Background
Global equality and diversity (EDI) experts, Plan4Sport, were appointed by Scotland’s national agency for sport, sportscotland, in December 2021 to carry out a full independent review of racism within Scottish cricket.
The review was launched following allegations of racism, inequalities and discrimination within the sport and Plan4Sport were brought in due to their expertise and widespread experience in this area.
The multi-disciplinary company employs a skilled and diverse team of specialist staff supported by a wider group of expert consultants, with a combined total of 150 years of experience working across all levels of the sport sector.
A team of nine consultants, all equality, diversity and inclusion experts from a variety of different backgrounds including governance, safeguarding and child protection, global leadership on EDI, professional and grassroots community sport have been working on the review.
To date they have spoken to more than 200 people with several hundred more completing an anonymous online survey.
This interim report provides an update on progress and identified actions over the coming months.
Scope of the review
The independent review has been asked to cover five key areas:
- In-depth consultation and engagement with individuals and organisations at all levels of Scottish cricket
- The creation of a confidential space for individuals to share their personal experiences with follow up support and signposting provided
- A comprehensive review of existing Cricket Scotland policies and procedures in line with equality, diversity and inclusion best practice
- Production of a full public report with associated recommendations for Cricket Scotland to address, held to account by sportscotland
- Further community engagement with those affected by racism ahead of publication of the full recommendations report.
Plan4Sport is due to deliver its full findings and recommendations at the end July 2022.
Central to the independent review has been the creation of a confidential space for individuals to disclose their personal experiences, which has been driving force behind people coming forward over the past four months.
Interim update on progress
At the half-way stage, the review has:
- Engaged directly with more than 200 people
- Completed a desktop review of Cricket Scotland policies and procedures and passed to CS to action with an independent legal practice (Harper Macleod)
- Carried out 1-2-1 interviews with Cricket Scotland staff, national squad players and board members both past and present
- Launched an anonymous online survey to capture further experiences with more than 200 responses to date
- Identified areas of concern and themes in relation to racism, inequalities and discrimination
- Disclosures in relation to racism have been passed to independent lawyers or Police Scotland to investigate and those investigations will take place in due course
Next Steps
Over the next two months the review team will continue its detailed work in the following areas:
- Desktop review of Regional Association, club and junior development group policies
- Focus groups with Regional Association Management Committee members
- Focus groups with coaches
- Focus groups with match officials
- Focus groups with grassroots players and clubs across Scotland
- EDI training to be delivered to all Board, staff and key volunteers at CS before the end of the independent review and release of the recommendations
Plan4Sport team overview
Louise Tideswell, Managing Director, Plan4Sport
Louise has 25 years’ experience and knowledge of sport gained through her work with National Governing Bodies and professional football clubs and has implemented and assessed over 250 organisations against EDI frameworks.
Louise has significant experience in undertaking organisational reviews, strategic planning and stakeholder consultation. She has also been deployed as interim CEO into sporting bodies where there are identified governance issues and changes in senior management personnel have resulted in the need to provide stability and business continuity. This has included managing the senior team, undertaking reviews of the workforce and Board and delivering cultural change programmes
Dr Fiona Bartels-Ellis OBE
Fiona is Global Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the British Council. She has responsibility for setting and driving the strategic direction of EDI across offices in over 100 countries and territories.
Aneel Javed
Aneel is an EDI Consultant working across sport having previously held the role of Head of Inclusion for 7 years at the English Football League.
Sharon Girling OBE
Girling Hughes Associates Ltd is a company dedicated to promoting the safety and well-being of children and adults at risk across international boundaries. We have previously worked for and currently work with many organisations nationally and internationally including government agencies, non-government organisations, charities and educational institutions. We have extensive experience in auditing, evaluating and reviewing organisational practices and ensuring their capabilities are enhanced.
We support agencies in investigating recent and non-recent incidents, reviewing policies and procedures, developing and delivering training, assessing all aspects of safeguarding including an organisations safer recruitment capability.
Our team consists of former police detectives, senior social workers and senior leaders in schools all of who have years of experience in investigating.
Lucy Faulkner
Lucy Faulkner has over 35 years of experience working with NGBs, local authorities and organisations supporting them on projects including the development of EDI strategies, policies, procedures and actions plans as well as the design and development of EDI learning opportunities.
Previous roles include nine years at The FA where she was the Equality Manager and three years as Child Protection Co-ordinator. She current holds the role of Director at Netball Scotland and is the Board Equality and Safeguarding champion.
Chris Gibbons
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant working with governing bodies, professional and grassroots sports across the UK.
Tunde Banjoko OBE
Tunde is Chief Executive and Founder of Making The Leap, an inspirational youth & social justice charity that makes a positive impact for thousands of young people every year and encourages and partners with employers on their diversity priorities.
Timeline
December 2021
- Plan4Sport appointed by sportscotland
- Desktop review of policies and procedures commences
- Confidential email disclosure space created for individuals to register interest to be part of the consultation in 2022: cricketreview@sportscotland.org.uk
January 2022
- In-depth consultation process commences
April 2022
- Anonymous consultation survey launched
- Desktop review of Cricket Scotland policies and procedures concluded
- Interim progress report
May 2022
- Desktop review of wider policies and procedures from all levels of Scottish cricket concluded
June 2022
- Draft report produced
- Engagement with key stakeholders on draft report