Building a sporting system where everyone belongs.
As Black History Month ends, Sporting Equals' new chief executive officer highlights how communities are key to the organisation's work and to the sector's future challenges and opportunities.
Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements, resilience and contributions of Black communities across the UK. It is also a time to reflect on the challenges that remain and the action needed to create a more equitable future.
This year's theme, 'Honouring Our Communities', resonates deeply with Sporting Equals' work. Communities are where people find belonging, celebrate identity, challenge barriers and create opportunities for future generations to thrive.
As I mark my first Black History Month as Chief Executive Officer of Sporting Equals, I am proud to lead an organisation that has spent more than 25 years championing race equality and inclusion in sport and physical activity.
Since joining in September, I have been inspired by the passion of our team and the commitment of the community organisations we work alongside every day.
Celebrating progress while confronting reality.
Sport has the power to unite people, improve wellbeing and create opportunities beyond the field of play. Yet these benefits are not experienced equally.
Significant disparities remain:
Around 69% of White adults are active compared with 57% of Black adults.
Data from Sport England and the government state that Black communities remain among the least active ethnic groups in England.
These figures demonstrate that inactivity is not simply about motivation, as many people from Black communities recognise the benefits of physical activity and feel confident in their ability to take part. But the barriers are often systemic.
Communities are where people find belonging, celebrate identity, challenge barriers and create opportunities for future generations to thrive.
Affordability, access, representation, cultural understanding, safety and a sense of belonging all influence participation. So if we are serious about tackling inactivity and improving health outcomes, we must address the structures and environments that continue to disadvantage many communities.
Just as importantly, Black people remain underrepresented in many of the places where decisions are made; therefore, greater accountability from governing bodies, active partnerships and system leaders is essential if we are to create meaningful change.
The importance of community.
For generations, Black communities have created opportunities where mainstream systems have not always been inclusive.
From grassroots football clubs and boxing gyms to culturally specific swimming programmes, dance groups and community fitness initiatives, these spaces have provided connection, support and inspiration.
And they do more than encourage participation as they also create environments where individuals and families feel welcome, understood and empowered.
At Sporting Equals, we work alongside community organisations that break down barriers every day.
These groups understand the lived experiences of the people they serve, have earned trust within their communities and are often best placed to design opportunities that meet local needs.
Honouring our communities means recognising their leadership and ensuring that the voices of those closest to the challenges are heard within decision-making structures across sport and physical activity.
Why representation matters.
Representation is about more than visibility. It is about influence, opportunity and power.
When people see leaders, coaches, officials and board members who reflect their backgrounds and experiences, it broadens their perceptions of what is possible and strengthens trust in institutions.
This belief sits at the heart of Sporting Equals' refreshed strategy, which focuses on five priorities:
Diverse leadership and governance.
Inclusion by design.
Community power.
Insight and accountability.
Mental health, wellbeing and psychological safety.
These priorities reflect our belief that meaningful change requires more than good intentions – it requires accountability, collaboration and a commitment to embedding equity throughout the sporting system.
From aspiration to action.
This commitment was evident at Sporting Equals' recent conference, Starting Blocks: Setting the Pace on Race Equity in Sport.
The event brought together leaders, policymakers, governing bodies, community organisations and system partners to explore what meaningful race equity looks like in practice, and how we can accelerate progress together.
Importantly, the conference was not simply about discussing challenges. It focused on identifying solutions, sharing evidence, strengthening partnerships and increasing accountability.
As a sector, we are familiar with the issues. The priority now is moving from aspiration to implementation.
Through initiatives such as Starting Blocks and the Race Equity Charter, Sporting Equals will continue to advocate for a sporting landscape where ethnically diverse communities are not only represented, but are able to influence decisions, access opportunities and thrive at every level.
Looking forward.
Black History Month is both a celebration and a call to action.
It is an opportunity to recognise the contributions of community leaders, advocates and changemakers, all while ensuring they have a genuine voice in shaping the future. It also means acknowledging the inequalities that persist and remaining committed to addressing them.
I am excited about the future of Sporting Equals and the opportunity to work alongside partners, stakeholders and communities to create lasting change.
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to belong, participate, lead and thrive, and that together we can build a sporting system that truly reflects the diversity and strength of our society.
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