Session A – How to make a sporting environment LGBT inclusive

Sarah FosterHead of Global Workplace Programmes

Stonewall

Rishi JainEquality and Inclusion Officer

Manchester United

External Engagement

#allredallequal

• Involvement at 2016 TeamPride Conference• Social Media posts – Manchester Pride• Support of the Rainbow Laces Campaign• TeamPride announcement• Hosting Rainbow Laces Summit• #allredallequal

Internal Engagement

#allredallequal

• #allredallequal• Pride Network• Partner support• Internal accountability• Senior buy-in

Barriers and Challenges

#allredallequal

• Raising awareness across all areas of the club, including supporters.

• Perceptions around equality, specifically LGBT inclusion.

Creating an Inclusive Environment

#allredallequal

• Social Media posts• TeamPride Announcement • Pride Network• Engaging with local communities

What Can Be Done

#allredallequal

• Small steps, big progress• Utilising brand power• Creating a comfortable environment• Open and willing to listen

Jamie HooperHealth and Wellbeing Manager

Swim England

Inclusive Swimming Rainbow Laces Summit

Who am I?Jamie Hooper

Swim England Health and Wellbeing Manager

International Hockey Umpire

Men’s 1XI captain London Royals Hockey Club

Stonewall Sport Role Model

@just_jamie1990

Swim England

• New strategy, new rebrand, new CEO, new funding, new team!

Inclusive Swimming at Swim England

• Advanced Equality Standard for Sport

• Charter for Action

• Stonewall Diversity Champions

• Senior level buy in from board and SLT

• Data collection

• NGB Equality Leads steering group

• LGB and trans swimming clubs across England

• Well established LGB&T swimming network across Europe and the rest of the world (IGLA)

Insight – LGB&T Swimming Audit

1. Collect a national baseline reflection of LGB&T swimming participation

2. Identify the barriers and motivations to swimming for LGB&T participants and the most effective way to address to them.

3. Identify how to best engage with LGB&T participants.

4. Shape the ASA's strategy to drive LGB&T swimming participation

Findings – LGB&T Swimming Audit

• We found that for LGB&T swimmers, the top barriers to participation were:1. Not wanting to be seen in swimwear2. Feeling anxious that people will make fun of them3. Feeling anxious that they won’t fit in• Only difference for trans swimmers was around not wanting to use shared changing

rooms

• The top motivations for LGB&T people to go swimming were: 1. Swimming pools having LGB and trans specific sessions 2. Knowing that staff have had some form of LGB&T training3. Finding like-minded people to go swimming with• Only difference for trans swimmers was around private changing rooms and showers

Roadshows

• Ran 4 roadshows across the country -Manchester, Birmingham, London, Brighton

• Invited local operators, clubs and community to come along

• Promote the findings from the LGB&T swimming audit & talk about strategy moving forwards

• Martin Cremin – ex-international swimmer for Scotland came along to share his experiences

Objectives moving forwards

• Raise awareness of LGB&T swimmers’ needs with providers.

• Educate providers around how to engage, create a welcoming environment and protect this community within their facility.

• Link providers with local LGB&T community groups to reach out to these communities.

• Encourage providers to offer LGB&T training to staff on the best ways to engage their local LGB&T population.

• Drive an inclusive pool programme ensuring that LGB&T swimmers do not feel alone.

• Link with key partners in creating the ideal changing room.

Trans Swimming

• Trans swimming is growing rapidly

• Queries from clubs & schools on how to be trans inclusive have risen

• Supported growth of a number of trans groups across the country

• TAGS – won innovation awards at ASA Awards 2016

• Trans competition policy (awaiting update from IOC)

• Engaging Trans People into Swimming Toolkit• Terms and language

• Equality Act (2010) and obligations

• Barriers and motivations to swimming

• Practical tips and guidance; marketing, environment, staff, pool sessions

• Further information referrals

Resources / training

• Good Club Guide - Inclusion

• Swim 21 guidance on equality for accredited clubs

• E&D hub area on our website

• Stonewall Grassroot Sport guide

• Trans competition policy

• Engaging Trans People into Swimming Toolkit

• Reviewing Learn to Swim Pathway around inclusion & accessibility

• Developing an introduction to inclusion CPD for use with a number of different audiences

Raising awareness

• Proud to promote that we are Diversity Champions

• Open and explicit with LGB&T news

• Recently profiled staff, board member and athletes throughout LGB&T History Month

• Support our LGB and trans clubs in a number of ways

• Constantly sharing good practise with other operators, clubs, NGBs and other partners on how to be more inclusive to LGB&T people

• Submitting evidence to the DCMS Select Committee’s inquiry into homophobia in sport and were commended for our work

Key Messages

• Be proud to promote all of the good work that you are doing!

• This is all about creating safe environments and providing good customer service!

• This needs to be a joint effort to get LGB&T people more physically active!