Guidance for clubs to assist in meeting their obligations under the Equalities Act 2010 and be inclusive and engaging for all members of the community that wish to be involved in netball can be accessed below:
Government Equalities Office – Private Clubs & Associations
Protected Characteristics
As the legislation specifies nine protected characteristics, our resources are developed using these definitions. Below you will find relevant resources and links to further support for each protected characteristic.
Age
Definition – a person’s age or a range of ages
England Netball Guidance:
Disability
Definition – a person’s physical or mental impairment which has a substantial, long term impact on their ability to carry out day to day activities.
England Netball Guidance:
Mental Health
Whatever you’re going through, you can call the Samaritans free any time, from any phone on 116 123.
Additional resources and support:
- BSL Netball Youtube
- Scope
- MENCAP
- UK Deaf Sport
- Activity Alliance
- Special Olympics
- Engaging Autistic People in Sport
- Sport in Mind
Gender Reassignment
Definition – A transsexual person is someone who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change his or her gender. The Equality Act no longer requires a person to be under medical supervision to be protected.
England Netball Guidance:
Additional resources and support:
- Sports Toolkit
- Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) (free e-training resource on transgender issues and is recommended for people working in sport)
- Mermaids
- Stonewall
- Equality in Sport
- Gender Trust
- The Rainbow Project
- Gender Intelligence
- Trans Unite
Race
Definition – a group of people defined by a common race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origin.
Additional resources and support:
Sex
Definition – a person’s gender, male or female.
Additional resources and support:
Sexual Orientation
Definition – a person’s sexual attraction to someone of the same, opposite sex or both.
Additional resources and support:
Marriage and Civil Partnership
Definition – the legal union of one person with another whether of the same gender or of the opposite gender. A civil partnership is a different form of legal union and should be treated no less favourably.
Pregnancy and Maternity
Definition – Pregnancy is the condition of being pregnant or expecting a baby. Maternity refers to the period after the birth, and is linked to maternity leave in the employment context. In the non-work context, protection against maternity discrimination is for 26 weeks after giving birth, and this includes treating a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding
Religion and Belief
Definition – adherence to a recognised faith or a system of belief which may include religious and philosophical beliefs, including a lack of belief (atheism). It will have an impact on life choices to be included in the definition.