PITCHES

Pitches

We understand the power of the pitch. Investing in facilities people can be proud to play at is what we do, and we’ll use our expertise to work with and engage communities across the UK to increase access for everyone. We’ll explore different facility types because we know that one size doesn’t fit all.

We understand the power of the pitch. Investing in facilities people can be proud to play at is what we do, and we’ll use our expertise to work with and engage communities across the UK to increase access for everyone. We’ll explore different facility types because we know that one size doesn't fit all.

Action Measures & Outcomes

Support grantees to understand inclusivity outcomes of facility-based investment.

Ensure occupational structures at facilities are inclusive.

Co-design principles firmly included within local community and users’ engagement.

Ensuring safety, accessibility, and an inclusive environment for all.

Develop engagement with user groups and potential applicants. To further understand barriers to funding and participation.

Engage a diverse range of communities and seldom heard groups in the application process. Understand the current data and insight on applicant type.

Review the impact of the PlayZones Programme

Identify and lessons from the programme (e.g., smart access, consortium led approach) and if the target audiences access the facility.

Review Sport England's tackling inequalities impact from the multi-sport pitch capital programme. Identify any lessons that could be built into our Grass pitch programme. Ensure our volunteer groundskeepers plan has inclusivity objectives included within it.

Work with and support the National Football Trust (NFT) and Leisure United (LU) to further align our approach to embedding EDI within hubs programme. Align LU and NFT to Code for Sport Governance and EDI principles. Ensure on site teammates, users and any local steering groups reflect the communities the Hubs serve. Ensure Hubs EOI phase and site selections embrace community engagement from the outset.

More understanding of inclusivity outcomes of facility-based investment. Occupational structures at facilities are more inclusive as a result.

Our applicants feel supported and advised on how best to engage local communities. Applicants use the tools we have developed to learn the current best practice methods on how to conduct community engagement sessions.

EDI considerations to be inbuilt into facility design, location, and accessibility. Barriers to funding and participation identified, information is used to inform the digital strategy.

Gained a better understanding of applicants and the barriers underrepresented groups face.

Programme impact reviewed and lessons learned feedback into our application processes. Better understanding of recreational and small sided football outcomes.

Research findings reviewed and recommendations developed, our groundskeeping plan has objectives designed to increase inclusivity.

On site teammates, users and any local steering groups are more reflective of the communities the Hubs serve. EDI action plan developed and implemented by the NFT Board and LU.

By telling our stories we aim to help everyone understand how we’re positively impacting communities. We aim to share our message with as many people as possible so that we can change perceptions and welcome new participants and audiences to football and other team sports.

By telling our stories we aim to help everyone understand how we’re positively impacting communities. We aim to share our message with as many people as possible so that we can change perceptions and welcome new participants and audiences to football and other team sports.

Action Measures and Outcomes

Identify gaps in applicant engagement

Create a digital strategy to target seldom heard groups and under-represented areas, aiming to increase website engagement and applications.

Share updates and progress on our EDI journey

Produce case studies and content achievements from the EDI action plan externally. This will promote diversity and opportunities.

Improve engagement with events and campaigns

Covering a wide range of EDI related topics, to raise awareness and ensure there are opportunities for team mates to engage internally as well as the external engagement.

Focus on developing the charity element of our brand Compliance with Charity Commission and wider third sector recommendations on EDI.

Review content partnerships

Work with our content partners to ensure our communications are inclusive accessible and reflect the diverse communities we support.

Develop and Refresh the ‘Supporter programme’ to represent users and the wider work of the Football Foundation. Include facility managers, groundskeepers, and coaches.

Promote our applicant/scheme guidance documents widely

Seek to understand what other guidance could be useful to applicants.

Review the website from an EDI perspective

Ensure the website is accessible and user-friendly as possible.

Create an EDI Glossary of terms

This will be a quick reference guide for teammates to look up various terms related to EDI, to enable teammates to be confident in their use of language and terminology.

Increased engagement, website visits and applications from seldom heard groups and under-represented groups and areas.

Increased engagement, website visits and applications from seldom heard groups and under-represented areas.

Widens our definition of diversity, ensuring a greater level of understanding of current EDI issues, demonstrates our commitment to EDI.

Ensuring we’re compliant will help us to set and maintain high standards for the Foundation. Support our recruitment objectives to achieve a more diverse organisation.

By working with content partners and suppliers who share our values and understand how to communicate our messages in accessible and inclusive ways, will improve our content, improve its impact and reduces reputational risk.

Supporters can help us to promote our messages to diverse communities. Agree EDI matrix to ensure Supporter strategy addresses all areas.

We want our assets to be utilised by a broad audience with community engagement improved and tackling inequalities work promoted and broaden understanding.

Website considered more accessible, easy to navigate and more effective at promoting our EDI messages.

Teammates use the guide, and the Foundation develops a more consistent approach to language.