EQUITY

Background
       

THE WEST RIDING COUNTY FA was a key partner in the research commissioned by Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football ‘Kick it Out’ between June 1999 and February 2002 and along with five Local Authorities: Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and Leeds committed to the Race Equality Charter outlined on the page below.  
 
Following representations from the West Riding Football Development Group (which is made up of Local Authorities in the West Riding area, Football in the Community Schemes and other community groups) and the Bradford Sports Action Zone Football Development Group (made up of local clubs, schools, Bradford City FC, volunteers and other key partners supporting football in Bradford) a project group was established to review the progress made on the charter and to make recommendations for future action. The following people and groups developed the West Riding County Football Association Race Equality Plan (WRREP). 
 
* West Riding County FA Race Equality Group – lead group made up of the County FA paid staff and volunteers, FA, BEM Sport, Sport Action Zone, West Yorkshire Sport, FDO Bradford, Bradford Trident, Sport England, Kick it Out, District FA’s, Bradford Football Development group, Leeds FDO, Community Groups. 
* West Riding County FA Council members /Football Development Group/Football Development Officers   
* West Riding Development Group - Local Authorities, FITC schemes, Communities United Project and other community groups
* Bradford Sport Action Zone Football Development Group – volunteers from local clubs, Bradford LA, Bradford City FITC, Sport Action Zone 
* Communities United Project
* Sport England 
* Sporting Equals 
* The FA
* Kick it Out 
* Space 

WR County FA Level 1 Coaches
 
   
RACE EQUALITY CHARTER FOR   
FOOTBALL IN WEST YORKSHIRE  
   
* The race equality charter has been jointly prepared and adopted by the West Riding County FA and the local authorities of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.  
* We acknowledge that racism, discrimination and intimidation exists in football   
* We are committed to the elimination of racism in all aspects and will take positive action to meet the sporting needs and aspirations of the whole community   
* We are committed to promoting and encouraging wider participation by minority ethnic communities in playing, spectating, coaching, administrating and officiating football   
* We believe that the football community should be free to enjoy their sport in an environment free from intimidation, harassment and abuse   
* We believe that all football groups should oppose racism and promote equality of opportunity. Clubs, players or officials who are found to have been engaging in racist abuse or harassment will face disciplinary action by the West Riding County FA or the FA and may face appropriate action from their local authority, which could include withdrawal of facility provision.  
     
    
 

 RACE EQUITY PLAN
 
The consultation revealed that although the race equality charter (REC) had been adopted by the County and the key partners involved in the research, few actions had been taken to implement the charter.
   

WR County FA Refugee Football Tournament
 
 
The project group has embraced the findings of the research and developed a five-year race equality plan. 
 
The consultation process was as follows: 
 
WRCFA Race Equality Group developed a paper for discussion 
The groups and individual above gave written and verbal feedback. 
The terms of reference and the make up of the Race Equality Group were changed in the consultation process 
 
 
 KEY AREAS OF THE
 EQUALITY PLAN 2003 - 2007 
 
*   Representation – To ensure that the WRCFA and it’s constituent organisations represent the wider community. 
* Training and Education – To develop a programme of education and training that will develop and reinforce good practice and change attitudes and behaviour where appropriate of race related issues.
* Opportunities for All – To promote and encourage wider participation by ethnic minority communities playing, supporting, coaching, officiating and administering football
* Communication – To develop a strategy to maximise knowledge and awareness of race related issues and the progress of the West Riding Race Equality Strategy 
* Structures – To ensure that the WRCFA and key partners take the appropriate sanctions against any persons involved in affiliated football that is in breach of the charter
 
 
 KEY AREAS OF ACHIEVEMENT
OF THE RACE EQUALITY PLAN
 2003 – 2007 
 
* Representation – WRCFA will be asked to co-opt a person on to council to represent football. The person nominated must have an understanding of different cultures and race equity issues. 
* Training and Education – x6 tutors have been recruited to deliver the FA Football for All Workshop. 7 workshops will be delivered between Sept – December 2003 targeting Council members, District FA’s, Referees Associations, Charter Standard Clubs and Leagues. 
* Opportunities for All – the All Nations Football Project has been developed in Leeds, 12 teams attended a tournament, which will be expanded to include more teams and regular competitions. 
* A mini-soccer project has been developed in the sport action zone in Bradford targeting ethnic minority communities.
* 2 McDonalds Level 1 Coaching courses have been run to support the above projects. 
* Communication – Detail of the strategy has been put on to the county website and will form part of 4 County road shows commencing in October 2003. 
* The FA Football For All Conference highlighted the work of the race equality group as good practice and produced some video footage of the project.
* Structures – members of the disciplinary commissions will attend the Football For All workshop and additional race equality training.