Equality & Sustainability are two of the pillars of our newest strategy. These pillars are integrated into all of our work and campaigns, and underpin our values to ensure that all our work is inclusive and sustainable.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) remain at the heart of what we do. We are serious about tackling inequalities through our work so we have serious ambitions for ensuring that, as an organisation we are focused on being as inclusive as possible in our behaviours and approaches, but also that we are influencing our partners and systems to do the same.
The last year has seen us continue to develop our EDI approaches to include:
- Regular EDI training sessions for our team and Board, including Active Bystander training.
- Continuing to develop our focus group model to ensure we improve our understanding of lived experience across our current and future work. An example is the recent focus group in Great Yarmouth that concentrated on the impact of physical activity on women going through the menopause. Other focus groups have been delivered to support Active NoW and GOGA (Get Out Get Active).
- Commitment to providing case studies showcasing our work with disabilities and those suffering from inequalities, such as for GOGA, Hebron Trust and All To Play For.
- Undertaking Equality Impact Assessments across the majority of our project portfolio.
- Embedding of the Inclusion Passport for Active Norfolk staff and introduction of a best practice guide for ‘Inclusive Recruitment’.
- Inclusion of a requirement in project SLAs to have a robust EDI policy and plan in place for all funded partners and programmes.
- EDI training for relevant partners, such as Active Bystander training delivered to Leisure providers in Breckland, and EDI training for all HAF providers.
Through actions and outcomes such as these we continue to shift the dial on the culture and understanding of EDI both internally and within the systems and partners we work with to enable the safest and most inclusive offers possible for physical activity in the communities we serve.
Climate, Environment & Sustainability
We have new and growing aspirations to make an impact on the developing Climate crisis through our influence as a system leader in physical activity. We recognise that sport and physical activity can play a significant role in supporting environmental initiatives. Additionally sport and physical activity can be significantly impacted by climate change, with those suffering from inequalities disproportionately affected. Examples might be playing pitches suffering from more regular flooding, or participation rates being reduced by rising temperatures.
In 2025-26 Active Norfolk have created an ambitious plan to enable the organisation to make a significant impact in this space over the next 2 years and beyond, supporting Sport England’s ‘Every Move’ environmental strategy.
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The plan focuses on 2 key areas:
1. Active Norfolk’s own internal organisation, governance and projects
2. External advocacy
Our impact in this area will develop significantly in 2026 but in the past year we have made good progress:
- Completion of a full 2-year action plan our Environmental aspirations, approved by Sport England and developed in partnership with Active Suffolk.
- Completion of a full Carbon Footprint analysis for Active Norfolk staff and operations.
- All programme and partner SLAs now have the requirement for organisations to have a suitable policy and plan for Environmental sustainability.
- Work has already begin with partners on Big Norfolk Holiday Fun to reduce food waste on the programme.
- Commencement of North Norfolk cycle hire hub to promote active travel.
- 13 schools involved in Active travel and cycle initiatives through Active Norfolk, with 10 new schools to be introduced in 2026-27.
- Cycle training delivered through Big Norfolk Holiday Fun across 6 sessions, reaching 33 children.
