Football NSW announces successful ‘Stand United’ project thanks to Multicultural NSW grant
Football NSW is pleased to announce its successful grant application under the Multicultural NSW COMPACT Program for ‘Stand United’, an all-encompassing campaign targeted at member Clubs and Associations across the state.
The campaign includes Cultural Diversity and Inclusion workshops for targeted members, Stand United Champions (advocates) as well as a number of other exciting initiatives thanks to this second grant received from Multicultural NSW.
Football NSW CEO Stuart Hodge was looking forward to seeing the game’s rich and proud diversity pool of participants benefit thanks to this unique ‘Stand United’ project.
“We are thrilled and delighted to have received this wonderful support from Multicultural NSW as this grant will go a long way in promoting the World Game to our valued participants.
“We are blessed knowing we have many of our fantastic participants hail from many different countries, races and religions who share one thing in common and that is our beautiful sport namely football.
“The ‘Stand United’ project will certainly amplify the message that our sport really is the ‘world game’.”
Acting Minister for Multiculturalism Geoff Lee said the partnership with Football NSW will help promote social cohesion in our communities.
“The power of sport to act as an agent for change is huge. Sport cuts across cultures and faiths and helps unite and bring us together,” Mr Lee said.
“Football NSW will empower clubs and associations with tools and techniques to promote inclusion and harmony in our proud multicultural State.”
Chris Lacey, CEO of Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra was equally as proud with the new link-up that will see Football boosted to the entire community.
“Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI) is delighted to join with Football NSW as a new member of the COMPACT Alliance to work in partnership delivering cultural awareness and diversity training for clubs throughout NSW.
“Football truly is the ‘world game’ enjoyed by thousands of community members here in NSW and we look forward to supporting Football NSW’s strategies to foster inclusion, harmony, and belonging through sport.”
The ‘Stand United’ grant will also provide all Clubs and Associations with the foundation and tools to be even more inclusive to the broader community as well as eliminating any forms of violence and hate that may arise.
The project will support club members including players, coaches, referees, volunteers and parents.
The Stand United project is in partnership with Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra Ltd (MCCI) and is a non-profit charity that supports people and communities from culturally and linguistically (CALD) diverse backgrounds in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven, and ACT/Queanbeyan regions.
MCCI will be co-delivering the Stand United workshops around NSW with Football NSW staff and providing expert advice to develop the content for each.
For more information on the Stand United project you can contact Football NSW’s Inclusion and Diversity Coordinator Charlotte Ercil on charlottee@footballnsw.com.au
