In an exciting initiative to promote diversity and inclusion within the Kent game,16 individuals of Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage from across Kent participated in a historic referee workshop last week at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, a place of worship. 

The workshop, organised in partnership between The FA and Kent FA, brought together referees for two days of interactive training on and off the pitch, discussions and mentorship. Attendees were guided through the fundamentals of officiating, from understanding the laws of the game to managing players on the field in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Held at Shik Guru Nanak Gurdwara, the event served as a bridge between football and the community, utilising the trusted, safe, and familiar setting of a place of worship to foster engagement and participation. This workshop aimed to make it easier for individuals who may face cultural or societal barriers to take the first step toward becoming match officials.

The workshop is part of The FA’s  Reflective and Representative campaign, which aims to recruit 1000 people from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds over the next three years and forms part of the FA’s wider refereeing strategy, To Grow, Guide and Govern. 

Kent FA’s Referee Development Lead, Nick Dunn, emphasised the importance of creating pathways for underrepresented groups in football.

“We were delighted to get this initiative launched, which has been in the planning stages for several months,” he said.

“As part of Kent FA's Referee Strategy, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive regardless of their background. Not only was this our first-ever course centred on recruiting match officials specifically from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, but it was the first course ever held Nationally in a place of workshop. This is a significant step towards breaking down barriers and creating pathways for under-represented groups of aspiring officials. By providing these opportunities, we hope to inspire a new generation of match officials who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the game.”

Raj Randhawa, the FA’s refereeing EDI delivery manager, added: “Diversifying the refereeing pathway is a strategic commitment for us and it’s clear from what we’ve seen on our courses so far, such as the one we recently delivered in Kent, that there's great appetite from people of all backgrounds to take up refereeing. It was a very proud moment personally as an individual representative of the Sikh community to hold a course for the very first time in the place of worship in a Gurdwara.

“We look forward to continuing to deliver these sessions across the country to showcase that the pathway is there for those who wish to pursue officiating as a career option, supporting them in any way possible through training, mentoring and financial support where necessary.

“It was fantastic to work alongside Kent FA, Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara and BAMREF to provide unique opportunities at a local level and I would like to thank everyone for their support in the initiative.”

The success of this workshop demonstrates the power of community-based initiatives in promoting inclusion within football, and we hope to see more individuals from diverse backgrounds take up the whistle. 

For more information on our future workshops or to learn how to become a referee, contact the Refereeing Team at Referees@KentFA.com