Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity Affiiation of BME sports eagues and cubs September 2012 Summary Report by Sporting Equas
Contents 1 Introduction 2 Purpose of research 3 Methodoogy and respondent profie 4 Research findings 4.1 Extent of affiiation by BME cricket and footba eagues 4.2 Reasons for affiiation 4.3 The benefits of affiiation 4.4 Chaenges and impications 4.4.1 Mismatch between expectations and deivery 4.4.2 Equaity and diversity 4.5 Support needs 4.5.1 Raising awareness of the benefits of affiiation 4.5.2 Post-affiiation support 5 Concusions and way forward 6 Good practice The Birmingham Communities League 02 www.sportingequas.org.uk
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity Affiiation of BME sports eagues and cubs 1Introduction Many sports operate an affiiation process whereby eagues, cubs, tournaments and/or athetes can register with the reevant nationa governing body (NGB), or their regiona structures, in order to access certain support and benefits. This might incude training support, insurance cover and access to the atest information about the sport as we as the opportunity to participate in mainstream competitive structures. Through affiiation governing bodies aso promote uniformity in their sport and adherence and enforcement of agreed rues and reguations. It is therefore a key objective of sports governing bodies to encourage the affiiation of eagues and cubs that operate at a grassroots eve. Most NGBs encourage affiiation through their oca structures. Affiiation in footba and cricket takes pace through the foowing: Footba affiiation to the Footba Association (FA) takes pace via County FAs. Cricket affiiation to the Engand and Waes Cricket Board (ECB) takes pace via county cricket boards. As a rue affiiation is of cubs rather than eagues, athough exceptions exist. This insight paper seeks to expore the affiiation of back and minority ethnic (BME) sports groups in footba and cricket. Footba and cricket are two of the most popuar sports among BME communities. Footba, by far, is the most popuar with one in seven BME maes (14.44%) paying footba at east once a week. BME maes aged 16-34 (4.6%) are aso three times as ikey to pay cricket each week than their white counterparts. 1 Refecting this interest many cubs and a number of eagues exist within these sports at a community eve that consist mainy of BME payers and teams. For exampe a cricket eague based in Birmingham represents eighty teams primariy of Asian backgrounds. A number of footba tournaments targeting BME communities aso take pace across the country which attracts numerous BME teams. www.sportingequas.org.uk 01
2Purpose of research 3Methodoogy and respondent profie At the outset the main purpose of the research was to expore why BME ed footba and cricket eagues were sow to affiiate with governing bodies, based on anecdota evidence that affiiation eves were sti comparativey ow among BME sports groups. For exampe, research such as that carried out by the Asian Footba Network, concuded that there has been significant growth in Asian eagues over the past 20 years which can argey be attributed to the ack of support Asian teams received from affiiated eagues a we as discrimination and feeings of rejection from the footba community. 2 However, during the initia desk-top research and consutations we discovered that affiiation has increasingy been taking pace in recent years, at both eague and cub eve. It was therefore determined that the research woud be more informative in exporing the reasons for, and impacts of this phenomenon. This insight paper therefore expores the affiiation of BME footba and cricket eagues and cubs, ooking particuary at: the extent to which BME eagues/cubs in cricket and footba are affiiating with the respective governing body; the reasons for affiiation; chaenges with the affiiation process; benefits of affiiation; post-affiiation engagement with the governing body; and impications for governing bodies. Due to the popuarity of footba and cricket among BME communities at a grassroots eve, and the existence of we estabished eague and cub structures, these sports were seected as the main focus of this insight paper. The research was primariy quaitative in nature as we sought to expore the direct experience and views of key participants working within these sports. The research invoved fifteen teephone interviews with individuas invoved in a management roe in footba (9) and cricket (6), and 1 focus group. In neary a cases interviewees were invoved in their sport in more than one capacity e.g. as payer, cub/eague manager and/or tournament organiser. Overa, the ead roe of respondents was as foows: 4 tournament organisers 5 eague/cub committee members 2 Birmingham Communities League cubs 2 representatives from Birmingham County FA 2 representatives from Warwickshire Cricket Board/ECB 1 focus group (5 participants of a oca affiiated team) The majority of the research participants were based in the West Midands and London regions, with one representative each from the East Midands and Yorkshire respectivey. Due to the regiona nature of the research the findings might not necessariy refect the wider nationa picture. Most of the organisations represented worked across a range of ethnic groups incuding Asian, Back African and Caribbean and White. Four organisations, however, worked mainy with a specific ethnic and/or faith community i.e. Asian, Sikh, Turkish and Bangadeshi respectivey. A of the sports organisations taking part in the research had significant reach among target groups. For exampe, one footba tournament organiser worked with 120 teams invoving 3,000 payers. One cricket 02 www.sportingequas.org.uk
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity 4Research findings eague had access to approximatey 80 teams. A sma focus group was conducted in the West Midands to ascertain the views of footba participants about the impact of affiiation, and the support they woud ike to see forthcoming from governing bodies. Representatives from the Birmingham County FA and Warwickshire Cricket Board and the ECB were interviewed to obtain a governing body perspective. Representatives of two Birmingham footba cubs were aso contacted to expore their invovement in the Birmingham Communities League, which is run by the County FA. Though we ooked at footba and cricket there are ceary essons earnt that other NGBs coud incorporate in the deveopment of their own engagement strategies. 4.1 Extent of affiiation among BME cricket and footba eagues In my experience many of the community eagues based in East London are now affiiated to the FA. Footba Team Manager & Community representative The initia aim of the research was to identify nonaffiiated eagues, which previous anecdota evidence seemed to suggest was prevaent among BME groups, in order to expore the reasons for the ack of affiiation. As there was itte existing evidence outining the current picture we initiay conducted onine research and made contact with existing networks within the BME footba and cricketing sector to identify non-affiiated eagues. Both the initia desktop research and discussions, however, quicky indicated that the rate of affiiation was increasing within these sports. In fact a the eagues identified and/or referred to us had affiiated in the ast few years, and neary a the respondents represented organisations that were affiiated to a governing body in some capacity. Furthermore, neary a of the respondents invoved in the research stated that affiiation of BME-ed sports eagues and cubs was increasingy taking pace among their own networks and connections within footba and cricket. The reasons for this are covered more fuy in section 4.2. Birmingham County FA concurred that it has experienced an increase in affiiations in recent years, some of which have resuted from the targeted interventions impemented by the County FA as part of the Get into Footba project. Simiary, Warwickshire Cricket Board reported an increase in affiiations athough this was seen to be a natura consequence of the growth in the number of BME cricket cubs in the region. This is not to say that there are no non-affiiated eagues. Birmingham County FA in fact emphasised that it is aware there is sti a arge untapped market of www.sportingequas.org.uk 03
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity grassroots footba which has yet to be reached. For the purposes of the research these were difficut to identify party because they are ess ikey to have forma structures with a web presence, and therefore ess ikey to be known among and connected to wider networks. A distinction, however, was made by respondents between recreationa eagues and those eagues that want to compete at a higher eve, and offer a greater range of opportunities to participants. Non-affiiated eagues are fine for those who just want to pay recreationay and for the more occasiona teams such as empoyer based teams that do not want to commit to a eague structure and the number of games that invoves. Birmingham based cricket eague/cub manager If participation is mainy for recreation purposes then it does not reay matter whether the eague is affiiated or not. In the youth section about 95% of our young peope are there for recreation purposes. Ony about 5% of parents might push their kids to progress and wi move them to join better eagues. Neary a the aduts, however, are there for recreation purposes. London footba eague manager In the above cases most of the participants, who mainy came from Asian and Back communities, payed cricket or footba for recreationa purposes. In fact the London footba manager described the abiity of most of the participating teams and payers within his eague as average, and that on the whoe they were not seeking to pay at a more advanced eve. He aso stated, however, that in the past payers that wanted to progress were supported to do so by heping them to transfer to other more competitive eagues. This London eague, however, is now affiiated and even though the majority of the teams sti consist of recreationa payers, the addition of a focussed training academy is part of a drive to attract more young peope who want to progress within the sport but sti be based within their own oca community. Some respondents carified that whie affiiation was ceary rising some eagues and cubs sti choose not to affiiate as there is no rea need to do so; they pay reativey infrequenty, normay purey for fun and socia reasons and operate a fexibe mode with itte or no infrastructure. Taking on additiona bureaucracy and commitments associated with affiiation was considered to be an unnecessary operationa and financia burden. This was reiterated by the Warwickshire Cricket Board which had found that some grassroots cubs chose not engage with affiiated sport structures due to the additiona costs and bureaucracy invoved. It was aso highighted that a significant proportion of BME cubs are part of parks eagues that mainy pay informa recreationa cricket, and don t reay need the support of the cricket board, athough this might not be the case in other regions. Matters of equaity and diversity were aso highighted as factors that infuenced decisions whether to affiiate or not (see section 4.4.2). Respondents were divided about how important it is for unaffiiated eagues and cubs to connect with mainstream structures. Affiiation was not seen as entirey essentia for grassroots groups many of which, as aready discussed, exist for recreationa purposes ony. On the other hand there was some agreement that a eague coud not be run propery without affiiation. Mosty, however, respondents fet that that it was probaby better for eagues and cubs that want to progress to affiiate for practica and pragmatic reasons, and highighted issues such as insurance requirements, accessibiity to faciities and opportunities to participate in wider competitive structures. 02 04 www.sportingequas.org.uk
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity 4.2 Reasons for affiiation many eagues now affiiate for practica reasons. Footba Team Manager & Community representative Affiiation was often sought for both practica and pragmatic reasons or as one respondent put it it s a case of having to and another purported that Cricket boards mainy want to work with affiiated eagues. Affiiation by some groups was seen as a necessity that woud hep them to address a specific chaenge they faced, and enabe them to operate more effectivey. For exampe, three organisations advised that they coud not access certain cricketing faciities uness they were ECB affiiated members. The Warwickshire Cricket Board maintained that whie affiiation is a prerequisite for cubs seeking to participate in some officia eagues, a eve of support is avaiabe for a cubs. There was recognition, however, that the ack of suitabe faciities has been an issue for years impacting grassroots cricket and advised that an ECB improvement programme targeting counci cricket faciities is panned for ater this year. This programme wi particuary benefit parks eagues which are among the main users of counci cricket grounds, many of which consist of non-affiiated cubs without their own grounds and cubhouses. The possibiity of governing body intervention in dispute resoution was aso highighted as a pragmatic reason for affiiation, athough this option had not yet been exercised by any respondent. Another key driver for affiiation was the insurance requirements need to participate in mainstream sport structures. Footba Tabe 1: Reasons for affiiation Cricket We were more ikey to be abe to access counci faciities if we were affiiated To everage regiona and nationa support of the county cricket board to access oca authority faciities Cricket boards mainy want to work with affiiated eagues To access support, advice and training In order to pay in Saturday eague matches you need to be a part of a mainstream eague Need to be affiiated to be abe to take part in bigger nationa competitions which hep raise the profie of payers Footba Insurance is difficut to arrange uness you are affiiated to an NGB The tournament needed to be affiiated to enabe affiiated teams to participate Because we were inviting professiona cubs/scouts to the tournament we did not want anything to prohibit the process of engagement To access support, advice and training Needed to be part of mainstream footba to appy for Footba Foundation/other funding Because of the FA rues and Sunday eagues protocos it became necessary for us to affiiate We coud invove the FA if we needed to for dispute resoution We fee that we are a part of something www.sportingequas.org.uk 05
respondents advised that affiiation is often a prerequisite for accessing suitabe insurance cover, without which access to certain faciities is prohibited and participation in wider structures is imited etc. Respondents invoved in the organisation of footba competitions aso advised that affiiate status was needed in order to compy with the specific rues reating to the participation of affiiated cubs in tournaments. Access to finance was aso an incentive to affiiation. One organisation took the steps to affiiate so it coud appy for Footba Foundation funding. Others fet that by being affiiated members they were better positioned to access wider funding sources. In some cases the broader strategic objectives of organisations was the prominent driver for affiiation. Three organisations, in their drive to raise the profie of payers and provide them with greater access to professiona cubs and increased scouting opportunities, fet it was imperative to affiiate. One eague organiser spoke about strengthening its position in order to improve faciities for participating cubs and to infuence wider partners. 4.3 The benefits of affiiation Promoting the benefits of affiiation is often used by NGBs to engage cubs and eagues and provide an incentive to incorporation within their broader structures. Some of the benefits avaiabe to cubs and eagues, as highighted in FA and ECB iterature, are set out in Tabe 2. Additiona benefits are often aso avaiabe through the reevant regiona body. The Birmingham County FA found that one of the biggest incentives of affiiation was the 10m pubic iabiity cover that is avaiabe to affiiates. Indeed a number of respondents raised the issue of insurance, but more in the context of a reason for affiiation rather than as a benefit of affiiation. The County FA, however, recognised that there was sti a need to raise awareness of the insurance requirements at a grassroots eve. Another key benefit of affiiation, highighted by both the ECB and the County FA, was the information, advice, support and guidance that is avaiabe on a range of issues particuary on matters of governance, which again was corroborated by respondents. Indeed the most tangibe benefit of affiiation highighted by respondents was the support and advice offered about the formaisation of governance and structura arrangements within their organisations. The process of affiiation often prompted a review of existing arrangements and provided an opportunity for the NGB to provide guidance on the good management of eague structures and estabishment of proper procedures, thereby heping the BME sport organisation to improve interna operations. This constitutiona support was highighted by haf of the respondents representing both footba and cricketing organisations. Other benefits directy experienced by respondents incuded: Newsetters and being kept in the oop about deveopments (3 organisations) Ongoing hep with access to footba pitches, transport and equipment (2 organisations) Compimentary tickets to sports events (1organisation) 06 www.sportingequas.org.uk
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity Reationship with suppiers incuding access to discounts (1 organisation) Discounted training (1 organisation) Buiding reationships with other communities through participation in broader sport structures (1 organisation) Focus group participants advised that their cub had received the foowing support: First aid/chid protection training Information on grants successfu bid for 20K Structura and organisationa support Referees at matches Affiiation enhanced communication between NGBs and affiiate members, and provided a route for organisations to earn about the atest deveopments and opportunities. The CEO of a London footba eague, for exampe, was abe to access discounted coaching training which immensey benefitted the oca community eague. This eague affiiated soon after it had been estabished so it coud enter FA competitions and compete against teams that were of an equa or better standard. The CEO further said that affiiation had given them a sense of connectivity so they fet they were a part of something bigger. Tabe 2: Benefits of affiiation Cricket 3 Access to support for pitch and ground maintenance Groundsmanship courses/quaifications and Groundsmanship Association Specia deas from ECB sponsors Access to advice ad guidance from the ECB hepdesk or from county boards and cricket deveopment managers Access to ECB directives, reguations and guidance covering a range of topics incuding safety, fast bowing, discipine and cub administration Access to the ECB Cub Deveopment Pan onine resource Opportunity to enter ECB Cub Competitions Pubic Liabiity Insurance cover for cub, team and payers Footba 4 Being part of the structure of the Nationa Game from grassroots upwards Eigibiity to participate in Sanctioned Leagues and County FA competitions Discipine and Fair Pay Opportunities to appy for grant aid and funding from the Footba Association Access to information and advice from the County FA personne, FA Regiona Deveopment Manager and FA Regiona Faciity Managers Pubic Liabiity Insurance cover for cub, team and payers Access to The FA and County FA pubications and resources Opportunities to participate in FA Footba Deveopment schemes such as Charter Standard Awards The opportunity to make Cub's views known on the future deveopment of the game to both County FA's and The FA www.sportingequas.org.uk 07
4.4 Chaenges and impications 4.4.1 Mismatch between expectations and deivery We did not affiiate earier as we vaued our independence, and coud not see anything tangibe that woud come from affiiation. We did not want to be dictated to. In some respects affiiation can be seen as the governing body just seeking to meet a quota for affiiation. Birmingham based cricket eague Whie the research indicated that some benefits of affiiation were acknowedged by respondents the more prevaiing sentiment, however, was that the rea added vaue of affiiation was not cear. In fact a majority of the respondents expressed a eve of disappointment in the ack of support foowing the affiiation of their respective eagues, cubs and tournaments. The disappointment often centred on the ack of access to funding, training support and specific interventions on improving equaity and participation from among BME communities, as we as time deays between affiiation and subsequent intervention. One cricket eague, having affiiated on the basis that it woud speed up access to particuar faciities, caimed it had yet to receive any tangibe support and was sti waiting to benefit! There is a perception that foowing affiiation financia discounts woud be forthcoming and that support such as training of coaches and referees woud be quicky avaiabe. In reaity this has not aways been the case. Some respondents fet that direct contact with the governing body ceased once they had been signed up as an affiiate eading to the view that affiiation was merey a tick box exercise enabing NGBs to meet their quota of BME teams, eagues and payers. Becoming affiiated has made no rea difference to us. The eague has been running successfuy for some time. The FA highights us in their footba iterature and come to award nights but there has been no other support forthcoming. In fact the FA has got more kudos because of being abe to say they have an x number of Asian eagues with x number of payers on their iterature. It s about hitting targets and meeting quotas. London footba eague manager There is ceary a mismatch between the benefits promoted by NGBs and the expectations of eagues and cubs, and reaity on the ground. Respondents from both cricket and footba fet that more direct intervention was needed from NGBs with a stronger working reationship estabished to enabe them to better understand the chaenges they faced as BME sports organisations. This mismatch is recognised by the Birmingham County FA which acknowedged that tacking the tick box perceptions and addressing past faiures in the provision of post-affiiation support is important in going forward. Indeed, the County FA has experienced considerabe success in the impementation of a new approach with more focused targeted intervention and handhoding of groups both before and after affiiation. As part of this the County FA has sought to buid the capacity of organisations to enabe them to benefit from the support that is avaiabe. The Birmingham Communities League, a fast growing oca eague managed by the County FA, is a good exampe of what can be achieved through strong coaboration between community sports groups and regionay based governing bodies. (See Good Practice section 6). 4.4.2 Equaity and diversity Issues of equaity and diversity were aso recurrent themes. A number of respondents indicated that nonaffiiated eagues and cubs exist at grassroots eves to 08 www.sportingequas.org.uk
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity provide accessibe sport structures for BME communities that might otherwise not engage in sport. As one respondent put it sometimes it is just easier to be part of your own community eague, particuary in areas such as Bradford. Such a eague is ikey to consist of teams and participants from a specific community group, for exampe a Asian. An aspect of the debate, however, focused on the pros and cons of singe identity eagues, cubs and tournaments. On the whoe singe identity sports organisations were seen as an important means of engaging BME communities and increasing participation eves among BME groups. A number of respondents expained that in many cases singe identity eagues and cubs have emerged simpy as a resut of being part of common networks. Others have emerged due to a desire to ink with others with simiar goas and aspirations. A few respondents, however, chaenged the negative impact on community cohesion and integration. Coour and race shoud not dictate participation. Teams from specific communities need to pay against a communities not just against one another. Teams need to wecome a peope. Cub and tournament manager One respondent spoke about the bigger picture and the roe of sport in uniting communities and breaking down barriers. In his opinion singe identity tournaments imited the scope for buiding reationships across diverse communities. Both the cubs participating in the Birmingham Communities League initiay drew participants from a singe ethnic background but have graduay become more diverse as they have created inks among eague members and have become estabished as progressive sports teams. On the other hand neary a the respondents reiterated the ongoing chaenges of racism within sport, which to some extent was fet to have contributed to the formation of singe identity sport. Racism does exist which can make it difficut to join mainstream eagues. In the eary days I used to get funny ooks and comments about how I dressed. When I started to pay for a predominanty white team, the other teams in the eague used to compain about how the status quo was changing. Sikh cricket payer and tournament organiser In the eary days of paying cricket in the 1980s the above respondent was part of a non-affiiated eague that consisted ony of Asian teams as it was difficut to join eagues and cubs made up of a white participants. Later, however, he started to pay for open sides that were more accessibe to a ethnic groups. Payers are now on a more eve paying fied but they are sti having difficuties breaking through. Asian footba tournament organiser There needs to be more integrated sport. Having said that change is sow. There is an eement of racism but not participating is not going to change this. Footba Cub and tournament manager Athough today more BME eagues and cubs are a part of mainstream sport structures, and there is greater diversity among participants, simiar chaenges remain. Participants of the footba focus group spoke about the racist comments and attitudes of some payers from other a white teams and the non-action of referees, as we of the stereotyping of payers from BME communities. Asian respondents in particuar were voca about the ack of acceptance of them as sporting equas with the potentia to progress. One cricket manager fet that whie there is a ot of rhetoric about race equaity in the magazines and gossies and other iterature of governing bodies, in reaity there is itte action on the ground. Other respondents emphasised that more support and www.sportingequas.org.uk 09
intervention is needed from governing bodies around the promotion of equaity such as the training and recruitment of referees and coaches from BME communities. Overa access to professiona cubs and participation within mainstream structures was viewed as an integra part of sport deveopment within BME communities despite the chaenges. A the respondents, however, fet that addressing issues of race equaity shoud be an area of priority for NGBs. It was acknowedged by the Warwickshire Cricket Board that the issue of trust is a key factor whie working with BME groups. Whie the Cricket Board has estabished good working reationships with a number of BME-ed cubs it recognised that more needs to be done to buid trust among the wider BME sports community. It had, for exampe, found that a significant number of BME cubs seemed to prefer getting on with their own approach to paying cricket rather than engage with forma structures. 4.5 Support needs The research identified two key areas of support needs: Raising awareness of the benefits of affiiation Post-affiiation support 4.5.1 Raising awareness of the benefits of affiiation The process itsef is fairy straight forward but there might be a need for cricket boards to have peope within their structure who can understand the wider community and have a better understanding of cuture. The right peope need to se the benefits of affiiation. Cricket eague manager Whie most of the respondents had themseves found the affiiation process fairy straightforward, they fet the rea issue was the ack of awareness of the need to affiiate, and the benefits of doing so. They emphasised that more carity was needed on the specific advantages of affiiation, as we as evidence of tangibe support foowing affiiation. This was reiterated by Birmingham County FA, which had found that there was a ack of awareness of the affiiation process as we as the benefits at a grassroots eve. Traditionay the County FA utiised cubs, coaches and vounteers to raise awareness but found that this approach was not effective in reaching a communities. In response, the County FA is now seeking to work directy with the vountary and community sector and grassroots deveopment organisations, which has ed to a significant increase in reach and awareness among the wider BME sports community. One of the key actions has been the estabishment of the Race Equaity Advisory Group (REAG) which incudes a network of partners, and is part of a proactive approach to equaity aimed at increasing coaches and vounteers from BME communities. The Birmingham County FA aso recognised that for some groups the process of affiiation itsef posed a practica chaenge. The County FA identified that footba groups from communities where Engish was not their first anguage often faied to compete the affiiation process even whie expressing rea interest in doing so. As a response the County FA recenty arranged a forum for grassroots groups, with whom they had aready estabished contact, to discuss affiiation more fuy and to provide assistance in the practicaities such as transation support, if needed. The Warwickshire Cricket Board identified that the ack of capacity within some BME cubs prohibited their abiity to engage with forma structures. It aso, however, indicated that its own priorities of working with cubs operating junior teams might impact the eve of engagement with BME teams; as many BME cubs do not have junior teams these might be overooked by the Board when promoting affiiation. 10 www.sportingequas.org.uk
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity Ceary, in both these cases, it is important that the particuar support that it is avaiabe is effectivey communicated to a groups so that those that wish to affiiate can be faciitated to do so. 4.5.2 Post-affiiation support After affiiation there has to be more support! Footba eague manager Amost unanimousy respondents fet that governing bodies needed to provide more support foowing affiiation, and that this support shoud be taiored to the actua needs of BME eagues and cubs. As one respondent put it the FA shoud and coud be doing more by targeting resources appropriatey! Particuar support was required for addressing issues of equaity and diversity. It was fet that governing bodies have a key roe in improving participation among BME communities, and therefore shoud be more proactive in supporting eagues and cubs affiiated within their structures that can reach BME groups. However, it was emphasised that meaningfu engagement is needed rather than tokenistic support. In fact a number of footba and cricketing respondents referenced the issue of racism in sport, both from persona experience and on a nationa eve. Whie programmes such as Kick It Out in footba were recognised as a step in the right direction it was widey fet that governing bodies themseves need to truy understand and empathise with the impacts of cuture, barriers and racism in sport and be wiing to think and act outside of the box. One eague manager fet a two tier structure existed in cricket one invoving BME/grassroots groups, and the other, the mainstream cub scene with very differing eves of accessibiity to resources. This incuded ack of trained BME coaches and referees, as we as marketing support to attract such personne in the first pace. Some positive steps have recenty taken pace such as the FA-ed bursary scheme to increase the invovement of BME footba coaches at a eves of the game. 6 More needs to be done, however, to increase awareness of such opportunities among target communities to ensure sufficient take-up to make a rea difference. A number of respondents indicated they woud ike to see more resources aocated for the improvement of their own faciities and/or access to other sports faciities. It was aso highighted that financia support is needed to bring cubs up to second tier eve. Some good practice, however, was highighted by the cubs participating in the Birmingham Communities League such as the cose invovement of the County FA staff in their on-going deveopment and practica support provided at matches. One of the cub managers praised the exceence of the eague structure and beieved that its success coud be attributed amost totay to the commitment of key County FA staff and the support they have provided to the cubs invoved to bring them to their current standard! It was aso fet that resource aocation was often top heavy. In the opinion of a number of respondents, representing both footba and cricket, support did not seem to reach grassroots organisations and participants, particuary BME-ed groups. We don t get the same eve of support because we are seen as an Asian team. Focus group participant www.sportingequas.org.uk 11
5Concusions and way forward Being affiiated is ony haf the question. Is it reay a win, win? Cricket eague manager The research indicates that affiiation of BME ed sports organisations and groups is increasing in footba and cricket athough extensive non-affiiated sport is sti prevaent. A the research respondents beonged to a sports group that is now affiiated to the ECB or FA. Whie the key drivers for affiiation were varied they were mainy pragmatic and/or practica in nature such as the insurance requirements needed to pay in mainstream eagues, access to support and advice, funding opportunities and organisationa and payer deveopment. There was, however, a prevaiing sense of disappointment about post affiiation support (athough there were a few notabe exceptions). Whie the disappointment might be due in part to unreaistic expectations, it was evident that the tick box and target chasing cuture has contributed to the mismatch between expectations and reaity. Operationay, it is important that cohesive nationa and oca arrangements exist to ensure that affiiation and engagement strategies are effectivey impemented on the ground. Beow are recommendations on how NGBs might better engage BME sports organisations: Supporting non-affiiate sport provision Affiiate sport ceary is not the ony way. Many BME communities enjoy the informaity of sport which is refected in the extensive recreationa provision that is avaiabe through faith based settings and community organisations. NGBs need to recognise the roe of this non-affiiated provision, and to proactivey support it, rather than advocating a stance that seems to suggest affiiate or we can t hep you. From a choice perspective it is aso important to ensure that pathways to sports participation are avaiabe at a eves whether at a recreationa eve or through more structured sport. The research, however, highighted that some progress is being made. The ECB affirmed that it is fuy committed to increasing cricket participation and supports the engagement with non traditiona cubs as a critica part of this. The governing body advised that it is currenty undertaking a number of steps to hep inform their broader engagement and support strategies, such as working with park eagues to understand what they need from an affiiation package and how these might be best impemented. The governing body aso indicated that it is seeking to acceerate such work as part of its deveopment programme. 12 www.sportingequas.org.uk
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity Effective communication and resource distribution One of the key chaenges for NGBs is to manage expectations whie ensuring that affiiation does not become an end in itsef. This can be achieved through better and more effective communication about the purpose of affiiation, and providing support foowing affiiation that is actuay needed by affiiate members representing BME communities. This requires meaningfu diaogue with both affiiates and non-affiiates with the intention of criticay ooking at what is currenty avaiabe and ascertaining whether support and resources are appropriatey distributed in ight of this. Supporting BME affiiate members to increase participation NGBs have an opportunity to increase sport participation and accessibiity among BME groups by proactivey inking into, and supporting, the work of affiiate members that have reach and infuence among BME communities. As such members are aready part of the network and inked to existing structures, by investing some time and resources there is rea potentia to achieve positive resuts on the ground. Support, however, shoud not merey be offered as a means of meeting targets but with a view to understanding the rea issues, and so it can be taiored to where it might be most effective. Promoting race equaity Race equaity needs to move from the magazines and gossies into tangibe actions on the ground. Boards have a responsibiity to promote race equaity and to measure what has actuay been achieved. The Race Equaity Advisory Group estabished by the Birmingham County FA is one exampe of this. This group is accountabe to the board and is required to report on actua resuts and the rea changes that are being made on the ground. Other actions woud incude buiding trust by estabishing strong reationships, increasing visibiity of NGB representatives and promoting grassroots community engagement. Whie there is ceary a case to be made for greater integration, in ight of the issues of inequaity BME eagues and cubs have an important roe to pay in the sporting andscape. As stated by the Asian Footba Network, the Asian Footba League is a very important part of our footba andscape, a pace where excuded payers, teams and cubs can participate in affiiated footba. 2 Utimatey, however, equa access to sport structures is needed to ensure that BME participants have equa opportunity to progress, and take part at the highest eves in their sport. www.sportingequas.org.uk 13
6Good practice: The Birmingham Communities League The research identified good practice that has been deveoped and impemented by Birmingham County FA as a means of engaging more BME communities in organised footba provision. The Birmingham Communities League (BCL) was specificay designed to buid the capacity of BME sports teams to participate in a eague that bridges the gap between participation in mainstream sport structures and non-affiiated sport. Foowing a re-aunch of the eague in 2010 the BCL now consists of: 14 teams, 13 newy affiiated teams, 400+ payers, 5 newy quaified coaches, 2 Just Pay centres attended by 50+ participants per week, 2 cubs attaining the adut charter standard award and 1 cub progressing to the Birmingham AFA. The Birmingham Communities League is an 11-a-side Footba eague that is argey made up of new and emerging communities. 6 BCL was originay a project created by Aston Sports Cub in 2008 which started with 6 teams from new and emerging communities from across Birmingham. The ast games were hosted in 2010 but upon creation of the Birmingham Get into Footba (GIF) team it was decided that to re-ignite this project woud be beneficia to the new GIF programme. It was decided that by re-aunching the eague the Birmingham GIF team coud create affordabe opportunities for new teams to participate in 11-a-side footba. It was aso seen as being a good way of creating inks with the various minority ethnic communities across the region, the majority of which had some sort of footba provision which the GIF team wanted to try and bring together in order to give them a patform to deveop their teams. In order to get the eague off the ground the GIF team contacted previous entrants of the BCL and arranged meetings to discuss the new format. They aso processed od affiiation data to ascertain which teams were no onger affiiated and see if they were interested in this new eague. Whie initiay teams were a itte sow in signing up, once trust had been gained with a coupe of the teams interest rapidy increased. To ensure that the eague took into account the needs of the individua cubs the GIF team worked with individua teams to get them to buy into what they were trying to achieve and to give them a sense of ownership of what direction the eague took. A ro on ro off subs rue was impemented so that payers who were ony capabe of paying 20 minutes were catered for rather than being excuded. A the bas and goa nets etc were aso purchased to keep the cost down for competing teams, as cost is one of 14 www.sportingequas.org.uk
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity the main barriers to reguar participation. 7 The cost incurred to the teams was a 60 entrance fee that covered their affiiation and then 12.50 per game towards the cost of the referee. The cost of faciities was covered by the GIF budget. During the eague a number of issues have had to be deat with such as time keeping, discipine, transport and securing referees for the games. Some of the issues such as time keeping and discipine were aspects that were expected, and in keeping with the ethos of such a eague, the GIF team has sought to work through these issues. This is where a eague such as the BCL is different to a mainstream eague; it is more toerant of mistakes and proactive in working with new teams and educating them on correct conduct both on and off the pitch. During the duration of the eague the GIF team has worked with the various teams and created additiona informa footba opportunities to add to their member base. Two teams have become officia Just Pay centres and wi receive reguar support and equipment to create opportunities for their wider community. These are the first Just Pay deivery centre of their type in the country. The BCL aso provided the patform to access severa funding streams to aid growth and deveopment. Moving forward there are a number of initiatives that the GIF team is seeking to impement to ensure the sustainabiity of the eague and that the teams entering are getting the best support possibe. It is vitay important that moving forward the BCL becomes a good exampe of muti agency working so that the best support and exit routes wi be avaiabe. Exampes incude: Partnership working with Sporting Equas for marketing and recruitment support and advice on how teams might ink into other provision. Sported (a eading sport for deveopment charity) have agreed to hep BCL teams with business deveopment pans and mentoring schemes which wi be of huge benefit to a teams with regards to capacity buiding and sustainabiity. Links are being sought with a oca eague where the stronger teams from the BCL wi be signposted to a weeky eague and weaker teams wi be transferred into the BCL unti they are in a position to compete on a reguar basis. In moving forward the GIF team wi be deegating some roes and responsibiities to the teams so they get a better understanding of what is required to maintain a eague and thus increasing their skis that may be used in other key areas. The GIF team is aso seeking to create a committee from competing teams and make them responsibe for fixtures and attendance and invove them within the decision making process with regards to discipinary issues. There is huge potentia for a eague of this genre and we fuy anticipate the eague to increase year on year and the cubs invoved to deveop and become estabished and important parts of the community. We are extremey gratefu to a our partners who have payed a part in the deveopment of this eague and continue to support the work we are doing across Birmingham. I beieve this format of the 11-aside game shows that BCFA have been creative and one of the more pro-active counties when it comes to understanding the demographics of the area. GIF Team member Two BCL cubs interviewed for this research were aso very positive about their experience as affiiate members, and the direct benefit to them and wecomed the growth of the eague as a rea opportunity to increase footba participation among BME communities. www.sportingequas.org.uk 15
Promoting ethnic diversity across sport & physica activity References 1. Active Peope Survey 5 (Oct 2010 Oct 2011) 2. http://www.asianfootbanetwork.org.uk/casestudies/case-study.php?s=asian-footbaeagues&cat=footba-deveopment (Accessed 06/06/12, 22/08/12) 3. Affiiation of Cubs and Leagues to the ECB http://www.ecb.co.uk/deveopment/cubs-andeagues/affiiation/ (accessed 19/07/2012) 4. Benefits of Affiiation to the FA, Get into Footba, The FA 5. http//coachbursary.thefa.com 6. Birmingham County FA Birmingham Communities League 2011/2012 Newsetter 7. East African Communities, Participation in Running in the UK: Insight paper prepared for Engand Athetics by Sporting Equas, December 2011 16 www.sportingequas.org.uk