Equality Policy

Index

1. Policy Objectives
2. Purpose of the Policy
3. Responsibilities of Sport MK
4. Responsibilities of Sport MK Stakeholders
5. Legal Requirements
6. Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Policy Objectives

1.1       Sport MK subscribes to the principles of equality of opportunity and aims to ensure that all its stakeholders participate in a discrimination-free environment.

1.2       The Equality Policy is based on the following fundamental principles, which Sport MK aims to uphold:

1.2.1    All persons must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every human being and their right to self-determination.

1.2.2    All directors, stakeholders, and volunteers are entitled to be treated fairly regardless of gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, age, parental or marital status, disability, religion, colour, race, ethnic or national origins, or socio/economic background.

1.2.3    Equality must permeate throughout all of our organisation plans, procedures and activity.

1.2.4    All stakeholders should be afforded equal opportunity to access services.

1.2.5    In some cases, positive action may be required to address past inequalities or under-representation.

1.2.6    It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that no form of discrimination is tolerated in our organisation.

• Any individual who believes they have received unfavourable treatment within the scope of the policy should raise their concern in line with our organisation’s Procedures.

1.2.8    No individual (and/or their family) who raises a concern in good faith, or those who support another person to raise a concern, should be treated unfairly as a result of raising the concern.

2. Purpose of the Policy

2.1       The Equality Policy has been designed to ensure that directors, stakeholders and volunteers are not unlawfully discriminated against or receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation (together these are known as the ‘Protected Characteristics’ under the Equality Act 2010).

• Sport MK recognises that individuals (and/or certain groups in our society who share one or more Protected Characteristics) may have been denied opportunity to access or participate fully in sport in the past. This Policy has been produced to try to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and avoid practices that could discriminate directly or indirectly towards certain sections of society. In order to achieve equality, Sport MK recognises that in some instances, unequal distribution of effort and resources may be required.  This may be necessary when sections of society are faced with barriers that prevent or restrict their participation in sport. Sport MK supports the need for positive action to alleviate any barriers to participation.

2.3       Equality is about respecting peoples’ individuality. In doing this, Sport MK recognises that its Policy must provide flexibility in order to ensure a service, which is adaptive to individuals’ needs, thus enabling all in our society to participate without prejudice or unnecessary barriers.

3. Responsibilities of Sport MK

3.1       Sport MK strives to ensure that our organisation is free from discrimination. We endeavour to promote the highest standards and will:

3.1.1    Provide and implement a policy to protect stakeholders from discrimination.

3.1.2    Encourage individuals from all communities to become involved.

3.1.3    Adopt good practice in within our organisation.

3.1.4    Respond to all concerns, and implement the appropriate remedial procedures where necessary.

3.1.5    Sport MK will work to ensure that inequality is avoided.

• In the monitoring of practices, procedures and data relating to the operations and activities of the organisation.

• In the preparation and distribution of all materials and publications.

3.2.3    By the relaxation of any conventional rules which serve to inhibit the participation of people with special needs or disabilities. Any relaxation of organisation rules will only be carried out for the purpose above where it is safe to do so and does not have a detrimental effect on the organisation’s activity.

4. Responsibilities of directors

4.1       Every director is required to assist in ensuring that Sport MK meets its commitment and avoids unlawful discrimination.

5. Legal Requirements

5.1       Sport MK recognises its legal obligations under, and will abide by the requirements of, the Equality Act 2010, and any later amendments to such legislation.

5.2       It is unlawful to discriminate directly or indirectly in recruitment, employment or in the provision of services because of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion or belief, or because someone is married or in a civil partnership. 

5.3       Sport MK recognises that the following is unacceptable:

“Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying and Victimisation”

5.4       Unlawful discrimination, which can take the following forms:

5.4.1    Direct Discrimination: - treating someone less favourably than another person because of a Protected Characteristic.

5.4.2    Indirect Discrimination: - an action, rule or policy that applies to everyone but disadvantages someone with a particular Protected Characteristic.

5.4.3    Associative Discrimination: – direct discrimination against someone because they associate with another person who possesses a particular Protected Characteristic.

5.4.4    Discrimination by perception: – direct discrimination against someone because others think they possess a particular Protected Characteristic.

5.4.5    Discrimination arising from disability: – someone is treated unfavourably because of something connected with their disability.

5.4.6    Bullying: – offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, and /or an abuse or misuse of power that is meant to undermine, humiliate or injure the person on the receiving end.

5.4.7    Harassment: - unwanted or offensive conduct directed at oneself or another person.

5.4.8    Harassment by a third party: – the company is potentially liable for harassment of their staff by people not employed by them.

5.4.9    Victimisation: - treating a group or individuals in a detrimental way because they have made or intend to make a complaint or provide evidence in support of another complaint.

5.5    Sport MK regards acts of discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimisation as serious issues.  Stakeholders who are found to have discriminated against, harassed, bullied or victimised any other person, will be dealt with appropriately.

“Reasonable Adjustments”

5.6       Sport MK recognises it has a duty, and is committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people.

5.7       Sport MK’s duty to make reasonable adjustments includes the removal, adaptation or alteration of physical features, if the physical features make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use services.

5.8       Sport MK, when acting as a service provider, has an obligation to think ahead and address any barriers that may impede disabled people from accessing its service.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation

6.1       The Sport MK Equality Policy will be regularly monitored and will be updated where necessary, in the following situations: -

6.1.1    As a result of any changes in legislation.

6.1.2    As a result of any changes in governance of the sport.

6.1.3    Following a procedural review as a result of a significant case.

Date of Issue August 2023 Review due August 2025