Culture, engagement and leadership are among the key themes of Kent FA’s new Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which will be launched on Wednesday, 26th February 2025 (7pm-9pm), at Kent FA headquarters at Invicta House, Cobdown Park, in Ditton.

The plan sets out the County FA’s priorities for ensuring football is inclusive and accessible to everyone in the county and how those aims will be achieved over the next four years.

Players, coaches, volunteers, match officials and other members of the Kent football community can discover more at a launch event.

Ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are considered in all of Kent FA’s actions, developing greater links and partnerships with diverse communities across the county and using communication methods accessible to all are among the priorities outlined in the plan.

There is also a focus on growing and supporting a diverse football community in Kent, by way of the inclusive recruitment of coaches, referees, volunteers and those involved in Kent FA’s programmes, as well as ensuring inclusive governance of the grassroots game through leadership.

The DIAP has been created with input from Kent FA’s Equality Advisory Group (EAG), which consists of members in a variety of roles in football in the county, Disability Working Group, stakeholders from under represented community groups and the Kent FA team.

The free event will include a buffet, networking and a question-and-answer session with a panel of guests from LGBTQ, disability and underrepresented groups, as well as Kent FA colleagues.

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Kent FA’s Head of Football Development, Jeff Davis, will provide an overview of the plan, and the audience will also hear from Head of Education & Academy Player Care at the Premier League, former professional footballer and chair of Kent FA’s Equality Advisory Group David Rainford and Anwar Uddin, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at The FA, who will outline the FA’s national EDI Strategy.

Harry Mark, Kent FA’s Football Development Officer (Inclusion), said: “As part of our ongoing efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity within the Kent football community, we are organizing this event to discuss our brand-new Diversity Inclusion Action Plan. We will aim to create an open, engaging conversation and we anticipate a group of diverse stakeholders, including coaches, players, volunteers, and other key figures in the football community will be in attendance, including a panel of representatives from The FA, The Premier League and National League System.”