NAKMAS Achieves Award for Widening Participation in Sport

Equality Standard: A Framework for Sport (Foundation Level)

July 17, 2008 - NAKMAS (the National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools - http://www.nakmas.org.uk) has been awarded the Foundation level of the Equality Standard: A Framework for Sport. The award recognises that NAKMAS not only welcomes but actively encourages participants from all parts of the community, including those not traditionally associated with the sport (women, girls, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities). NAKMAS is the only multi-styled martial arts national governing body to achieve the award.

To receive the award, NAKMAS has shown itself to be, amongst other things, providing a framework for achieving equality in sport; increasing participation levels; meeting equality legal requirements; enhancing the skills and knowledge of staff; and improving practices through monitoring, evaluation and review methods. By being awarded the first of four levels of achievement – Foundation, Preliminary, Intermediate & Advanced – NAKMAS is set for further recognition in the future.

Joe Ellis, the chair of NAKMAS, said: “Our determination to widen accessibility to the martial arts will bring the benefits and enjoyment of the sport to more people than ever before.”

Sandra Beale, the equality manager/director of operations at NAKMAS, said: “Embarking on this process has given everyone a greater awareness of equality issues, which can only be a positive step forward for our governing body’.

The Equality Standard: A Framework for Sport award was launched by Lord Carter at the Equality in Sport Conference on 9th November 2004. It is conferred to sporting organisations that demonstrate policies, structures, processes and procedures designed to increase participation and involvement in sport and physical activity by under represented individuals, groups and communities. The standard is a result of a collaboration between all four Home Country Sports Councils and UK Sport. It is endorsed by the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), the English Federation of Disability of Sport (EFDS), Sporting Equals and it also has the backing of the CCPR.

NAKMAS was prepared for assessment 18 months ago, though Sport England and UK Sport were originally only focusing on its priority sports. However, thanks to on-going help and assistance from the CCPR, NAKMAS was assessed and externally verified against the Equality Standard, and passed with flying colours!

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Notes for editors

The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS) is a non-funded national governing body and is a member of CCPR (the Central Council of Physical Recreation). With its Head Office based in Kent, NAKMAS governs all forms of traditional and modern martial arts within the UK.

NAKMAS is an approved insurance provider via Lloyds and holds a National and International Quality Standard Certificate via the BSI (British Standards Institute).

Coaching awards to the standard of the NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) and UKCC (United Kingdom Coaching Certificate) are available within NAKMAS. It has an active NSPCC approved Welfare Policy, and has launched a UK-wide anti-bullying initiative called the ‘NAKMAS Safe Kids Campaign’. It also has Registered Body status via the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) and Disclosure Scotland to check against the criminal records register.

For further information, please contact:

Joe Ellis, chair and acting lead child protection officer, NAKMAS National Governing Body

Tel: 01227 370055 / 07976 736404

Fax: 01227 370056

Email: joe.ellis@nakmas.org.uk

Site: www.nakmas.org.uk

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