Equity in Action

Being questioned about your loyalty to a country you've given everything for. Watching the doors of leadership stay firmly closed long after you stopped playing. Two athletes who reached the top of British sport and still had to fight for their place at the table.  In this episode of Equity in Action, John Williams brings together two pioneering figures in British sport who, despite competing at t...

Being told you're an "injury risk" when your disability was simply never understood. Walking around the Paralympic Village and counting the people who look like you on one hand. These are not abstract barriers, they are the lived reality of navigating sport as a Black disabled athlete in Britain, where race, equity, and fairness are still far from guaranteed.  In this episode of Equity in Action,...

Behind every young athlete's medal is a family that sacrificed, believed, and showed up, even when the system didn't. Raising a child in sport isn't just about training schedules and competition entries; it's about navigating race, bias, and financial strain, and the quiet courage it takes to keep going when fairness feels out of reach.  In this episode of Equity in Action, Zoiey Smale, Disability...

In both elite and grassroots sport, talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. Access is still strongly shaped by socioeconomic background, ethnicity, and geography. For associations and clubs building sporting communities, it is crucial to consider who they want to reach, when engagement should begin, and how individuals can be connected beyond entry-level participation.  Zoiey Smale, Di...

Sports can’t be truly inclusive if they’re built on exclusive ideas of who “deserves” to be there. Inclusion isn’t just about diversity; it’s about how we design environments where everyone feels they belong, on and off the pitch.    In this episode of Equity in Action, Zoiey Smale, Disability, Access, and Inclusion Consultant and Sports Presenter, is joined by Laura Samuels, Safeguarding Manager,...

Far beyond slogans or participation numbers, what does truly inclusive sport look like? From community-led running clubs to rethinking school PE and talent pathways, sporting organisations need to move beyond elitism and create sport that starts with people, not performance.  Zoiey Smale, Disability, Access, and Inclusion Consultant and Sports Presenter, is joined by Jessica Milloy, Founder of Asi...

Faith, culture, and race can shape not only how athletes are perceived but also whether they are allowed to compete at all. In British boxing, a long-standing beard ban once excluded Sikh athletes outright. Its eventual removal became a turning point for Sikh participation and a powerful example of how sport can either reinforce exclusion or embrace change.  In this episode of Equity in Action, ho...

What does it really look like when young people from ethnically diverse communities lead change in sport? Moving beyond participation to step into roles as leaders, mentors, and decision-makers builds confidence in the next generation of athletes and supports sustained growth within grassroots organisations, all in the pursuit of genuine inclusivity.  In this episode of Equity in Action, host Zoie...

Faith, culture, and identity are essential to building truly inclusive sport. Too often, hard-to-reach communities are overlooked, limiting access and opportunity. By creating safe, culturally responsive spaces for women, girls, families, and elders, spaces that welcome everyone regardless of faith or background, grassroots organisations can foster meaningful growth and inclusion on a wider scale....

Do you ever wonder why fostering inclusion in your community matters? Equity in Action explores the barriers faced by people from minority groups in the sporting world, alongside real-world examples of how communities, professionals, and organisations are working to break down historical barriers.  Equity in Action is brought to you by Sporting Equals, a leading UK charity promoting race equality...