The Athletics Pride Network, UK Athletics, England Athletics and Diversity Role Models (DRM) have partnered to deliver a series of LGBT+ inclusion workshops to the athletics family during August.

The project will deliver an adapted version of Diversity Role Models’ LGBT+ inclusion workshops via online webinars. These will initially be for adults; club stakeholders, parents/carers and coaches/officials. Further workshops for young people in the sport will be organised later in the year.

Following a series of workshops delivered to the sport at the end of 2020, the APN, UK Athletics and England Athletics have worked with Diversity Role Models to deliver a unique workshop to the athletics community.

The Athletics Pride Network (APN) is an initiative to make our sport safe and welcoming for people within the sport who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+), and their allies, and it represents athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and administrators.

Diversity Role Models aims to create safe spaces where young people can explore difference and consider their role in creating a world where we all feel accepted. Their student workshops feature LGBT+ or ally role models who speak openly about their lived experiences, building young people’s empathy so they can understand the (often unintended) impact of their language and actions. They also deliver sessions to adults to in schools to ensure sustained change.

Co-Chair of the Athletics Pride Network, Andy Paul said, “This is a great opportunity to partner with a charity doing some important work in this area. We are looking forward to building a platform that is supportive and educational for those working within and around our athletics community.”

Dan Beeson, Relationships Manager at Diversity Role Models said, “We’re delighted to be delivering our LGBT+ inclusion workshops for adults and youth members in the world of UK athletics for the first time. We believe learning about and celebrating difference is vital for personal wellbeing, success and making sport accessible to all”.

The sessions will be run on the following dates:

Sunday 1st August

Session 1: 10:00-10:55 – register here

Session 2: 11:00-11:55 – register here

Session 3: 14:00-14:55 – register here

Session 4: 15:00-15:55 – register here

Monday 2nd August

Session 1: 18:00-19:00 – register here

Sunday 8th August

Session 1: 10:00-10:55 – register here

Session 2: 11:00-11:55 – register here

Session 3: 14:00-14:55 – register here

Session 4: 15:00-15:55 – register here

Monday 9th August

Session 1: 18:00-19:00 – register here