Yorkshire Sport Foundation is proud to launch ‘Lead the Change’, a new initiative to support more ethnically diverse people into leadership roles in sport and physical activity.
Working alongside partners, Sporting Equals, AKD Solutions, Equity Coach, West Riding County FA, and Yorkshire Cricket Board, the scheme will provide up to 20 people with the opportunity to benefit from a five-day leadership programme between February and June 2025.
Those enrolling on the scheme will also be provided with access to online learning modules to provide greater background knowledge including on the history of ‘race’ and sport.
In-person workshops will include providing an overview of the sporting systems and structures in the UK; development of a personal plan to support a person’s aspirations; and support to provide skills, knowledge and insights necessary for Non-Executive Director roles within national governing bodies (NGB’s) or other sports organisations.
Alongside the training for individuals, a one-day anti-racism workshop has been scheduled for leaders within organisations. The workshop will improve their understanding of how to attract applications for leadership roles from people with a diverse ethnic background.
The Perrett Laver report (2020) found that the proportion of board members from ethnically diverse backgrounds in sports organisations was less than half the national average (7.9% vs 18%).
Nigel Harrison, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Sport Foundation, said: “We know from our own recruitment in recent years that while we are attracting more ethnically diverse candidates, this is not consistently translating into those making it to the interview stage, particularly for senior roles including on our Board of Trustees.
“It’s also very evident that there is a lack of representation across the sector in those senior roles and working alongside our partners we want to change that. We believe that ‘Lead the Change’ will give people the confidence, resilience and sector understanding to be best placed to help change the narrative on leadership roles in sport and physical activity.”
Paul Reddish, speaking on behalf of the consortium of Sporting Equals, AKD Solutions, and Equity Coach, added: “Increasing diversity of boards and leadership roles, and a focus on ensuring those in positions feel included and valued is a vital and important component of organisations addressing issues of representation and inequality across sport.
“We are looking forward to doing our bit to support Yorkshire Sport Foundation and partners in delivering a programme that starts to address these issues locally.
“It is the first time that AKD Solutions, Sporting Equals and Equity Coach have collaborated on a project like this, and we are excited to see how the sum of our parts together can create a great learning environment for all those involved.”
“The Yorkshire Cricket Board are proud to be partners of Lead the Change and acknowledge the need and value in supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds to become skilled board members,” said Mo Hussain, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at the Yorkshire Cricket Board.
“We believe that sports governance and organisations will always be richer in terms of impact and culture if their governing bodies have true representation of the communities they serve, and this programme will surely help with this journey.”
“West Riding FA is thrilled to partner with Yorkshire Sport Foundation and Yorkshire Cricket on the ‘Lead the Change’ project,” added Hannah Simpson, CEO at West Riding County Football Association.
“This initiative is about breaking down barriers and ensuring that people from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds have the support, skills, and confidence to aspire to—and achieve—leadership roles, including positions on company boards. Together, we are committed to fostering greater representation and driving meaningful change across our communities.”
For more details and to apply, visit http://www.yorkshiresport.org/LeadTheChange
