Sport, Disability Workforce & Leadership Symposium

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Across the UK, disabled people remain significantly under-represented within the sport workforce. Current sector data suggests that disabled people make up around 13% of the sport and physical activity workforce, compared with 23% of working-age adults across the wider UK population. This gap highlights a clear opportunity for sport organisations to strengthen recruitment pathways, leadership development and workplace cultures.

The summit draws on research from the Centre for Social Justice in Sport and Society, including the Football’s Disability Blind Spots project and the Centre’s Belonging in Sport Framework, which explores how organisations can move beyond compliance-driven inclusion strategies toward environments where individuals feel genuinely valued and supported.

What to expect

• Evidence-led insights from leading researchers examining disability, leadership and governance across sport.

• Workshop sessions designed to help organisations translate research findings into practical organisational change.

• Sector collaboration and networking, bringing together practitioners, researchers, governing bodies and advocacy organisations working across disability inclusion in sport.

• Applied learning sessions, including:

– Recruitment, Retention and Leadership Pathways, led by Dr Stefan Lawrence, exploring recommendations developed with the Disability Football Collective.
– Creating Disability Belonging in Sport Organisations, led by Dr Annette Stride, introducing the Belonging in Sport Framework and its practical application within sport organisations.
– Embedding Change and Monitoring Progress, led by Dr Dan Bates, supporting participants to develop practical implementation and evaluation plans.

The summit also provides space for meaningful sector dialogue. Delegates will have the opportunity to share experiences, exchange ideas and explore collaborative approaches to strengthening disability inclusion across the sport workforce.

To conclude the day, participants will be invited to identify one practical commitment their organisation can take forward, helping to translate research insights into tangible organisational change.