New Inclusion and Accessibility Guidance for Returning to Sport and Physical Activity

Sport England recently commissioned Savanta ComRes to conduct research into the way in which Covid-19 is exacerbating the existing inequalities and widening gaps in activity levels across audiences that are already under-represented in sport and physical activity.

They asked their partners and the wider sector about their concerns for the phased ‘return to play’. There was specific concern for the risk that those who were already less active, and the groups for whom fewer opportunities already exist, would be hardest hit.

Sport England have put together guidance to help address this issue as the sector makes a phased return. Any organisation currently providing a place for people to take part in sport or physical activity can make use of this guidance to create an accessible and inclusive environment.

The guidance covers the challenges for four main groups of people in relation to Covid-19:

- Those that are self-isolating

- Those that are shielding or very clinically vulnerable

- Those that are clinically vulnerable

- Everyone else

There are also useful resources for specific under-represented audiences, including:

- People from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities

- Lower socio-economic groups

- People who are LGBT+

- People living with health conditions

- Disabled people

- Women

This covers how to support your workforce and participants, inclusive communication, accessible facilities, as well as general information legal guidance.

Read the full guidance here