Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan

Active Black Country believes that being active has the power to improve people’s lives - we want to see ‘A future Black Country where all ages, abilities and backgrounds are able to be active, move and play sport.’ Our partnership works to the objectives set out in the ‘Creating an Active Black Country’ Strategy which aims to unite all people and partners who have a role to play in tackling the inequalities that prevent Black Country people from being active, moving more and playing sport.

As an organisation, we seek to develop detailed in depth understanding of our communities and partners to support high-quality partnerships and collaboration, resulting in a stronger, united, and connected system that creates more opportunities for people to be active.

Our role as a charity - working to address equity of opportunity for local people - means we have a responsibility to develop understanding and to role-model organisational approaches to equality, diversity and inclusion.

We have three broad spheres of influence:

• Firstly, as a local employer. It is essential for the success of our mission to ensure we are reflective of the communities we serve & we embed the voice of local communities within our decision making. We need to recruit, develop and equip our people to support effective and meaningful engagement with communities & partners we work with.

• Secondly, through our role as a partnership-based organisation. We work with a diverse range of partners, we need to fully maximise this reach of our established networks to advocate & influence inclusive organisational cultures & practices.

• Thirdly, as a commissioner through the work that we lead on including - promoting campaigns, providing grants, undertaking research & developing insight, hosting events to bring partners together and advocate.

Active Black Country’s Board of Directors hold to account the work of the executive team to implement our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy and supporting Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan.

Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP)

The DIAP outlines our internal objectives to achieving our ambitions of a diverse, inclusive and highly skilled Active Black Country workforce and boardroom which is representative of the local places we serve. It sits alongside our People Plan which has Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at its heart and links either directly or indirectly to a number of our strategies, policies and plans.

Through our work we prioritise the following areas, which are based upon our existing understanding of the inhibiting factors on local people's ability to lead an active lifestyle.

• Age
• Disability
• Ethnicity
• Religion or belief
• Gende
• Pregnancy & maternity
• Socio-economic

Through prioritising them we give due regard to key aspects of the Equality Act 2010 and use our resources effectively. The DIAP will be monitored and evaluated on a regular basis.

Read the Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan