Equality Update & Paddlesport for All
The SCA is launching our 2022-2025 'Paddlesport for All' Strategic Plan to clearly outline our vision, mission and values for the next four years. The SCA is firmly committed to moving forwards as an organisation with
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion woven through every aspect of
what we do.
The strategy takes into account the increased interest in paddlesport over the last two years, and will focus on widening participation even further, working to create a more diverse and inclusive paddlesport community which caters for the needs of all new entrants - particularly those from underrepresented groups.
From SCA Paddlesport for All - Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025
Equality, diversity and inclusion require significant effort to achieve. Without positive action there will be large population groups who face significant barriers to participation. People may want to paddle, but don’t feel they can or don’t feel welcomed, or haven’t even thought of paddling as something they might be able to do given that they see no one they can relate to taking part. We must be effortful to accomplish change.
“Having taken significant steps towards our goal of Everyone Can Paddle in recent years, our work is not yet done – nor will it ever be. As we move forwards our key focus will be on advancing our knowledge and practice of supporting more people, from more diverse backgrounds, into our sport to support development from grass roots to podium. This means approaching our work in a very holistic manner as well as addressing the specific needs of different groups in society. We know that this will take time, trust, and commitment from the wide-reaching paddling community.”
-Susie Benson, EDI Champion on the SCA Board of Directors
All SCA staff are committed to embedding EDI principles into their work, but we are a small team and need support. Over the past 12 months we have worked hard together with a team of 37 dedicated volunteers to establish
seven equality groups. These groups play an important role in steering and delivering actions that will make a real difference to people in these populations.
Equality Groups
The groups all share similar aims and objectives:
"To promote, steer, plan, deliver and advise on impactful initiatives that will encourage more people* to take up paddling as a long term activity and enable more people* to find the enjoyment and progressions in paddlesport that they desire."
*People from their specific population group.
Each group meets online every two months to discuss, share and develop ideas and move actions forward. Last year most groups were working on an Action Plan, identifying key projects that they aim to deliver over the next three year period. This year it will be about delivering these initiatives.
| Equality Group | 2022 - 2025 Focus |
|---|---|
| Disability Equality Group | Work with clubs, providers and centres to enable them to display the level of support they can provide paddlers with a disability and encourage them to do so. Create a list of accessible venues including what level of accessibility. Develop a database of adaptive equipment held by clubs, centres, providers etc. that paddlers with a disability could either be directed to or clubs, centres and providers could borrow. Increase awareness through a wide variety of media content that includes the sharing of experiences and narratives from people with a disability. Support events such as Wheels to Water, SDS Parasport festivals (and support clubs to get involved). |
| Ethnicity Equality Group | This group has not really gotten off the ground. We are in real need for support to move this area forward and would welcome anyone who is passionate about increasing opportunities for people from ethnically diverse communities to paddle and to reduce/better understand the barriers faced. |
| Female Equality Group | Run more female specific events. Increase female representation in SCA media content. Create a support network for women to help them progress to more advanced coaching & leading qualifications. |
| LGBTQ+ | Create a communication platform for LGBTQ+ paddlers to arrange events and peer-paddles. Establishment of a partnership with LEAP to create a Paddlesport Group Work with LEAP that will be visible to LGBTQ+ people wishing to try paddlesports. Organise Paddlesport events for LGBTQ+ paddlers in conjunction with LEAP. Support clubs to recruit new LGBTQ+ paddlers to join. |
| Lifelong Equality Group | The Lifelong Equality Group’s goal is to actively encourage sustained participation in all disciplines of paddlesports through all life stages so they might gain from the health, wellbeing, and social benefits that the sport brings. A newly formed group, it is about to begin work on an Action Plan. |
| Mental Health and Wellbeing Group | Support paddlesport communities to connect with Green Prescribing opportunities. Support introduction of Club Wellbeing Officer role. Increased understanding and awareness of the psychology aspect of paddling within coach education. Increased openness around mental health in paddling. |
| Young Persons Group | Create a Young Paddlers Ambassador Programme to raise the profile of paddlesport and of young paddlers; to influence and shape the future of paddlesport in Scotland, so it is more accessible and enjoyable for young paddlers; and to support the development of the individual ambassadors, investing in the future of the sport. |
Get Involved - help us make paddlesport more inclusive!
We are recruiting for people to join all of our Equality Groups.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of these groups or projects please contact the Equality Group
equality@canoescotland.org saying which group you are interested in supporting and why you would like to get involved.
You don’t need to identify as being in a specific population to join the group (e.g. you don’t need to have a disability to join the disability group), but you do need to be passionate about supporting this community and using your platform to help create change.
HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
VIEW MORE
