A Game Free from Discrimination…

The FA has delivered two years of its successful ‘EDI Community of Practice' to support the grassroots and semi-professional game. The Community of Practice (CoP) consists of local ambassadors who support the growth of grassroots / semi-professional football for all communities who are currently disproportionately represented across the game. 

A new professional club Community of Practice will now be set up to support ten selected clubs across the professional game to support them specifically with connecting and working with South Asian communities. Forming part of The FA's new ‘Build, Connect, Support' plan 2025-28, focusing on South Asian representation in football, the new CoP will help clubs to develop, connect with and support players, coaches, referees, volunteers and wider networks of football.  

The programme has a focus on the most diverse regions across the country where our selected professional clubs are located. The clubs taking part in this programme are:

• Birmingham City FC
• Blackburn Rovers FC
• Bradford City FC
• Brighton and Hove Albion FC
• Fulham FC
• Huddersfield Town FC
• Manchester City FC
• Millwall FC
• Walsall FC
• Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

Please note, on the application form, you will be able to select which club you wish to be considered for. You will also be able to select if you wish to be considered for other clubs in the same region, if any.

(For example, if you apply for Millwall FC, and you tick yes, you will also be considered for other clubs in London - i.e Fulham FC)

Up to 10 CoP ambassadors in total will be deployed across the clubs where we believe we can add the most value.

Our focus in all protected characteristics, with particular attention to where we can drive the greatest impact in football, especially around faith, ethnicity, gender, disability, and sexual orientation within South Asian communities.

Each role will be offered an estimated 50–100-hour contract for 12 months, from the date of induction. Each Ambassador will be required to disclose a DBS check alongside references and experience of working in a sporting and/or relevant environment within their chosen locality. 

Accountabilities and Objectives

The following principles underpin the role of a CoP member:

• CONNECTION– Ambassadors will be familiar within the community they wish to support, in and around the club they will be supporting, creating greater confidence for the club to embrace ED&I and create better environments for all.
• PERSONALISED- Built on relationships and trust.
• CREATIVE– Being curious in finding new and appropriate ways of empowering, engaging, and inspiring South Asian communities to feel they belong.
• DRIVING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE– encouraging action and application of best practices to drive new ways of working, which are embedded in the principles of ED&I.

Key objectives of the Professional Club COP member:

Building on the success of our EDI Community of Practice for grassroots football, the National League System and the Women's Pyramid, we will expand into professional clubs to strengthen their connection with South Asian communities in the most diverse regions/clubs across the country. The programme will:

1. Support the work of the professional clubs and Community Club Organisations (CCOs) in their efforts to drive diversity and inclusion into academy football, Emerging Talent Centres (ETC), professional roles and volunteering at the club.
2. Drive best practice and EDI conversations into club environments to ensure a collaborative approach to South Asian inclusion across all aspects of each club's operations, including in relation to diversifying fan bases.
3. To collect examples of good practice, drive new initiatives and build trust between the club and the community.

Primary objectives of the role:

• Develop an understanding of the football landscape - identifying current ED&I challenges at clubs and in the local areas where clubs are located.
• To strengthen the connection between The FA and club/local communities in the most diverse regions across the country in support of The FA's ‘Build, Connect, Support' 2025-28 plan.
• Delivery of an allocated amount of education and awareness sessions within professional clubs with a focus on opportunities, resources and support available. 
• Disseminate key communications, campaigns and updates from The FA into club communities (I.e. fans and volunteers).
• Identify a specific area of expertise that you can build upon, support in and develop to complement the club's objectives for South Asian communities.  
• Create a bespoke engagement plan for your chosen club to reach historically underrepresented communities to boost participation.
• Attend monthly FA meetings aimed at providing clarity on work programmes, development opportunities and good practice sharing.
• Complete a monthly dashboard submitted to The FA on quantitative and qualitative support provided to grassroots clubs and volunteers (and log all hours of activity.)
• To collect examples across the professional club network of best practices which can be disseminated nationally.
• To improve communications and trust between local stakeholders and football bodies.

Secondary objectives

• Support (where appropriate) the delivery of The FA's Faith and Football activities, events, policies and publications.
• Provide relevant advice and guidance as requested from time to time into various football programmes and embed best practices as appropriate.

The COP will operate as autonomous advocates of EDI as well as work together with other ambassadors across their regions and as a whole. We expect ambassadors to develop close relationships with:

• The FA EDI Team
• The professional club's EDI team and CCO team
• The FA's existing Community of Practice (grassroots, national league system and women's pyramid)

What You'll Need?

Essential for the role:

• Ability to build trust and develop effective working relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds.
• A role model to people from historically underrepresented communities and a connector of people and projects.
• Understanding of challenges and barriers faced by people from historically underrepresented communities.
• Knowledge and understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Flexible in approach with a willingness to work some evenings and weekends, as well as travel across the County (where the CoP member will operate)
• Experience volunteering within the local community
• Basic IT and numeric skills for completing any required reports.
• Leadership skills and leading groups

Beneficial to also have:

• Existing relationships with the club(s) in question (club and/or CCO)
• Existing knowledge of professional football and wider engagement with grassroots clubs, players, officials, volunteers and parents
• Previous working experience in a sporting and/or relevant environment within your region where the club is located

What's in it for you?

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive rate of pay as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role.

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, and by doing this, we offer top-of-the-range facilities across two core business locations. We have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English football. We are also delighted to have a world-class Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

Please click here to see more information.