The Sporting Equals Awards – have you made your nomination?

The awards empower people and communities to deliver change themselves. 

Awards such as the Sport England Community Sports Project of the Year does not just recognise the achievement of what those clubs or community centres have delivered, but it also provides a road map to success that can inspire others.

A circular process of inspiration

Stories such as Krimmz Girls from Bolton, who won last year’s Sport England Community Sports Project of the Year Award, were a small group launched just a decade ago.

They now deliver multiple times a week to hundreds of ethnically diverse kids, giving them an opportunity to try different sports and be coached by women who look, dress and sound like they do.

This creates a circular process of inspiration that helps those kids realise they too can be a leader and an actor in their community.

The England Athletics Coach of the Year celebrates those role models that the likes of Krimmz are helping to seed.

Both elite and community coaches are nominated for this award.

Last year we saw the award won by Leon Baptiste, who delivered an innovative approach to coaching in athletics by combining the Olympic and Paralympic athletes in one training group.

This allows for shared resources and experiences and also gives athletes who are not directly competing the opportunity to support one another.

On the shortlist was also Ruth Eytle from basketball, someone who really drove both participation and elite performance.

These role models as coaches show that ethnically diverse people belong in sport at every level and that they can have authority and leadership skills.

The Mind Mental Health Award is new this year and will address inequality in access to sport and physical activity and how that impacts mental health.

Only 55% of ethnically diverse people are likely to be physically active, compared to 62% of white people and research by Mind has shown that exercise can reduce the risk of depression by as much of 30%.

However, inequality in access to funding and resources for ethnically diverse communities means these groups are often denied this exercise therapy.

Finally The FA Community Champion Award goes to the individual who has made a tangible and sustainable impact on sport in their area.

Last year Ashok Das won having created a legacy for Kabaddi over the last 30 years.

He targeted schools and built the sport up so that it would endure over time as opposed to a flash in the pan. 

Opportunities for all 

These awards provide an opportunity for national governing bodies, active partnerships and system partners to show the progress and success they have had in driving race equality in sport and physical activity.

If you have any question or want to make a nomination, please get in touch.