The SCA has identified the need for greater representation and engagement with Ethnic Minorities throughout the country and across disciplines. This is important to address to ensure that everyone feels they have been given a fair opportunity to engage with paddling rather than feeling like it’s an inaccessible space.

Including more representation within paddlesports will reinforce the idea that everyone is welcome and it is important for Ethnic Minorities to be seen participating, as this will encourage more people to believe/see that they can paddle too.

We aim to help guide decisions and projects to correct the imbalance through:

• Creating safe, welcoming, and supportive spaces for people to discover and pursue passions and hobbies.
• Reaching out to the existing communities and individuals struggling to be heard or gain a foothold in a place that feels other.
• Understanding various needs and constraints, acknowledging and allowing for them within established frameworks.
• Encouraging everyone who wants to join see and feel that they can be part of the paddling community.
• Giving access and opportunities to all who want to be involved.
• Showing ethnic minorities participating in paddlesports so that all can feel seen, heard, and represented.
• Educating the wider paddling community about issues that they may be unaware of or misunderstand in order to facilitate inclusion and create active allies.

The Ethnicity Equality Group was established to advise and prompt the staff, committees, and networks of SCA on all relevant aspects of equality and inclusion, with particular emphasis on ensuring adherence to a rolling Equality Action Plan for the organisation.

This Equality Group will help the SCA identify gaps, and develop paddlesports within Scotland for paddlers from ethnically diverse backgrounds. They will assist in shaping SCA’s long-term approach to the Equality Standard for Sport by providing added capacity to SCA around relevant projects and development. 

If you are interested in getting involved and making a difference please get in touch: equality@canoescotland.org

Terms of reference for Ethnicity Equality Group