Accessibility

UK Athletics is a Disability Confident Leader and we are committed to providing accessible services across all levels of the sport, from coach education, to volunteering opportunities, to recruitment at the organisation. Find out more information in the sections below.

Coach Education

We have several coaching courses available to all and to ensure the coach qualification process provides equality and fairness. It is important that we understand the nature of the candidates’ disability, so the course tutor is aware and can make reasonable adjustments ahead of the course start date.

The minimum age to attend our coaching courses is 18 years old.

To learn more about what coaching course qualifications are available, click here.

Events

Photography

As a result of the increase in para athletics events being staged by UKA at our major event series, there has been an uplift in the amount of professional photographers with an impairment attending to cover events.

We’ve provided photographers with a framework for understanding the procedures in place and opportunities available to them when working at British Athletics events. The arrangements made for photographers with an impairment are also outlined. These aim to provide an inclusive and accessible photography service, whilst ensuring the safety of all photographers, athletes and officials. The policy is available to download for reference, here.

Spectators

We want everyone to have the opportunity to watch our athletics stars live and work to ensure spectators with accessibility needs have the best experience by:

  • offering a free companion ticket for every wheelchair user.
  • offering ambulant seating for all our events (i.e. step-free or few steps).
  • holding additional tickets for friends and family near the wheelchair bays so the parties are sat as close as possible.
  • having a dedicated accessibility phone line.
  • selling accessible tickets online (Access Card scheme).
  • providing “info to” how to buy accessible tickets and venue information on our website.
  • providing blue badge parking information and booking process.
  • having a dedicated accessibility team onsite for queries and assistance.
  • having a wheelchair and shuttle bus service available onsite.
  • providing appropriate facilities for guide dogs at all venues.
  • ensuring there are sufficient accessible toilets in all venues and changing places (only available in London currently).
  • having designated (lowered) windows in the ticket office.
  • having designated accessibility lanes in all entrance points.

Facilities – TrackMark

TrackMark is UK Athletics’ new quality assurance scheme for outdoor Track & Field Athletics facilities.
TrackMark was developed in consultation with track operators, track and field athletics clubs and National Sports Councils and is an accreditation process that utilises a simple web-based portal.
TrackMark accreditation is broken down into six units and is open to any facility that has track and/or field facilities.

Unit 3 – Ancillary Research has shown that the environment in which people participate in sport is vitally important to their enjoyment and safety. Whilst appreciating that all track and field facilities are different, accessibility is an important factor. Unit 3 accreditation assesses disability access, toilets, changing rooms, car parking, storage, clubroom/social areas and multi-purpose rooms.

For more information about Facilities, click here.

Recruitment

UK Athletics encourages job applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, belief or sexual orientation. UK Athletics is a Disability Confident Leader and will guarantee an interview to any candidate with a disability who meets the minimum criteria.

UKA also work with Vercida, the world’s leading diversity and inclusion employer brand platform. Employers use this site to showcase who they are, the jobs they have and the working environment they wish to create in order to attract a rich variety of people. Find out more on their accessible website, here.

Volunteers

We base our volunteer selections mainly on the skills and experience they have followed by their location to the venue.

We advertise our volunteer opportunities through our website and social media channels and also by reaching out to local athletics club, the local council and both Birmingham City University and University of East London.

Volunteers are asked if they have any specific accessibility needs once they had been selected. We then alter the role to meet their needs if needed. For example, if a Result Runner used a wheelchair or mobility scooter, we would ensure they are assigned to the step free route.

For more information on volunteering, see the following links:

Grassroots Volunteering

British Athletics Event Volunteering