The Recreation and Youth Services (Gender Equality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

The Department of Communities, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 12(1) of the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, makes the following Regulations.

Regulation 1: Citation, commencement, and interpretation

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Recreation and Youth Services (Gender Equality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 1 November 2020.

(3) In these Regulations, "Council" shall mean the Sports Council constituted under the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

(4) In these Regulations, "Grants" shall mean the Lottery grants received by the Sports Council under Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 by virtue of receiving grants under the National Lottery etc. Act 1983

Regulation 2: Gender equality mandate for the making of grants

(1) When the Council makes a grant for the promotion of sport or recreational activities, it must ensure that-

(a) the grant does not disproportionately impact access to sport or recreational activities among people on the basis of sex, gender identity, or gender expression;

(b) the grant, if it is likely to have a disproportionate impact on access to sport or recreational activities for a group of people on the basis of sex, gender identity, or gender expression, is accompanied by such grants that any neglected group has equivalent access to like activities; or

(c) the Council has applied to the Department for an exemption, and the exemption has been granted.

(2) The Department, if on the application of the Council, believes that such a grant which falls under (1)(b) would still be of benefit to the public without any accompanying grant, may grant an exemption for the standard for the purposes of (1)(c).

(3) The Department must be provided with plans and assessments made for determining the utility of grants if requested.

These Regulations were authored and submitted by The Rt Hon. NeatSaucer MLA MS MSP, Minister for Communities, with advice from the Rt Hon. SoSaturnistic MLA, Deputy First Minister and Minister for Finance in the name of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Link to the enabling Order.