Curlew Rowing Club: Equal opportunity statement
1. Curlew is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its operation. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following definition of sports equity:
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.
2. Curlew respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status. We are committed to everyone having the right to enjoy the sport of rowing in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
3. All Curlew club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity. The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.
4. Curlew’s committee commits itself to the principles of equality of opportunity and is responsible for ensuring that no member, volunteer, employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, pregnancy, religious belief, social status, sexual orientation or political belief.
5. Curlew Rowing Club will work to ensure everyone who wishes has an equal opportunity to participate in the sport of rowing at all levels and in all roles, whether as a beginner, participant, performer, or as a coach, employee, administrator or official subject to available resources. This commitment must be matched by the individual and positions will be awarded on merit.
6. We are a club which prides itself on its inclusive approach to rowing, welcoming a diverse range of ages and abilities as members. Our popular Learn to Row course has welcomes complete beginners of all ages and all levels of physical fitness. A number of graduates from our Learn to Row course have gone on to row at the higher-level Henley Royal Regatta and Henley’s Women Regatta.
7. Curlew recognises the value of diversity and inclusion, both to the club but also to the sport of rowing. Nevertheless, the club realises that, like all of British Rowing, we need to go further to better represent the modern face of the UK. Leaving inclusion to chance will not be enough. Curlew will challenge itself to remove more barriers to rowing where it can within it means. In 2020 we are developing a project ‘Breaking Barriers to Entry in Rowing’ which is aimed at helping typically under-represented groups in rowing who live in Newham to learn the sport. Inclusion will be an ongoing dialogue through Curlew’s committee meeting with the aim of improving the performance of the club in this important area.
