect. Working closely with Inclusion in Sport, we have developed a course that supports staff to recognise that everyone is unique, whether they are playing, coaching, or volunteering.”

Lyndon Roberts, Founder of Inclusion in Sport, added:

“Inclusion in Sport welcomes this hugely valuable and long-awaited training course to empower those working with children and young people to consider their individual needs in sport and physical education.”

“Sport has the potential to truly transform a young person’s life by giving them the opportunity to discover new passions and talents. However, it is imperative that we ensure that all barriers to participation are removed and that nobody is held back because of who they are. We look forward to seeing how this course supports individuals to remove barriers to participation and promotes understanding and respect.”

The new course will examine the various ways inequalities persist, the impact of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination, and what key legislation such as the Equality Act 2010 mean for an individual’s responsibilities.

About EduCare: An expert in creating effective online safeguarding and duty of care training. The company was founded in 1989 by Keir McDonald who was awarded an MBE for services to children as a result of EduCare’s work. Keir has a personal mission to reach as many people as possible, by empowering people who work, or volunteer with, children, young people, and vulnerable adults to protect themselves and those in their care.

Boasting a strong foothold in providing essential compliance training to the Education sector, EduCare also develops safeguarding and duty of care content for the Health and Social Care sector, sports and leisure providers, charities and businesses (with a focus on organisations who engage and interact with children and young people

EduCare has a portfolio of over 70 online courses that are sold individually, or in cost-effective packages for organisations. Key products include those that help ensure customers comply with legislation and statutory guidance, such as Keeping children safe in education (2018).

About Inclusion in Sport: Founded in 2017 by Lyndon Roberts, a qualified sports coach and former Inclusion Manager at Derby County football club, in response to a demand for equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding within the professional football industry.

Inclusion in Sport support organisations, whether they are a professional club, charitable trust or NGB, with tailored advice and support to encourage practice that considers diversity and inclusion, with their expertise extending to areas including Equality Action Plans and Impact Assessments, Data Collection and Reporting, and Positive Action Campaigns.

They advise on frameworks including the NGB Equality Standard for Sport, EFL Equality Code of Practice and Premier League Equality Standard.

Through educating workforces, Inclusion in Sport hope that more people will understand the benefit of equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels of a business, whilst demonstrating the kind of best practice that allows organisations to consistently engage with new communities and customers.