UK Athletics (UKA) is proud to share 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), a step toward fostering a more inclusive and diverse athletics community. The DIAP reaffirms UKA’s commitment to ensuring that the sport is welcoming to everyone, regardless of background, gender, or ability.

Building on the success of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, UKA recognises the need to create a high-performance system that truly reflects the diversity of the UK.

With 60% of individual medallists being women and a significant representation of ethnically diverse athletes, this action plan seeks to expand opportunities and remove barriers to participation across all levels of athletics.

Since launching the DIAP in 2021, there has been significant progress in fostering inclusivity. A few key highlights include;

• Meeting the Equality Standard in Sport at Advanced Level (now part of the Moving to Inclusion Framework) and improving board diversity, with 30% female, 30% ethnically diverse, and 20% disabled members.
• Unconscious bias training was delivered to the performance team, while safeguarding measures were enhanced through the MyConcern platform to manage discriminatory cases.
• The organisation earned a Grade A for inclusive board representation in the Sporting Equals Race Representation Index Survey and launched the Women in Coaching Network to empower underrepresented groups.

Looking ahead to 2025, the action plan is focused on refining ED&I governance processes, maintaining compliance with accreditations, and rolling out training for board members, staff, and athletes. With external audits and benchmarks to help continuously improve policies.

Inclusive recruitment remains a priority, as well as ensuring representation is across decision-making groups. The inaugural Track and Field Inclusion Awards will occur at the year’s end. Engagement efforts include launching a Disability Network to amplify voices in Paralympic athletics and introducing accessible updates to the British Athletics website.

UK Athletics is committed to building an inclusive and equitable environment for all. The full Diversity and Inclusion Action plan can be found here.

Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, said;  “Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) programme has continued to excel and we’ve captured the hearts and minds of our diverse athletics family through innovative activities, but there is more to be done.

“I will continue championing equality, diversity and inclusion through positive actions. As we begin planning for the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, we offer direction for the sport with the ED&I golden thread throughout everything we do.”

Lorna Dwyer, UK Athletics Equality, Diversity & Engagement Lead, said; “As someone leading this important agenda and overseeing the plan’s development, I’m excited about the meaningful change we can drive together.

“This year’s DIAP reaffirms UKA’s unwavering commitment to building a sport that is truly open and welcoming to all, regardless of background, gender, or ability.  It represents not only our goals, but our promise to take impactful steps toward greater equity across every level of athletics.

“We have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to shape a culture where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to thrive. The 2025 DIAP is our roadmap to getting there.”