AITC spreads Rainbow Laces message to Sussex kids
Albion in the Community has been sharing a message of inclusivity and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
The Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign has been taking place this October, with football fans, clubs, and players all over the country uniting to stand against discrimination.
Throughout October we have been working to raise awareness about the Rainbow Laces campaign, especially amongst the young people we work with.
Our teachers and coaches have been handing out free rainbow laces to hundreds of children across Sussex – at local primary schools, at Premier League Kicks sessions in targeted communities, and at Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools.
AITC teachers have also been delivering special workshops and lessons this month, teaching kids about what it means to be LGBTQ+ and how we can support the community.
The Rainbow Laces campaign is a year-round effort to raise awareness, and AITC works non-stop to help challenge discrimination and make football welcoming for all.
Whether it is through educational workshops in schools, mentoring support with young people, or through the wide-ranging football programme the charity delivers, AITC aims to create a positive, inclusive ethos that demonstrates how football as a sport can be accepting and inclusive of all people including the LGBTQ+ community.
Sarah Byrne, lead for Equality and Diversity at AITC, says that campaigns like Rainbow Laces are key in spreading an inclusive message to a large audience.
“The Premier League reaches hundreds of millions of people worldwide, so Rainbow Laces is campaign that can really make a difference in combatting discrimination,” she said.
“Seeing your favourite football star standing in solidarity with the LGBTQ community is such a strong image.
“Just within Sussex, there are thousands of people who will see Albion stars wearing the rainbow armband, wearing rainbow laces. It starts a conversation and helps use the popularity of football to make a big difference in changing attitudes.”
Sarah explained how AITC strive to make a difference every day through their work in Sussex communities.
“Our message is that education is key. It is not just about one-off awareness raising events, although they are important, it is also about educating young people through the year and encouraging people to think about their attitudes and behaviour.”
“We strive to make all of our activities inclusive. Our staff receive training around how to be accessible, open, and welcoming and about non-binary and trans people’s inclusion.”
“We give out Rainbow Laces to many of our participants in our programmes as part of the national Stonewall campaign,” she shared.
“By wearing Rainbow Laces, we’re asking people to not only show their support for inclusion but also to have conversations with friends, family, teams and clubs about why they are wearing them. Every conversation takes us one step closer to making football everyone’s game.”
To find out more about Albion in the Community’s work, visit our website: www.bhafcfoundation.org.uk