Taking steps together to tackle racism in grassroots sport

A pledge to tackle racism in grassroots sport has already been signed by 90 organisations in the region. All have committed to have their own plan to make sport fair and open to all.

On Wednesday 7th June, people from across the region came together to launch the pledge. The event, held by the Yorkshire and Humber Anti-Racism in Sport Group saw the launch of the Commitment to tackling Racism and racial inequality in community sport.

Organisations will commit to actively tackle attitudes and racial inequalities that prevent or discourage people from leading active lives and enjoying the benefits of sport and physical activity. 

Each organisation will have its own plan to:

• Be open and responsible organisations that recognise the changes needed to become anti-racist organisations.
• Lead by example as anti-racist allies.
• Use and share knowledge to create change locally.
• Enable communities to take part without fear of discrimination.
• Develop the workforce to become diverse and representative of the communities they are working in.
• Deliver inclusively so that everyone has the opportunity to be active.

The launch event featured speakers including Paul Cummins, Director of Recreational Cricket for the Yorkshire Cricket Board, and Mo Hussain, Equality Diversity and Inclusion Manager from Yorkshire County Cricket Club talking about their experience in the community game, Charles Dacres from Bradford Hate Crime Alliance sharing his personal experience of racism in ice hockey and examples from Rotherham Unity Community Programme and Broughton Road Community Centre talking about steps they have taken within their organisations.

Nigel Harrison from Yorkshire Sport Foundation and chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Anti-Racism in Sport Group said: "We all want our Yorkshire and the Humber to be the kindest, friendliest and most inclusive region to play and take part in sport. It's on all of us to create a culture within community sport that ensures everyone can enjoy being free of any racism or discrimination. We hope sports organisations across the region will come together to make this happen."

David Gent from Active Humber and the Yorkshire and Humber Anti-Racism in Sport Group said: "It was absolutely fantastic to have a wonderful conversation about a really important subject. Now is our moment to really to begin to make those conversations into reality and action."

Yorkshire and Humber Anti-Racism in Sport Group is made up of people from:

• Active Humber
• Bradford Council
• North Yorkshire Sport
• Rotherham United Community Sports Trust
• Sheffield City Council
• Street Games
• Yorkshire County Cricket Club
• Yorkshire Sport Foundation

Find out more and sign the pledge here.