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Creating a more inclusive, accessible & diverse culture through sports?

Focused on providing a welcoming environment for all, regardless of background or ability, ensuring everyone can fully participate in sports and physical activities. With the guidance of Includability, let's work together to create a more inclusive and vibrant community through sports participation and support for everyone to enjoy.

We are the home for inclusive sports clubs & associations

Becoming a Includability committed sports setting is about taking accountability for progression

The Includability Sports Standard employs expert verification partners with experience in both grassroots and elite sports settings. These partners work closely with sports clubs and associations, offering invaluable advice and guidance on developing and implementing effective strategies across Diversity & Inclusion, Sustainability and Impact, Talent Management, Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Leadership & Governance.

Our verification & standard is suitable for any of the following:

  • Sports Clubs
  • Sports Associations
  • Sports Media Channels
  • Governing Bodies

Sport & Support for all

Often it is the responsibility of just one person or a small team to devise, implement and deliver the D&I, Sustainability, Wellbeing or Mental Health strategies across an entire organisation.

By becoming part of Includability, our Verification Partners can help you to understand where you are currently on your journey and where your future ambitions lie.

Through our community of Ambassadors and Partners we can also introduce you to like-minded people who will help share best practice and provide support, whilst our monthly Employer Support Groups (ESG’s) will help build the knowledge to empower your employees.

Through our Includability Mighty network sports clubs we give employers and staff the chance to talk with experts and ambassadors in our community across a range of topics and in a safe and non judgmental environment.

A standard designed for you

As multi level organisations sports clubs and associations need to transition to ensure that all stakeholders feel valued and part of a dynamic community. By joining the Includability Community you will help your organisation understand how you can develop across the key pillars of diversity and inclusion, sustainability, impact, mental health, talent retention, well-being and leadership and governance.

Becoming an Includability Committed Employer is something that is earned. There is a valuable process to go through, but please rest assured that we will be here to support you all the way.

It doesn’t matter if you are at the very start of your journey and seeking inspiration and guidance, or if your organisation is on its way to having a workplace culture you can be proud of, the Includability Committed Education Setting is designed to support you.

Support across all levels

Whether you are at Grassroots level or an Elite sports organisation or association going through the Includability Verification Process offers great value in terms of measuring and assessing best practice and developing a roadmap to become a committed employer.

It's not about perfection

Includability is a community where we actively champion collaboration and traditional competitors work in harmony – it’s where we can truly make meaningful progress.

We want also to celebrate the great work you do – it’s your stories that can help inspire organisations on their journey.

Where you need support and are unsure where to start, then our community of incredible people are here to offer their help.

Read about how our committed employers, partners and ambassadors create ConneXXions through community networking.

Immediate value

Proudly displaying the Includability Committed Sports Setting badge will bring a level of accountability to your organisation and a degree of reassurance to your employees and future employees that you are a administration committed to doing the right thing.  

If you are in for the quick win, then Includability won’t be right for you. If you’re an sports club or association that cares and wants grow, be supported and to make a difference, then we most certainly are. And we are here to support you all the way.

Includability the fastest growing standard for workplace values

Our Includability committed employer programme allows you to get expert advice across our 6 pillars of organisational development or 7 for recruitment agencies

The Community driven platform and standard designed to create and educate amazing businesses and people

Diversity & Inclusion

Flex Wellbeing Logo

ODiSEE

Diversity and inclusion consultants who specialise in sports and associations

Sustainability

Prosperah Logo

Laura Slack

Unleash your purpose with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Prosperah Logo

Planet Mark

Low-cost and effective actions that your business can take to save energy and cut costs

Talent Management

Unleashed Logo

Talent Mapper

Talent Management & Inclusion specialists, focused on increasing knowledge, improving efficiency and enhancing individual and organisational performance, by unleashing people's potential.

Mental Health

Mental Health Charter

Mental Health Charter

Mental health comes in all shapes and sizes and affects all ages. It’s time to make a difference. We are asking employers to sign the mental health charter to show their support and encourage awareness to their employees.

Prosperah Logo

Ripple

Ripple has been established is to reduce the number of people who are viewing harmful online content relating to self-harm and suicide and increase the number of people who are utilising the plethora of mental health resources available to them

Wellbeing

Outliers Well Being Logo

Outliers Wellbeing

Wellbeing for people, business & planet

Leadership & Governance

The HR Agency

The HR Agency

Leadership and governance experts. Looking at four pillars –organisational structure; roles & responsibilities; people & culture; and infrastructure

The Includability Pillars of Development

Pillars for inclusive workplace development and growth

With the help of our members and ambassadors we have designed our verification process around optimal areas for organisational growth and sustainability.

Our expert verification partners have experience of working with businesses and sports associations and clubs and will talk with you to discuss where your organisation is placed at this time and then recommend ways that you can develop and grow your current plans.

Our verification team will be able to give you invaluable, key independent advice and guidance so you can be assured you are moving in the right direction to becoming and creating a more inclusive, diverse, sustainable and caring environment for your employees and clients.

Where the power of sport meets the force of inclusivity!

Discover the Includability Sports Club & Association Standard

As a hub for diverse and equitable sports associations, we are on a mission to promote inclusivity across the sports sector. We believe every kick, sprint, swim, and leap should celebrate diversity.

We offer tools, resources, and a supportive community that empowers sports associations to level up their inclusivity game.

Our goal? To create a sports environment where everyone feels like they belong.

Ready to play ball? Sign up today and show the world you're serious about inclusion.

Who are our Includability Verification Partners?

As part of the Includability Verification Process each business or organisation looking to become members of our community and advertise on the platform will have the opportunity to engage with our charming Verification Partners.

It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the great things you are already doing and provide expert support where you might need it the most – they’re all super lovely people so will do their very best to work around your busy diaries once you have completed the initial Company Commitment Survey.

We celebrate commitment and intent so please don’t feel you have to be the finished article with us – building knowledge, supporting each other and sharing great practice is at the centre of our Includability Community.

So here they are good people, proudly introducing our Partners and how they will be awarding you those Verification Stars.

The Diversity & Inclusion Star – Verified by ODiSEE

ODiSEE (Opportunities for Diversity & Inclusion in Sport, Entertainment & Education) established in 2021 under the guidance of Director Sara Matthews, is a beacon of innovation in training and consultancy. Sara brings over two decades of rich HR experience from notable names like Chelsea Football Club, Ladbrokes Coral, and Travis Perkins. ODiSEE, with its focus on equality, diversity, and wellbeing, mirrors Sara's passion, evident in her roles ranging from Includability Ambassador to Non-Executive Director at Netball Scotland.

ODiSEE's Diversity & Inclusion Star isn’t just an award; it's a testament to an organisations commitment to a continuous journey towards inclusivity. Recognising that every company is at a different stage in its D&I path, ODiSEE's process is crafted with compassion, encouragement, and partnership at its heart.

Discovery Session: This gentle 30-minute conversation aims to understand your current D&I initiatives. Instead of an assessment, think of it as sharing your D&I story and aspirations with ODiSEE's experts.

Collaborative Reflection: ODiSEE will then provide insights, drawn from a wealth of best practices across various sectors. However, the benchmarks are not rigid criteria but guiding lights to show what's possible.

Guidance & Support: It's not about where you currently stand but where you aim to be. Should your organisation benefit from additional insights or resources, ODiSEE offers a bespoke support journey tailored to your unique needs.

Celebrating Commitment:
The Diversity & Inclusion Star is awarded to organisations that display genuine dedication to the cause, whether they're just starting or are well into their D&I journey. It's less about perfection and more about genuine commitment and progress.

With ODiSEE by your side, it's all about celebrating the journey towards a more inclusive future, cherishing every milestone along the way.

Prosperah Logo

The Sustainability Star – Verified by Prosperah

This Star will be awarded automatically if your organisation is already B Corp Certified, B Corp Pending, Planet Mark Certified or CSR-A Accredited, however the Star will also be presented if an organisation is able to provide good intentions in creating a sustainability strategy – for example, a net-zero focus, staff volunteering days, community and charitable support, or even embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals across your website.

Prosperah enables organisations to unleash their greater purpose for tangible business value, helping them to explore a space where social responsibility and sustainability are reimagined as a competitive advantage.

They guide businesses through a journey to map their purpose to the Sustainable Development Goals and through enhanced stakeholder consultation, they’ll set key priority SDGs and targets to create your Purpose Book.

planet mark logo

The Sustainability Star – Verified by Planet Mark

This Star will be awarded automatically if your organisation is already B Corp Certified, B Corp Pending, Planet Mark Certified or CSR-A Accredited, however the Star will also be presented if an organisation is able to provide good intentions in creating a sustainability strategy – for example, a net-zero focus, staff volunteering days, community and charitable support, or even embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals across your website.

Planet Mark believe we must all work together to embrace sustainability. They work passionately with organisations to empower their people to halt the climate crisis and improve society in everything they do. And by working this way we will build a sustainable brighter future for us and our planet.

Through our Net Zero Programme, they are supporting businesses of all sizes to plan for and reach net zero targets in this critical Decade of Action.

Mental Health Charter

The Mental Health Star – Verified by Mental Health Charter

Mental Health Charter (MHC)'s purpose is to provide a flexible and consistent charter to enable all businesses in the UK to access mental health support, provide awareness and training and put in place a structure and systems to support people in the workplace.

The team will conduct a short survey over the phone to discuss Mental Health current procedures/practices with free advice offered.

You will then be given a complimentary Bronze Membership (with accompanying logo) to the Mental Health Charter as a Committed To Action Employer - the first step to creating a mentally healthy workplace.

ripple logo

The Mental Health Star – Verified by Ripple Suicide Prevention

In order to achieve your Mental Health Star all Educational Settings will be required to install Ripple Suicide Prevention Software. This is Free for Includability Committed Educational Settings.

Ripples mission is to intercept harmful content relating to self-harm and/or suicide through innovative technology to redirect users to mental health support if they are struggling to cope or in need of immediate help. Their vision is to ensure all users searching for harmful content online are presented with an opportunity of hope that things can and will get better.

Unleashed Logo

The Talent Management Star – Verified by Unleashed

Unleashed is a new kind of HR Consultancy that helps organisations be successful by making them more inclusive.

They provide a unique approach to recruitment & retention, learning & development and deployment that uses diversity and inclusion tactics, and a suite of innovative technologies, to create an agile, high-performing workforce.

Unleashed support organisations by improving talent management and making them more inclusive - by removing personal bias, they help companies improve productivity, reduce costs and create a positive culture where everyone is happier at work.

This process will involve a 45-minute consultation with the Unleashed Team to review current recruitment and retention processes and provide any guidance necessary to support you.

Outliers Wellbeing

The Wellbeing Star – Verified by Outliers Wellbeing

Outliers Wellbeing will have an initial call to chat about what you're doing in the confusing world of wellbeing, how you're doing it and what your plans are. Just an informal chat between two lovely people.

They will then send a link to an Insights Questionnaire that they will ask you to fill out, not to analyse and judge every facet of your business, but just to gain a further understanding of your wellbeing provision.

A follow-up call will then be booked to run through the insights at which point the Wellbeing Star will be awarded if enough evidence has been gathered on your strategy and provision, or will chat-through next steps if further support is needed.

The HR Agency Logo

The Leadership & Governance Star – Verified by The HR Agency

The HR Agency is a HR consultancy, founded in November 2020 to provide clients a full range of HR solutions. Whether that be fully outsourced HR provision for smaller employers, or project-based work for organisations of large and small, they believe in influencing their clients to be do better, not just for their employees, but also their local communities and our environment.

As a purpose-driven organisation themselves, The HR Agency understands that identifying a desire to do business better is only the start to making a positive difference. What turns these good intentions into meaningful and impactful actions, is good governance and great leadership.

Good governance is the pursuit of purpose. It is a journey requiring constant vigilance and adaptation to external and internal changes. As such it requires ethical, competent and responsible leadership to inspire and engage everyone in bringing it to life. It’s essential for any business with purposeful aspirations to ensure great leadership and good governance is in place.

The HR Agency will conduct a 45-minute call to explore your current approach to leadership and governance. Looking at four pillars – organisational structure; roles & responsibilities; people & culture; and infrastructure – the team will follow-up the call with recommendations on how to further improve your leadership and governance framework ensuring your purpose is translated into action.

What happens once we have completed the verification process?

Once you have completed the verification process you will be awarded a shiny new Includability Committed Sports Clubs & Associations badge to proudly display across both your website and social media channels.

We are here to support you every step of the way

We can't create change without you. So join us today

Tailored Member Benefits

Our community wouldn't be this amazing without each and every organisation. This is why we have a created a package of valuable benefits to reward our members with.

We celebrate commitment and intent so this isn't about being the finished article. With Includability building knowledge, supporting each other and sharing great practice is at the centre of our community and family of members.

Includability Logo

Includability Committed Sports Club & Association Verification

By taking part in our 5 Star Verification Process for Sports Clubs & Associations you will have the opportunity to engage with our 6 Verification Partners to help you on your path to creating an inclusive workplace.

Includability Logo

Verification Report

We provide a full verification report supported by our expert verifcation partners on completion of our verification process.

Includability Logo

Access to our exclusive monthly webinars & community meetups

Our regular employer support groups & webinars offer you the chance to listen to inspirational guest speakers and chat with like minded professionals allowing you to network and learn from some amazing people.

Includability Logo

Exclusive Member Discounts on Training & Workshops

Access to our ENGAGE Consultancy service offering extensive discounts on training, webinars and workshops delivered by our Official Partner Experts.

Includability Logo

All our community news & advice straight to your inbox

Get all the latest Includability news, advice and event information straight to your inbox.

One Community. One standard.
Become an Includability Committed Sports Clubs & Associations
Sports Clubs & Associations
Starting from £1495pa +VAT
*£2995 + VAT from Jan 2024 for organisations with 20+ employees
Includes everything in our benefits PLUS:
Includability I
Obtain Includability Committed Employer status
Includability I
Personalised Client Account with access to: Exclusive new and exciting content from our Ambassadors and Partner Experts. Includability Brand Assets, Badges, Logos and Social Media cards. Rewards and impact tools. Your Verification Report. ENGAGE Consultancy and Learning Management System [Launching 2024]
Includability I
Two places on a Mental Health Awareness Course through Workplace Mental Health Charter C.I.C
Includability I
Two skills-based volunteering pairings with Matchable Volunteering
Includability I
Collect ICE points to deliver impact through our Rewardability Programme, allowing you to support incredible charitable projects through our partnership with B1G1.
Includability I
Enable your Talent Acquisition Team to join our Company Ambassador Platform
Includability I
100 trees planted in your company name in the Includability Ecologi Forest
Includability I
Access to our community webinars & events
Includability I
Marketing and Engagement Support including In-house Employer Support Groups, Unleashed & Think Inclusive Roadshows.
Includability I
Ongoing support and advice in developing your business as part of a community and network of Organisations, Ambassadors and Partners including Quarterly catchups.
Includability I
COMING SOON - 2024. Unlimited Access to our NEW Learning Management System with a host of FREE and PAID training solutions across a range of topics delivered by leading experts.
Get started
Where the power of sport meets the force of inclusivity!

Support Switch the Play Foundation

Includability have partnered to support the Switch the Play Foundation which is the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting all sportspeople to successfully transition into life outside of sport. This enables them to fulfil their potential through and beyond sport.

Organisations doing amazing work

Organisations that do great worth within the educational sector

Activity Alliance

We are the national charity and leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity.

British Blind Sport

At British Blind Sport, we help blind and partially sighted people to get active and play sport. We encourage adults and children to participate in activities at all levels, from grassroots to the Paralympic Games.

Child Protection in Sport Unit

We work to help improve safeguarding and child protection practices within sport organisations, to ensure all children and young people are safe while participating in sport and physical activity at all levels.

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust

We put world class athletes shoulder to shoulder with young people. Equipping them with a winning mindset and shaping their futures - it's a teammate like no other.

Football Beyond Borders

We are an Education & Social Inclusion Charity Using The Power of Football To Change Young Lives. We Work With Young People Who Are Passionate About Football, But Disengaged At School.

Sport England

We're an arms-length body of government responsible for growing and developing grassroots sport and getting more people active across England.

Sporting Equals

We exist to promote ethnic diversity across sport and physical activity, and we are the only organisation in the UK to do so.

SportsAid

We are a national charity helping young British sportsmen and women aspiring to be the country's next Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and world champions.

UK Deaf Sport

UK Deaf Sport aims to enable Deaf people to reach their full potential in sport. We work to increase opportunities by working in partnerships with key organisations to create a sporting future that is DEAFinitely Inclusive from grassroots through to Elite level Sport.

Women In Sport

Our programmes are providing impactful solutions to tackle gender inequalities, and our campaigning is empowering more women and girls to be active.

Youth Sports Trust

We are the UK's leading charity in improving every young person's education and development through sport and play.

We are delighted to be working with Includability as a Committed Employer. As an organisation that is committed to creating an inclusive, sustainable and mentally healthy workplace culture, this partnership is the perfect match. We have access to resources, experts and an entire network of support. We can be part of a community of like-minded people all striving for the same goal and sharing the same values.

City Gateway

Diane Betts – CEO of CityGateway

Liverpool are pleased to announce that they have become an Includability Committed Employer and achieved six stars in their verification process in the areas of D&I, Sustainability, Mental Health, Wellbeing, Leadership and Governance and Inclusive Recruitment

Liverpool FC

Liverpool FC, HR Director

“We are very proud to have received this commendation and reinforces our vision and mission that there is more to football than 3 points on a Saturday. The work we have done with Includability has been incredible and has opened many doors allowing us to get a look at the practices in a diverse range of businesses and environments. Sport, particularly football, has always lagged well behind the business world in many of the issues Includability focuses on and we felt strongly that we wanted to be at the forefront of the conversation and hopefully leaders for change.”

Fairford Town FC

Jody Bevan, Director of Football

“At Business Disability Forum we are excited to be Includability’s official disability partner. As part of that we are very pleased to be accredited as an Includability Committed Partner via its thorough 5 Star Verification process, in the areas of accessibility, diversity and inclusion, mental health, sustainability, and wellbeing. This helps us to evaluate what we are doing well and where we can grow. We look forward to continue working with Includability and to spreading the word on the importance of reaching the widest possible talent pool.”

Business Disability Forum

Diane Lightfoot CEO of Business Disability Forum

"We are over the moon to be the first recruitment agency to pass Includability’s 6 Star verification process! We have always been committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, both as an employer but also as leaders in improving representation within insights and removing barriers to disadvantaged or under-represented talent. We want ENI to be a great place to work, but also work with and guide clients on best practice around inclusive hiring – always striving to influence positive change and enabling everyone to succeed in Insight. Working with Includability highlighted the areas we have been doing well, and those areas where the partnership can give us that additional layer of support and guidance needed to champion equality, diversity and create inclusivity within insights - and we’re so excited about the journey ahead."

Elizabeth Norman International

Letitia Oglesby, Marketing Manager at Elizabeth Norman International

CRM Students are absolutely delighted to have been awarded 5 stars and become a recognised Includability Committed Employer. The verification process was a great way for us to discuss and reflect on the amazing things we are doing within CRM for our people and has given us some incredible contacts within the Includability network to enable our vision to progress further. We can’t wait to see what else we can do on top of what we have already achieved!

CRM Students

Steph Robey, HR Director at CRM Students

"We are very proud to have gone through the 5 Star Includability Verification Process . We have always been committed to promoting and enabling a positive culture where everyone at ascensos can be themselves. We believe that we all have a role to play in championing Equality and Diversity - by partnering with Includability we believe that we can build a great place to work, learn and grow."

Ascensos

Jo Regan-Iles, Chief People Officer at Ascensos

I am immensely proud of the work of my whole federation team in embodying this ethos throughout the schools, and I am especially proud of Lizi Pravato for leading on this project with Includability. Diversity and equality are areas of utmost importance to our schools and we are proud to trail blaze with such an amazing group of people in our schools and now with our partners in Includability.

Moorland Federation Somerset

Naomi Philp, Executive Headteacher

“We are thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with Includability because of their unwavering commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We believe that by joining forces with Includability, we can effect meaningful change and pave the way for a more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and we are eager to contribute our skills, learnings and look forward to seeing the positive impact we can make together.”

Noble Foods

Louisa Hogarty, HR Director at Noble Foods

“The Forestry Commission is pleased to have passed the 5 Star Verification process to become an Includability Committed Employer. We’re happy with the feedback we received for our work in the areas of mental health, wellbeing, sustainability, talent management and diversity and inclusion. We hope this partnership will help us to achieve our broader strategic goals to diversify our workforce and visitors and help us to continue to be an organisation where everyone is valued and welcome, regardless of their background.”

Forestry Commission

Richard Stanford CB, MBE | Chief Executive Officer Forestry Commission

“We are delighted to have passed Includability’s 5 star verification process to be recognised as an Includability Committed Employer. It’s great to be acknowledged for the work we’ve already done, and this partnership also supports our ongoing dedication to inclusivity in everything we do - including employee attraction, development, progression and engagement.”

Wiltshire Council

Georgi Bliha | Talent and Resourcing Manager at Wiltshire Council

“At The Myers-Briggs Company, people are our passion. We aim to inspire everyone to lead more successful and fulfilling lives, and that means including everyone. As such, we’re thrilled to have passed Includability's 5-star verification process and to be recognised as an 'Includability Committed Employer'! As a B Corp, we’re committed to building an inclusive economy that works for everyone and going through Includability's verification process has been a great way to help us recognise where we’re on the right path.”


The Myers-Briggs Company

Jeff Hayes, President & CEO of The Myers-Briggs Company

“Holland & Barrett are thrilled to be recognised as a committed employer in inclusivity by the Includability team and their verification partners. Being an EPIC place to work is a core part of our values and we pride ourselves with iterating our offering by putting our colleagues at the heart of all that we do. Working with Includability has been a fantastic experience and would recommend other companies to do the same.”

Holland & Barrett

Melissa Sterling (She/Her), Wellness and Belonging Manager at H&B

Achieving the status of Includability Committed Employer reflects our ongoing mission to optimise diversity and opportunity within our firm. Inclusion is an important part of this, and we look forward to connecting with others in the Includability community.

Becketts Investment

Lesley Delaney, Operations Director

"There is lots to consider when building your business and creating the conditions for success for you team. Working through the assessment process for Includability has been great, meeting with their partners offered insight, guidance and practical advice on building a responsible inclusive work environment for your people, helping measure where we are on the journey and to plan for our future at Ecologi"

Ecologi

Joel Baynes, COO at Ecologi

"At CGI we are proud of being a Responsible Business and are committed to a more inclusive and sustainable world. Joining Includability and gaining the Committed Employer accreditation enables us to continue to proudly share and grow our commitments with like-minded organisations and also support our goal to inspire a diverse range of candidates to come and join us at CGI. "

CGI

Donna Kelly, Senior Vice President and Business Unit lead for South & Midlands Business Unit & Senior Sponsor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

"We look forward to continuing to champion diversity and inclusion, and to welcome more applicants from diverse backgrounds. With Includability’s support, and being led by our strong club values, we will win in our aim to do the right thing in creating in a more diverse and inclusive talent pool across the business."


Chelsea Football Club

Sarah Atkinson, Senior HR Business Partner at Chelsea FC

What our members say about the Includability Committed Employer Standard

FAQs

Our frequently asked questions are here to help answer any queries you may have about joining the Includability community

What is an Includability Committed Employer?

Why Should I Join Includability?

My company isn’t perfect, do we need every strategy already in place?

How long does the Verification Process take?

Is there a chance you will not be awarded Includability Committed Employer status?

You keep mentioning ‘Community’ - what does this mean?

If Includability partner's with a consultancy, do you receive a 'financial kick back'?

What else sets you apart?

How do I know this is right for my company?

We’re an international organisation. Are we able to become an Includability Committed Employer?

Still have questions?

Can't find the answer to your question contact us below

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