Equality impact Assessment form (Part 1)
Screening
Name of strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:
Donyngs Refurbishment
Name and telephone number of officers completing assessment:
Tim Prior, Project Manager (Leisure), Tel. 01737 276113
Date completed:
4th April 2010
Section one: Identify your aims and objectives
The objective of this project is to improve the sports and leisure facilities provided by
Donyngs leisure centre for the local community that meets the following criteria:
 ‘Fit for purpose’ – provides the right facilities for a wide range of sport and leisure
activities.
 Best fit with the needs of the various stakeholders including the public, schools, sports
clubs, RBBC Council and the leisure contractor.
 Value for money and within budget.
Strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:
 The design of the facilities will be undertaken by a project team made up of Nuffield
Health managers, Council officers and external designers/engineers.
 The key stakeholders are the public, council members and local residents..
 The Council is to build/improve the facilities that provide a wide range of sports and
leisure facilities for the whole community, whatever their age and physical ability.
What is the main aim or purpose of the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function?
The main aim of this project is to provide the Redhill & Reigate communities with
affordable, accessible, high quality, modern swimming, sports and leisure facilities.
List the main activities or objectives of the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function
(for strategies list the main policy areas):



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To improve the local community’s Quality of Life.
To provide a good quality venue that encourages people to take more exercise
(NHS ‘Change 4 Life’ campaign & Sport England’s Active England/Active People
initiative)
To provide a centre for sports that facilitates use by disabled people (Sport
England’s Inclusive Fitness Initiative)
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Who are main beneficiaries of the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function and in
what way?
1) The local community by having access to high quality exercise and sports facilities.
2) The Council who are meeting their obligation to the public to improve their Quality of
Life and their health.
3) Disabled people will be able to make more use of the centre with improved disabled
access.
4) Nuffield Health, the leisure management contractor who will be able to provide a
better service with a wider range of activities for more people.
Section two: Consider data and research
The following data is available for the Borough as a whole:
 The Borough has a relatively old population profile with fewer young people and a larger
percentage of working age adults than the average for England.
 Over 79% of men and 65% of women aged 16-74 are economically active.
 A third of the working population live and work in the Borough.
 The percentage of well-qualified people (56%) is significantly higher than the national
average (47%).
 An extra 27,000 people commute into the borough each day to work, mainly to work in
the large commercial areas of Reigate and Redhill.
 There are pockets of social deprivation in the Borough and almost 2,700 children live in
low income households.
 Average life expectancy for men and women in Reigate & Banstead is better than the
average for England.
 People in Reigate & Banstead tend to have healthier lifestyles than elsewhere in
England.
 Only 19.6% of adults are obese against the national average of 24%
A study of leisure services in the borough was undertaken in 2006, which involved 1,382
members of the public, both users and non-users across the Borough. The findings were as
follows:
 Only 46% of respondents have any type of leisure membership, with many preferring the
‘pay and play’ option.
 General fitness was the main motivator for participation
 Users in the North and South of the borough are keen to retain local facilities including
swimming pools.
 87% of respondents live within 4 miles of their local centre
 The most important issues when selecting leisure facilities were – location, value for
money, cleanliness and car parking.
 Respondents would like – 25m pool, good quality changing rooms, gym, children’s pool,
coffee shop, dance studios, children’s activities and sports halls at each facility.
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2
What data is available to help inform the EIA?
2001 Census
Reigate and Banstead has a population of 126,523, of which 95.0% describes itself as
having a White ethnic background, 2.2% South Asian, 0.9% Afro-Caribbean, and 0.4%
Chinese or other. Its largest ethnic minority group is Indian, with 1,174 community
members. The population is 62,100 male and 64,423 female.
There are 93,331 Christians in the area, and 20,394 people with no religious affiliation.
The largest minority religious group is Muslim (comprising 1,634 local people). The next
largest is Hindu (with 983), followed by Buddhists (320), Jews (319), and Sikhs (135).
NHS Health Profile of RBBC for 2008
The 2008 NHS study showed there are some health inequalities in Reigate & Banstead.
For example, the life expectancy of women from the most deprived areas is 4 years shorter
than those from the least deprived areas. While overall poverty in the district is low, 2,700
children are living in low income households
 Over the last ten years, early deaths from cancer and from heart disease and stroke
in the district have fallen.
 The percentage of children in Reigate & Banstead who are physically active is low,
but both breastfeeding and tooth decay levels are better than the national figures.
 Healthy eating levels in Reigate & Banstead are high, although it is estimated that
one in five adults are obese.
 Hospital stays related to alcohol are low, but more than one in seven binge drink.
One in five adults smoke and smoking accounts for over 200 deaths in Reigate &
Banstead each year.
 Hip fractures in older people are higher than average.
 Priorities for action identified in the Local Area Agreement for Surrey include alcohol
abuse, childhood obesity, smoking, social care, teenage pregnancy and sexual
health.
Are there any gaps which may require further research or consultation?
There is no research at the moment on the take-up of leisure facilities by ethnic origin and
sex. User surveys are required to identify if the service is reaching those members of the
community from BME backgrounds and females.
Section three: Assess the impact on equality target groups
The refurbished centre will have sports and leisure activities for all ages and all abilities.
Some of the improvements for disabled users are as follows:

Automatic entrance doors

Reduced height section of reception desk for wheelchair users.

Induction hearing loop at reception

Double width doors and corridors

Ample disabled toilets, shower and changing facilities

Special lockers to accommodate artificial limbs and other equipment

Gym equipment adapted for wheelchair use

High visibility signs

Best practice design using DDA and Sport England Disability guidelines
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The centre will not automatically offer special classes for Muslim women and/or other ethnic
groups as there has been no demand in the past.
The cost of activities in all the Council’s leisure centres is affordable and lower than
comparable private leisure facilities. The cost is sufficiently low to ensure it does not
represent a barrier to people on low income.
The centre is located in a residential area with easy access by foot, cycling, bus and car.
There is have ample car parking and secure cycle storage.
Employment processes practiced by Nuffield Health, the present leisure services contractor
will ensure that there is no discrimination against disabled people, people from BME
backgrounds irrespective of their age and sexual orientation.
Using the table below, take each one of the equality target groups and predict the
likely impact on people from these groups. Impact can be positive, negative, direct or
indirect. You do not have to complete all the boxes. Only those where there is a
disproportionate or greater impact either way.
Positive
impact
(it could
benefit)
Women
Gender
Race
The categories
used in the Race
section are those
used in the 2001
census.
Consideration
should be given to
the needs of
specific
communities within
the broad
categories.
Disability
Long term health
impairment could
include, mental
health problems,
asthma, heart
conditions, chronic
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Neutral
Negative
impact
(it could
disadvantage)
High Low

Men

High Low
Transgender
ed
Men/Women

High Low
Asian

High Low
Black

High Low
Mixed race

High Low
White

High Low
Chinese

High Low
Other racial
or ethnic
groups specify

High Low
Physical
Reason
High Low

Sensory

High Low
Learning

High Low
Easier access to all parts of
the leisure centre.
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Positive
impact
(it could
benefit)
fatigue etc.
Sexual
orientation
Long Term
Health
Impairment
High Low

More opportunities to take
part in physical activity
High Low

High Low

High Low
Age
Younger
people
and children
Reason
Negative
impact
(it could
disadvantage)

Heterosexu
als,
lesbians,
gay men
and
bisexuals
Older
people
Neutral
More activities for older
people in enlarged gym,
sports hall and exercise
studio.
More activities for young
people in the sports hall and
exercise studio. Children’s
parties.
Religion or
belief
Faith groups cover
a wide range of
groupings, the
most common of
which are
Buddhists,
Christians, Hindus,
Jews, Muslims,
and Sikhs.
Consider faith
categories
individually and
collectively when
considering
positive and
negative impacts.
Faith groups

High Low
If you have indicated there is a potential negative impact on any group, are these
Intentional and of a High Impact?
Intended? – i.e. can be justified in terms of legislation
e.g. Concessionary fares over 60s
Yes
No

High impact? – i.e. it is or may be discriminatory
against some groups.
Yes
No

Is the negative impact
NOT INTENDED and/or of HIGH IMPACT?
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
If yes, a full assessment is required. Please complete the Equality impact assessment
form Part Two: Full assessment.

If no, complete the rest of this form below and consider if completing the Equality
impact assessment form Part Two: Full assessment would be helpful in making a
thorough assessment. Do not ignore low impacts – these could help you develop
services in the future.
Section four: Improvement planning
Use the table below to record how you could minimise or remove any low negative
impact or improve the positive impact of the project:
Issue
Action
Use of centre by disabled
and special groups.
Regular consultation with special groups will influence the
programme of the new centre.
Use of facilities by people
from BME backgrounds.
Quantify ethnic mix of users by a centre survey to ensure the
whole community is being included. Marketing of BME
targeted sessions by Nuffield Health.
Use of facilities by women
Quantify number of female users by a centre survey to
ensure the whole community is being included. Nuffield
Health already operate a ‘Ladies Only’ swimming session
once per week.
Use of facilities by people
who do not use English as
their first language.
Operate a pilot scheme in the new centre where information
is provided in other languages.
Encourage use of the
centre by people who have
limited ability to participate
in sport and leisure
activities.
Investigate the possibility of introducing a GP referral
programme at Donyngs with local doctors and Nuffield
Health. Not only is this a benefit to the community but
encourages those participating in the programme to continue
on with their exercise after the initial period of treatment is
completed.
If there is no evidence that the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function promotes
equality, equal opportunities or improved relations – could it be adapted so that it
does? How?
N/A
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Section five: Monitoring and reviewing
What data do you have which monitors the impact of the
strategy/policy/procedure/project/function on minority groups?
N/A
How is this data used?
N/A
If there is no data, please explain how you intend to continue monitoring the impact of
this strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:
No regular user surveys. See recommendations for user survey above.
Please send a copy of the completed form to the Equalities Steering Group, via Lorraine
Hatton at lorraine.hatton@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
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