Purpose of this policy

This policy sets out the Buriton Tennis Club (BTC) commitment to a culture of everyday inclusion, diversity and equitable outcomes both within our own club and in tennis generally. It outlines what this commitment means in practice. It sets out what our membership can expect of the Club and also what the club expects of our membership in the way we operate on a day-to-day basis.

Who is responsible for the implementation of this policy?

Every member of BTC is responsible for the implementation of this policy.  The members of the committee of BTC are individually and collectively responsible for ensuring that this policy is followed.

What scope of activity does this policy cover?

This policy applies to all aspects of BTC’s work and to all people who work or volunteer for it as they conduct those roles, as well as anyone taking part in tennis related activity for which BTC is responsible.

What is meant by equity, diversity and inclusion?

Equity is about the fair treatment of and parity of opportunity for people with different characteristics or from different backgrounds. It is different from equality. Equality assumes that everyone should be treated the same regardless of needs, experiences and opportunity. Equity is about recognising that not everyone starts from the same place and that sometimes targeted interventions are needed to give people the same chance of achieving a particular outcome, such as playing tennis regularly or becoming a coach.

Diversity is the mix of characteristics, experiences and other distinctions which make people different from one another. This can include differences in race, sex, religion, sexual identity, age, gender identity, socio-economic background or whether someone is disabled. Understanding this mix is vital to being able to make all people feel included.

Inclusion is about having a culture in which everybody can feel comfortable and confident to be themselves, no matter their visible or hidden differences. Diversity without inclusion means that people from more diverse backgrounds will feel excluded and so that diversity, and the benefits for tennis or an organisation which come with it, will not last.

Commitment to everyday inclusion, greater diversity and more equitable outcomes

BLT is fully committed to EDI within our Club and thereby playing our part in opening tennis up. We will do this by building a culture of everyday inclusion and operating in a way which enables, encourages and values greater diversity and equitable outcomes for all, in all aspects of our sport, with the intention that the sport and our Club reflect the diversity of the communities around us.

In order to achieve this, we will:

• Encourage equity, diversity and inclusion in every aspect of our work as a Club, recognising that it brings benefits both to tennis and to the strength of our work both on and off the court.
• Create an environment for all members and those in key roles which is free of bullying, harassment, victimisationand unlawful discrimination, promoting dignity and respect for all, where individual differences and the contributions of all are recognised and valued.
• Ensure that the Club is run in a positively inclusive way on a day-to-day basis, considering that people from different backgrounds and with different personal contexts have different needs to enable them to contribute fully to the organisation.
• Ensure our Club committee is appropriately equipped to embed a culture of inclusion by offering access to the LTA’s EDI training to foster a sense of collective responsibility and support their efforts in creating an inclusive environment.
• Ensure that our recruitment processes and policies enable and encourage people from all backgrounds to become part of the Club and/or its work. We will make decisions concerning roles within the Club based on merit, including the benefits of maintaining diversity across all individuals engaged in the Club’s work.
• Take seriously and respond to instances of non-inclusive and/or discriminatory behaviour of all kinds in relation to any aspect of the Club’s work, on and off the court.
• Deal with all such complaints in line with the Club Complaints Policy and, where appropriate, in conjunction with the LTA Disciplinary and EDI teams centrally.
• As far as is reasonably practicable, record baseline diversity data of our members and key roles to better understand how the Club's diversity aligns with that of the local community.

Agreement to follow this policy

The equity, diversity and inclusion policy is fully supported by the Club committee.

Reporting and Breaches

EDI is everyone’s responsibility. Please do not ignore observed breaches of this policy.  Where appropriate, please report the breach in accordance with the Club Complaints Policy.