Black History Month: A Time for Reflection, Progress, and Future Action

As Black History Month (BHM) comes to a close, the Alliance is proud to have celebrated this with our members and sector leaders who – like us – are seeking to make sport, recreation and physical activity more accessible and equitable for everyone.

For sports organisations in the UK, it is a time not only to acknowledge and celebrate the historical and ongoing contributions of Black communities, athletes and volunteers but also to continue to challenge ourselves on what more can be done to address some of the persistent issues facing the sector – issues such as racial inequality, under-representation, low levels of participation and unconscious bias.

The Significance of Black History Month for Sport and Recreation Organisations

BHM carries immense significance for sports organisations, given the deep historical connections between sports and race. From pioneering athletes like Arthur Wharton - the world’s first Black professional footballer - to modern icons like Lewis Hamilton, sports have long been arenas where Black individuals have broken barriers and inspired change.

Yet, while this is far from an issue that only affects our sector, there is a lot more that sport and recreation can do to help foster racial equity. Black athletes continue to face challenges ranging from overt racism to microaggressions and institutional barriers. Leadership and coaching roles suffer from a lack of representation further highlighting the disparities within sports governance. This imbalance limits the diversity of thought and experiences necessary to foster inclusive environments.

For these reasons, Black History Month represents more than a commemoration; it is a call to action for sports organisations to examine their structures, behaviours, and cultures.

The Role of Sports and recreation Organisations in Addressing Inequality

Sport and recreation is one of the most influential sectors when it comes to shaping social attitudes. But for too long the sector has focused on reacting to issues surrounding racial inequalities, without applying the same focus and energy on pre-empting such issues. There are certain areas where a more front-footed approach – both in the sport and recreation sector and society more broadly - can help augment positive change:

Diversifying Leadership

There is a huge gap of Black representation in leadership roles. Boards, executive teams, and coaching positions in many organisations remain overwhelmingly non-Black. Diversifying leadership is not just a matter of fairness; it is essential for fostering diversity of thought and creating more inclusive environments. When decision-makers come from diverse backgrounds, they bring different perspectives and experiences that lead to better decision-making.

Building Anti-Racism Frameworks

"Celebrating diversity" without structural change doesn’t carry much value. To truly honour BHM, organisations can develop and implement anti-racism policies that address both overt and covert racism within their institutions. This includes establishing clear protocols for reporting and addressing racism, providing ongoing diversity and inclusion training, and holding leaders accountable for progress.

Cultural Transformation in Sports Governance

As organisations begin to prioritise racial equality and inclusion, sports governance will become more reflective of the diverse populations they serve. Black individuals and other ethnically diverse individuals will occupy a greater number of leadership roles, influencing decision-making at the highest levels. A great example of this is the work of Swim England. We spoke to Mike Hawkes, their Head of Diversity and Inclusion, who says that despite all the work with communities across all forms of their sport, he is mindful of inequalities in wider membership demographics. Swim England will utilise this platform to discuss barriers in participation and working towards addressing these.

Media Representation and Storytelling

Story telling is the one of the most powerful tools that we must write and re-write history. The media has a significant role to play in shaping perceptions of the sport sector. The future will see an evolution in the way Black communities are portrayed, with an emphasis on celebrating their strategic, intellectual, and cultural contributions alongside their athletic abilities. Working with media outlets and partners will help us tell these stories to a wider audience.

Strengthened Grassroots Networks

Future generations of Black communities – including young children to young adults, will benefit from stronger, more inclusive grassroots networks. The next generation need to see role models, a safe space to test their talent, a coach who will believe in them and more importantly, a belief that sport and recreation has an equal space for them as others. It is, therefore, vital that sport and recreation organisations focus on the future generation and create pathways to attract a wider pool of talent. We spoke with Chris Jones, CEO of England Athletics, and his focus for their sport is to ensure that their marketing, programmes, activities and governance are diverse all year around. Their focus to uplift communities and individuals goes beyond this, applying to their Boardroom too.

The future of sport and recreation in the UK depends on its ability to embrace diversity, challenge stereotypes, and foster inclusion across every level of participation. For Black athletes and communities, this means ensuring that their narratives are not only reclaimed but embedded into the future story of British sports.

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