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Steve Morley

If not me inclusion

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    • Gender Barriers
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    • Cultural and Religious Barriers
    • Strategies to Overcome Exclusion
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Cultural and Religious Barriers

 

Overcoming cultural and religious barriers.

There is a great deal of data showing that ethnic minority women often have the lowest rates of sport and recreational participation. As an inclusion coach, it is my job to explore the types of barriers perceived or experienced by men and women from minority groups, and culturally and linguistically diverse people.

Recently a Muslim basketball player was set to challenge a decision by Swiss sports authorities requiring her to either remove her headscarf or stop competing.   “I’ve been playing wearing my scarf for almost a year and a half. Many of the players have Christian tattoos and religious symbols on their bodies and nobody objects to that.”

This type of intransigence from sport’s governing bodies does nothing to break down the many cultural and religious barriers to participation in sport.
Clearly much more work needs to be done with removing barriers in sport. We need to incorporate and accommodate religious and cultural beliefs until they become the norm.
I think a lack of representation and opportunities from organizations to be part of this process is the first barrier that needs to change.

My good friend and senior sports coach Nasser Ameen has spent much of his sporting life working with and representing community groups. Here are some of his thoughts.

“Whenever I have been commissioned to work on projects designed to improve opportunities for BAME communities, I am invariably the token BAME guy parachuted in to achieve a quick short-term fix. Long term, nothing changes. After I hand over my projects/work, any progress made often disappears. To me, this shows a lack of priority and support from organizations.
At least people are starting to speak up thanks to certain movements like “Black lives matter” but let us hope it can change the views of the people on top to make a change”.

Nasser Ameen
MSc Sports Performance Analysis – Academy Performance Analyst

 

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Steve Morley Inclusion Advocate

Steve has worked as an advisor to teams planning and running events throughout the UK with inclusive sporting activities for over 25 years. Steve has coached at every level from beginner to elite performers. He is based in Suffolk, East Anglia, but works throughout the UK and Europe.

Whilst still occasionally coaching, these days Steve spends his time mostly teaching and as a guest lecturer. His sporting background, coaching from grassroots up to Elite level, gives him a unique perspective when delivering courses such as “How Authentic Leaders use a Sporting Mindset to build effective teams”. Equally, his experience in Business and Local Government, particularly his work with ethnic communities, the Homeless, people with disabilities, and people with mental health conditions make him an ideal candidate to deliver courses such as “Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion,” Mental Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace” and “Supporting and fostering good mental health in children and adolescents” workshops. In addition to his work as a trainer and public speaker, Stephen is an experienced Mentor who has worked with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds”.

Also in this section

  • Expertise
  • Cultural and Religious Barriers
  • Gender Barriers
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Mental Health
  • Physical Disabilities or Mental Disabilities
  • Strategies to Overcome Exclusion
  • Gender Barriers
  • Cultural and Religious Barriers
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Mental Health
  • Physical Disabilities or Mental Disabilities
  • Strategies to Overcome Exclusion

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