Anti-Racism in Sport

Addressing racism in sport has become an increasing priority across the UK, particularly in grassroots and community settings where inequalities often go unchallenged. Active Humber, a regional organisation responsible for increasing participation in physical activity across the Humber region, has taken a proactive approach to tackling these issues. This case study explores how Active Humber is embedding anti-racist principles into its strategy, partnerships, and community engagement.

Sport and physical activity in the UK have long been affected by inequalities, particularly in relation to race and ethnicity. People from ethnically diverse communities often face barriers such as discrimination, lack of representation, and limited access to opportunities. These issues are also present in the Humber region, where participation rates among minority ethnic groups are lower than average.

Recognising these disparities, Active Humber has positioned equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) at the centre of its work. The organisation acknowledges that simply promoting inclusion is not enough; instead, it must actively challenge racism and systemic inequalities within sport.

Despite national efforts to improve inclusivity, racism continues to affect participation and experiences in sport across the Humber region. Key issues include:

• Underrepresentation of ethnically diverse communities in sport 
• Experiences of racism and exclusion in grassroots environments 
• Limited confidence among staff and volunteers in addressing racism 
• Structural inequalities embedded within sporting systems 

These challenges highlighted the need for a coordinated, long-term anti-racism strategy. The anti-racism work led by Active Humber focuses on several key objectives:

• To become an explicitly anti-racist organisation 
• To reduce racial inequalities in sport and physical activity 
• To support partners in creating inclusive environments 
• To empower individuals to recognise and challenge racism 
• To increase participation among underrepresented communities 

We have developed a clear EDI strategy and action plan: this is also evidenced in our DIAP, embedding anti-racism into organisational values and operations, becoming a part of everything we do. Through this we have adopted a multi-layered approach combining strategy, collaboration, and practical action.

A key element of the approach is partnership working. Active Humber is proud to hold a place at the Yorkshire and Humber Anti-Racism in Sport Group, which brings together organisations to address systemic racism collectively. This collaborative model ensures consistency and shared learning across the region – whilst this group is currently on pause due to the former chair changing roles, Active Humber continue to make Anti-Racism a priority baseline for everything we do. 

One of the organisation’s most significant initiatives has been the development of a regional anti-racism pledge. Local clubs, organisations, and stakeholders are encouraged to sign the pledge and commit to tangible actions that promote inclusion and challenge racism.

To support behavioural change, as an organisation we have delivered training programmes such as bystander awareness workshops. These sessions equip participants with the skills and confidence to intervene when witnessing racism and to foster inclusive environments.

Training plays a central role in changing behaviours and building confidence. Active Humber has delivered:

• Bystander awareness training; enabling individuals to safely challenge racist behaviour 
• “Train the Trainer” programmes to scale knowledge across organisations 

These initiatives focus on practical skills, ensuring participants can respond effectively in real-world situations.

Active Humber works closely with grassroots organisations and local communities to ensure that initiatives are relevant and inclusive. Community-led projects play a key role in building trust and encouraging participation among underrepresented groups.

The implementation of anti-racism initiatives involved:

• Launching awareness campaigns and regional events 
• Delivering workshops and training sessions for staff, volunteers, and partners 
• Supporting organisations in developing their own anti-racism action plans 
• Creating safer systems for reporting discrimination and hate incidents 
• Building partnerships with local authorities, clubs, and community groups 

This approach ensured that anti-racism efforts were both top-down (strategic) and bottom-up (community-driven).