S4C inclusive clubs
Creating Inclusive Pathways Through Include to Improve
Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence have launched Include to Improve, a two-year programme funded by Sport England’s Recover and Reinvent Fund to create more opportunities for disabled people to participate, volunteer, and work in sport and physical activity.
The programme responds to barriers exacerbated by the pandemic and cost‑of‑living crisis, addressing significant inequalities including the disability employment gap (53% for disabled people compared to 82% for non‑disabled people) and ongoing under‑representation within the sport and physical activity workforce.
Ahead of launch, Active Essex worked closely with Sport for Confidence to shape the development of the Learning Arena, focusing on how the programme could be integrated into existing Active Essex initiatives and aligned with wider equality, diversity and inclusion priorities. This partnership moved beyond promotion, with both organisations collaborating to co‑develop and strengthen a sustainable training offer designed to deliver long‑term benefit for communities.
Drawing on a long‑standing, trusted relationship, Active Essex acted as a critical friend, offering system insight, local intelligence and honest challenge throughout development. Active Essex supported programme design by sharing best practice from Essex‑wide organisations, connecting networks, and leveraging EDI Champions to user‑test elements of the training, helping ensure the content was relevant, accessible and fit for purpose.
Strategic Leadership and Programme Development
Active Essex played a strategic and connective role in shaping the Include to Improve programme, working closely with Sport for Confidence during the pre launch and development phases to align the Learning Arena with wider Active Essex initiatives, provide system insight, act as a critical friend, and support the co development of a sustainable and high quality inclusive training offer.
Key learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future
Inclusive by Design
Training must reflect different levels of knowledge and confidence to be accessible for all learn...
Flexible Pathways
User testing showed that flexible learning routes improve relevance and engagement.
Early Alignment
Clear communication and early alignment across programmes are vital when timelines are tight.
Value of Honest Feedback
Honest feedback strengthened the quality and long‑term impact of the learning offer.
Wider Impact
The programme influenced improvements to eLearning design beyond this project.
Next steps include delivering an Inclusive Language and Communication webinar for the VCSE sector, followed by the launch of a bespoke Belonging in Sport webinar that will pave the way for the Belonging in Action training programme.
Through continued collaboration, the partnership aims to move towards greater co‑ownership of programmes, with Active Essex taking a more operational role. Alongside this, additional accessible, bite‑sized learning opportunities will be developed to further support inclusive and preventative practice across sport and physical activity. By continuing to collaborate in this way, the partnership can support a growing suite of shared learning opportunities that respond to sector need, strengthen workforce confidence, and contribute to more inclusive and preventative approaches across sport and physical activity
