This document summarizes Scottish Rugby's equalities action plan and initiatives to promote inclusion. It discusses programs and efforts to engage groups across several protected characteristics: 1) Age-related initiatives include programs for youth, adults, seniors and Golden Oldies rugby. Disability programs include partnerships with Disability Sport to develop opportunities for players of all abilities. 2) Race-related work includes partnering with BEMIS to develop opportunities for underrepresented groups. Examples of current projects engage Asian and Polish communities. 3) Gender equality efforts include appointing a Head of Women's Rugby and developing a women's and girls strategy with growing participation in girls' rugby events. 4) Other areas addressed include religion/

1. Welcome – Equalities
Arran Dewar– Inspiring Scotland
Neil Carrie – Scottish Rugby
Pete Young – Scottish Rugby

2. Programme level
• CashBack core values of “open to all” and inclusion
• EQIA introduced as part of annual reporting across
portfolio
• Identification of areas for improvement, and promoting
cycle of continual review
• CashBack programme evaluation

3. Partner level
• All partners in phase 2 had completed EQIAs
• Part of phase 3 process focussed on inclusion of protected
characteristics groups within Equalities Action Plan for each
partner
• Building on EQIA findings for improvement, or adoption within
own CashBack programme to address

4. External Evaluation recommendations
• Partners to act on the findings of their EQIA, setting this out in an Equality
Action Plan
• Equality Action Plan to set out how partners ensure their projects are open
to all
• Partner and DT to review EQIAs regularly
• SG to review their 2010 EQIA action points and develop a new EQIA to
adopt changes under Equalities Act 2010
• Equality gaps to inform SG of future balance / direction of CashBack

5. Scottish Rugby,
Equalities Action Plan
25 November 2014

6. Welcome
Neil Carrie
Head of Domestic Rugby Support
Pete Young
Equalities & Outreach Manager

7. Overview
• CashBack Investment – Integrated
programmes
• Equality Action Plan

8. Overview
• Equity Standard – Intermediate
• EQIA
• Policy Initiatives
• Reorganisation

10. Other influences…

11. 1st September 2014
• Restructure
• 1 mile deep vs 1 mile wide
• Capacity to do more
• Specialists vs generalists
• Equalities and Outreach Manager

12. Age
Cashback focused on young people, but there is a lot of work also done to
encourage senior players to return to the game as coaches, officials and
volunteers
• Golden Oldies rugby- affiliated to SRU who provide insurance for players
up to 55 years old.
• Players up to 86 still competing in festivals
• Broad delivery, primary schools;
• Secondary schools;
• Club development for adults
• Game On – NEETS 16-25 yo.

13. Disability
• Working with Disability Sport to develop programmes and opportunities
for participants with physical and learning disabilities
• Disability training for all Development Staff and MA’s
• Unified Rugby “ The Clan”: rugby for players with learning disabilities.
Established group in Kilmarnock and new group in Edinburgh
• Wheelchair rugby- Caledonian Crushers in Glasgow.
- New wheelchair 7’s group linked to Glasgow East Rugby club.
• Work in Special Schools- planned sessions in Kaimes Feb2015

14. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqDgRzqWvl
E&list=UUycrxh2r7VKKxP-rfa9-cfw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqeqqC3_cs
o&list=UUycrxh2r7VKKxP-rfa9-cfw

15. Race
• Currently working with BEMIS (Black and Ethnic Minorities in Scotland) to
look at developing opportunities for under-represented groups
Examples of projects:
• School of Rugby in Shawlands popular amongst Asian students
• Referral group in Angus- helped with integration of young Polish students

16. Sex and Gender
• New head of Women's Rugby appointed- Sheila Begbie.
• Women and Girls strategy to 2025 being developed
• Equality Champion on Scottish Rugby Board- Lesley Thomson
• Successful girls events at Lochinch in September and November with over
300 U15 and U18 girls and 12 new teams- supported by Cashback
• New women's teams in Shetland, Greenock, Howe of Fife

17. Religion & Belief
366 (1462) Catholic schools receiving CDO input
Primary – 1924 sessions with 45,000 attendance (15,132 sessions, 357,000
attendance)
Secondary – 867 sessions with 16,000 attendance (14,464 sessions,
229,000 attendance)
However…
Unsure as to make-up of club membership (stakeholder data project)
Challenges in converting taster sessions into teams at some schools
Other religious groups

18. Sexual Orientation
Caledonian Thebans- Scotland's only open sexuality rugby club.
• Affiliated member club of SRU
• Supported coaching from Murrayfield Wanderers
• Annual coaching clinic with 9 teams from UK and Europe attending-coaches
provided from Edinburgh Rugby/ DO’s and hosted at Murrayfield

19. Questions?
Thanks