ESFA announces Diversity and Inclusion Grant for local clubs

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Eastern Suburbs Football Association has announced that a Diversity and Inclusion Grant for its local Association Clubs has been confirmed.  

In what is believed to be a first for a local grassroots Association in NSW, the grant funds sport and physical activity projects for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups within the ESFA Community.

The Grant supports projects aimed at:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • Newly arrived migrants and refugees, or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups
  • Women’s football
  • People with a physical and/or intellectual disability
  • LGBTIQA+ communities

The announcement forms an important component of ESFA’s key strategic pillars for 2021-24, which outlines a focus on delivering high-quality, accessible football experiences to provide opportunities for more members of the Eastern Suburbs community to be part of the game.

ESFA Director Lisa Thorn explained the rationale behind the grant.

“This is an important mechanism to promote the growth of football for all.

“At ESFA we believe it is important that sporting bodies reflect the diversity in the communities they are a part of, and that they ensure that everybody has access to the beautiful game.

“This program supports people who are historically less likely to participate within ESFA competitions and will help build a resilient, cohesive and harmonious ESFA community.”

“The events of last season highlighted how important football is beyond just the obvious physical benefits,” said ESFA President Nigel Singh.

“Football establishes a sense of community, and it provides an avenue to form deeper connections with people we might not ordinarily interact with.

“We believe this program will allow our Clubs to continue the fantastic job they are doing in growing the game and in highlighting that participating within ESFA is about more than just football.”

-ESFA Press Release