British Cycling has today published its first long-term strategy to embed equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels of the sport and activity of cycling, and ensure that riders of all backgrounds and abilities have the opportunity to fulfil their cycling ambitions.
The #OurRide strategy details the national governing body’s aims and priorities in seven key areas, covering the period 2021-26. These are: British Cycling’s culture; decision-making structures; the organisation’s workforce; marketing and communications; membership, clubs and services; the talent pathway; and partnerships.
The strategy has been developed over the past nine months in collaboration with the organisation’s 14-member Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group of independent experts, which was appointed in February 2021, and through extensive consultation with external stakeholders.
Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2024
British Cycling’s DIAP (2024) focuses on the areas of ambition outlined in our equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) strategy, Our Ride, published in 2021.
To help guide and counsel us on our ED&I journey, we established an ED&I advisory group, bringing together several external experts with specific skills and lived experience. Julie Watts, a Non-Executive Director on the British Cycling Board, co-chairs the group and reports on our progress to the Board.
The ambitions set out in the strategy are to:
- Create an inclusive culture at British Cycling
- Make our decision-making structures more reflective of society
- Develop a diverse and inclusive workforce
- Frame a powerful communications and marketing strategy
- Adapt our membership, cycling offer, clubs, and services
- Develop an inclusive talent pathway
- Form purposeful partnerships across cycling
Since 2021, we have made great strides to embed inclusive practices and deliver programmes that improve access to services and promote cycling as a sport for all. This has been achieved through several means, across our sport and participation services.
The plan below articulates the main areas of focus and action, in line with the Our Ride strategy.
The targets in our strategy are stretching and ambitious, and so we acknowledge that we are on a journey and not yet at our destination.
A key challenge for us has been collating meaningful data which gives us a) a baseline and b) an accurate snapshot of progress against key targets over time. The action plan below for 2024 reflects this position and the necessity for improvements in this area. The plan will be reviewed and refreshed annually, providing both updates on our work and any new actions required to help us meet our goals.
Moving forward, we will also weave in the plans and actions that emerge from our Programme of Change and embed our new purpose – to bring the joy of cycling to everyone. This is a living document, which we will review again as we shape our new organisational strategy following Paris 2024.
The delivery of the strategy will be underpinned by a number of guiding principles, including data, insight and the implementation of targeted pilot initiatives. Much of this work is currently ongoing, including: a long-term research project conducted alongside Sport England into the disability cycling landscape; supporting the research work of Andy Edwards and Dr Marlon Moncrieffe; and a Local Delivery Pilot in Bradford to boost cycling participation in the city’s diverse ethnic communities.
British Cycling would like to extend its thanks to the individuals, groups and other stakeholders who have supported the organisation on the journey so far, and in particular Inclusive Employers, Sport England and British Cycling’s external Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group.
