Kick It Out, football's equality and inclusion campaign, is launching a new Equality Standard, a guide for professional clubs advising them on how they can develop equality policies and practices across all areas of their operation.
Kick It Out launched the Standard at Bafta in London last night(Thursday 26th March) with a presentation evening featuring Richard Scudamore, ex-Manchester City chairman and Wembley Chairman, David Bernstein and novelist and comedian, David Baddiel.
The framework document will help football clubs work to a series of objectives that ensure equality in all areas of their operation - from stewarding, to the recruitment of administration staff and the development of young players. A third of all professional clubs have begun working on the three attainment levels through the Racial Equality Standard which preceded the new document.
The framework has been developed closely with the Premier League and is supported by all of football's governing bodies.
Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "Clubs can have an extremely positive influence on their fans as well as in the communities around them so it's important that they show how they embrace diversity and are open and accessible to everyone.
"The new Equality Standard will allow Clubs to demonstrate the high standards that they have achieved in eradicating discrimination of any kind."
Kick It Out Chair, Lord Herman Ouseley, said: "A welter of opportunities lie on a club's doorstep, from new supporters to potential employees. This framework will help clubs across every division understand how best to embrace this. Crucially it's designed so 'buy-in' comes from boardroom level, which means good practice is filtered down to those who make the club function on a day to day basis."
The Equality Standard works on three levels of achievement; Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced. It encompasses all six areas of diversity - race, religion age, gender, sexual orientation and disability - and will ensure groups and individuals are given equal access to opportunities that football clubs can provide.
Kick It Out has a designated Development Officer in post to support clubs in this area and help them collate a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate that they have met the requirements laid out in the Standard.
