We are delighted to announce that Brighton Seagals have become the latest side to be presented with their Level 2 Equality Charter Award.

The purpose of the scheme is to recognise those clubs who have been drivers when it comes to inclusion and representation in the grassroots game.

On their way to achieving the Level 2 Award, Brighton Seagals, on top of completing all the actions required for their Level 1, have also completed the following actions:

• Implemented a Mental Health Policy
• Minimum of 2x club officials completed The Introduction to Disability Football Course
• Recruited a new female coach (Playmaker Certified or working towards)
• Set up a new session aimed at one of the following groups: (LGBT+, Older Women’s Recreation, Disability, Faith, Wildcats)

Speaking on why the England Football Accreditted club looked to achieve their second level of the Equality Charter Award, they said: “Brighton Seagals was started to challenge the status quo on how grassroots football clubs are run.

“We engage with equality, diversity and inclusion campaigns every season so we jumped at the chance to get involved in the Equality Charter Award, and it’s been great working through the levels at our own pace to help create positive change within the club.

“This progression has helped us identify things we can do even better, such as exploring how to make football more accessible for people from some underrepresented backgrounds that we haven’t had much engagement with before.”

The club went on to add: “Achieving our Level 2 will allow us to challenge ourselves as we continue to develop the club, as we now have a wider understanding on what it means to be inclusive.

“We take pride in the fact that we’ve been able to carry forward our commitment to inclusivity through all facets of what we do as a club, to ensure that Seagals is an inclusive space for adult women and non-binary people.”

Becks Shaw, Equality Officer at Brighton Seagals, said: "From the moment I joined Brighton Seagals, I witnessed the positive impact that achieving the Sussex County FA's Equality Charter Level 2 had on our club.

"The dedication displayed by our team in upholding the values and actions set by the charter has been inspiring, and a huge part of why the club resonated with me.

“Looking forward, I’m excited to set our sights on Equality Charter Level 3. This is a significant milestone on our journey towards fostering a truly inclusive and diverse environment within our club and encouraging our members to consider the world through the diverse perspectives of others.”

She went on to add: “Pursuing Level 3 not only showcases our unwavering commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, but also reinforces our strong belief in providing and supporting equal access and opportunities within football.

“We are adamant that equality is not just a checkbox, but an integral part of our club's identity and cultural values and I’m proud to say that we will always be looking to grow, learn, and achieve more in this space."

If your club would like to get involved, then simply complete the form below.
Equality Charter Award

To find out more about the Equality Charter Award and how you club can achieve it please contact:

Development
T: 01903 766855
E: Development@SussexFA.com