Ashford and Tenterden: Diversity and Inclusion Plan

Data sources: Sport England’s Active Lives Adult Survey November 2019-20 Report / Ashford District Profile 2019 / English Indices of Deprivation 2019 / Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD2019) / Office for National Statistics - Population Projections Indices

Objectives

Create an Inclusive Environment: 
Ensure that all visitors and staff feel respected, valued, and included, regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or socio-economic status.

Increase Participation: 
Encourage underrepresented groups to engage with our services by addressing any barriers that might prevent their participation.

Promote Equal Opportunities: 
Ensure fairness in recruitment, promotion, and professional development for all staff.

Foster Community Engagement: 
Build strong ties with local community groups and stakeholders to better understand their needs and adapt our services accordingly.

Support Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity: 
Promote a culture of mutual respect, understanding, and support for different backgrounds and experiences.

Key Areas of Focus - Recruitment and Employment

Inclusive Job Postings: 
Ensure that all job advertisements are written in inclusive language and posted in diverse outlets to reach a wide audience.

Bias-Free Hiring Practices: 
Train hiring managers to recognise and reduce unconscious biases in the recruitment process.

Diverse Workforce: 
Actively seek to hire staff from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the broader community.

Reasonable Adjustments: 
Provide necessary adjustments for employees with disabilities during the recruitment process and throughout their employment.

Key Areas of Focus - Staff Training and Development

Diversity Training: 
Provide regular training on diversity, equity, and inclusion for all employees, covering topics such as cultural sensitivity, unconscious bias, and anti-discrimination policies.

Leadership Development: 
Ensure that managers and leaders are trained to promote inclusive practices and support diverse teams effectively.

Career Advancement: 
Offer equal opportunities for all staff members to grow, including mentorship programs that support individuals from underrepresented groups.

Key Areas of Focus - Accessibility

Physical Accessibility: 
Ensure that the leisure centre is fully accessible for people with disabilities, including wheelchair access, disabled parking, accessible changing rooms, and lifts.

Program Adaptability: 
Offer a range of adapted sports and activities for individuals with different physical abilities, and ensure that information about these activities is widely available.

Inclusive Communication: 
Use inclusive signage and communication methods (e.g., large print, Braille, easy-read formats, and translation services where necessary).

Key Areas of Focus - Community Engagement

Partnerships with Community Groups: 
Establish strong relationships with local diversity-focused organisations and cultural groups to better understand their needs and concerns.

Feedback Mechanisms: 
Create opportunities for regular feedback from visitors and the community, particularly from underrepresented groups, to identify areas for improvement in inclusivity.

Targeted Outreach: 
Implement outreach programs to encourage people from marginalised or underrepresented communities to participate in the centre’s activities.

Key Areas of Focus - Inclusive Programs and Events

Cultural Celebration Events: 
Host regular events that celebrate the cultural diversity of the community, such as the Nepalese communities, international days, awareness campaigns, and inclusive sports tournaments.

Specialised Programs:
Offer programs tailored to specific groups (e.g., women-only swim sessions, LGBTQ+ fitness classes, senior activities) to encourage participation from all sectors of the community.

Family-Friendly Activities:
Provide a range of family-friendly services and activities that cater 
to parents, children, and caregivers from diverse backgrounds.

Key Areas of Focus - Policies and Procedures

Anti-Discrimination Policy: 
Enforce a strict anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy, with clear guidelines on how to report issues and how they will be addressed.

Equal Pay and Benefits: 
Ensure equal pay and benefits for all employees, regardless of their background.

Diversity Metrics: 
Regularly assess diversity data for both staff and users of the centre to ensure that policies are effectively promoting inclusion.

Key Areas of Focus – Monitoring and Evaluation

Regular Audits: 
Conduct annual diversity and inclusion audits to measure progress against the goals of this plan.

Employee and Customer Surveys: 
Use surveys to gather data on perceptions of inclusivity from both staff and visitors, and make improvements based on feedback.

Adjustments Based on Feedback: 
Act on feedback from staff and users to continually refine and improve our diversity and inclusion efforts.

Key Areas of Focus – Conclusion

The successful implementation of this Diversity and Inclusion Plan will create leisure centres in Ashford and Tenterden where everyone feels welcome and supported. 

Through proactive policies, inclusive programming, and a commitment to accessibility, Ashford Borough leisure centres and facilities will be a leader in fostering diversity and inclusion within the community.