Norfolk FA Referees Department announce ED&I Ambassadors
Norfolk FA Referees' Department announce ED&I Ambassadors
The Norfolk FA Referees’ Department is very pleased to announce that Vincent Were, Anoushka Williamson and Tim Sadler have become Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ambassadors.
The ambassadors are part of an ongoing commitment to improving the diversity and representativeness of the referee workforce. Norfolk FA is very much committed to ensuring football and refereeing is fully diverse within the county. The ED&I Ambassadors will play an integral role in ensuring we continue to recruit from a diverse range of backgrounds, but also ensure these individuals have positive role models to be inspired by.
Norfolk FA Referee Development Officer, Harvey Newstead said: "The three ED&I Ambassadors from the Norfolk Refereeing community will be a catalyst for our clear goal of recruiting, developing & retaining more referees from Historically Underrepresented Groups within the county."
Vincent Were said: "Thank for this opportunity to be an ED&I ambassador. The quality of football is improving every day. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind who has the quality, passion, desire, knowledge and creativity needed regardless of their background or identity. Creating equality diversity and inclusion in football makes for a welcoming environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to play, learn about the game, grow or be involved in any way they can. I personally know lovers of the game from the growing African community in Norfolk who have shown interest in being involved in grassroot football as match officials or coaches but have not made the decision. Hopefully I can inspire them directly or indirectly to make the decision and be the contact person whenever they have challenges or good experiences to share."
The Ambassadors will be role models and a point of contact and support for referees from Underrepresented Groups and will hold regular meetings with the Referees' Department to support the next generation of Norfolk FA’s refereeing workforce and understand how we as a County FA can further progress.
Anoushka Williamson said: "As a member of the LGBTQ+ community ED&I is vital to me and I endeavour to ensure refereeing is a safe space for all minority groups."
Tim Sadler said: "I am proud to be taking on this role and actively being a role model. Equality, diversity and inclusion, are hugely important to myself in my daily life as an openly Gay person and within football. I also see the importance of it on a daily basis working within the care sector."