Something for Everyone


Fostering inclusivity S


ailing is often perceived as an activity reserved for those who are white, male, able-bodied, and reasonably prosperous. While this was not unfair twenty years ago, great progress has been made more recently in


opening it up to women and people with disabilities (see the article in April’s Wavelength). However, other social groups are still very under-represented, including those from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds, and sailing centres, clubs, and sail training operators often ask how they can start raising the numbers. This article sets down a few thoughts culled from my experience of running various sailing and youth organisations. If you have read this far, my presumption is that you


have decided to try and increase recruitment from BME groups. Why? There are many reasons: a commitment to social justice, a need to increase sales or recruitment (spending by BME groups is estimated at £300 Billion p.a), requirements of external funders (an increasing trend), concerns about infringing discrimination law, and others. Some of these reasons are better than others, but whatever your motivation, it is important that your organisation really means to give it your best effort. It requires a coherent and organisation-wide commitment: half-hearted or tokenistic attempts will generally backfire on you and may set back wider efforts in the sector. That said, many of the things that are perceived as difficulties or obstacles


are overplayed. Worries about inadvertently causing offence by saying the wrong thing, inappropriate behaviour, providing the wrong food, and so on can be dealt with by sensible preparation and basic good manners. If you are serious about improving access for BME groups, then here


are a few thoughts: » Review your marketing/publicity materials. First impressions count – do the images you use encourage non-white people to feel welcome? You may have wonderful pictures of people having a great time, but if all the faces are white, the subliminal message may be read as ‘not for me’. A general statement of intent that you actively welcome under-represented groups will help.


» Booking forms and joining instructions: Think about aspects of your offer that might not be familiar to BME customers. Some cultures are sensitive about mixed-sex facilities, so on cruising yachts, for example, make it clear that people will be living in confined conditions and sharing heads. Consider running single-sex activities for some groups if feasible. Could you lay on an all-female instructor team if required?


» Clothing: Spell out what is, and is not, suitable clothing. You may need to think creatively about accommodating sensitivities over female dress.


» Food: Many faiths require adherence to restrict their diet to a range defined in halal, kosher, vegan, and other guidance. Be clear what dietary options you can cope with. Many people will accept standard vegetarian food, but clarity before activities start can save trouble later on. Strict Muslims will observe daylight fasting during Ramadan, which inconveniently falls in summer months for the next few years. However, many versions of Islam allow flexibility for people in special situations such as seafarers. All of this may sound a bit daunting, but given commitment and an open-minded approach, you can do a lot to encourage greater numbers of BME participants. A few suggestions that may ease the process:


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In the April edition of Wavelength we looked at fostering inclusivity by featuring some case studies of sailors with disabilities progressing beyond learning to sail into helping others by becoming Assistant Instructors. This time, Jonathan Cheshire offers practical advice for centres wanting to appeal to a wider audience.


» Talk to local community groups and places of worship. » Talk to local authorities – they have been working on diversity for many years. » Get referrals through shore-based youth groups and other agencies working in inner city communities.


» An effective longer term approach is to recruit BME instructors or leaders onto your own staff.


» Small boat activities, or introductory taster days, may be less problematical as a way of introducing sailing to new groups.


» Don’t get too hung up on worries about ‘politically correct’ language – it’s just basic good manners.


» Don’t generalise or make assumptions about what people will like or dislike – everyone is an individual.


» If in doubt about appropriate behaviour or language, try just asking! Finally – a few years ago I wanted to organise a day sail for Asian


women in Southampton, and arranged the use of Ocean Youth Trust South’s 70’ ketch ‘John Laing’. OYT staff and I spent a lot of time worrying about providing the right food and dealing with other cultural sensitivities. We sent out all the usual information about suitable clothing and anything else we could think of. On the day, we were all waiting in the cockpit when a minibus pulled up and a dozen cheerful women talking at the tops of their voices spilled out and down the pontoon, carrying huge trays of home-cooked samosas and kebabs. They were mainly dressed in saris or salwar kameez and little slippers on their feet. Part of the stated aims of the day had been to increase the women’s self-confidence. In the event, they pretty much took over the day and after a brisk day’s sailing with lifejackets worn over traditional Asian dress, we returned to Ocean Village, friends for life and stuffed with delicious Indian food. As a sail-training exercise it perhaps had not gone precisely as planned, but thereafter my project had a steady stream of enquiries from the Asian community in Southampton. Open-mindedness, humility, good humour, and a bit of flexibility in planning activities can get you a long way.


Jonathan Cheshire is Chairman of Solent university, Vice-Chairman of Sail Training International and a Trustee of the Association of Sail Training Organisations. He was CEO of Ocean Youth Club from 1989 to 1996.


www.rya.org.uk


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