RYA EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION POLICY
The RYA maintains a strong commitment to its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work and has developed a number of formal policies to support this work. In addition to these policies, in March 2021, the RYA’s first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy was released which focuses on four key objectives: Changing Perceptions, Changing Behaviours, Changing Experiences and Changing Reality. With a measurable, comprehensive action plan, the RYA is determined to make long term positive changes which will ensure that the RYA becomes representative of the people it serves.
RYA Equality Policy
Policy Statement The Royal Yachting Association is committed to equality of opportunity and aims to ensure that all current and potential participants, members, instructors, coaches, competitors, officials, volunteers and employees are treated fairly and on an equal basis regardless of sex, age, disability, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, gender reassignment or social status.
Objectives
- To ensure boating is accessible and attractive to the widest audience.
- To ensure that the RYA’s services, including training schemes, are as accessible as possible, including to people with disabilities.
- To increase the diversity of our Instructors, Coaches and Race Officials.
- To identify and promote more role models at all levels from under-represented groups, including women and girls, people with disabilities, people from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and LGBT+ people.
- To attract new participants from under-represented groups through targeted initiatives.
- To maintain the Advanced Level of the Equality Standard for Sport.
Implementation
- The RYA encourages its affiliated clubs and organisations, Recognised Training Centres and other stakeholders to adopt similar policies, so that they offer an experience to participants that is friendly, welcoming and open to all.
- Appointments to voluntary or paid positions with the RYA will be made based on an individual’s knowledge, skills and experience and the competencies required for the role.
- The RYA will tailor requirements in relation to RYA training schemes which may inhibit the performance of candidates with special needs and ensure that the standard, quality and integrity of schemes and assessments are not compromised.
- The RYA will develop further policies for specific subject areas where appropriate (e.g., instructing, race officials).
- The RYA reserves the right to discipline any of its members, qualification holders, appointees, volunteers or employees who practise any form of discrimination in breach of this policy, in line with the relevant articles, rules, codes of conduct and disciplinary procedures.
- The effectiveness of this Policy will be monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis by the RYA Safeguarding and Equality Manager reporting to the RYA Board, the Sports Council Equality Group and related external charters.
