Following on from the hugely successful Football 101 LGBTQ+ Football Sessions co-created with Brentford FC, the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and the LGBeeT’s, the West London Queer Project (WLQP) are excited to announce a pilot programme that will see Chelsea and Fulham FC join the partnership to widen the reach and participation of these sessions.
This groundbreaking initiative, in partnership with Premier League clubs Brentford FC, Chelsea Community Trust, and Fulham FC, alongside the West London Queer Project (WLQP), aims to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for all football fans, regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, ability, or experience.
The sessions will continue weekly at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Grounds, located on Hartington Road (South Side), Chiswick, London, W4 3UP. These sessions are scheduled for the following dates:
June: 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th
July: 4th and 11th
All sessions will take place on Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
The collaboration between Premier League clubs and community organisations is truly unique and powerful. By leveraging the influence and resources of Brentford, Chelsea, and Fulham football clubs, with each of their Community Organisations, alongside the grassroots engagement and dedication of WLQP, this initiative aims to make a significant impact in promoting diversity and inclusion within the sport.
The pilot programme commenced with a special session at the Gtech Community Stadium, home of Brentford FC on Tuesday 28th May at 6.30pm (pictured below). This initial session provided an excellent opportunity for participants to engage with professional club representatives and experience the inclusive spirit of our football community.
The sessions were first delivered by Brentford FC Community Sports Trust as a special event in February 2023 during LGBT+ History Month as a special event. Due to their popularity, they continued to run regularly.
The primary objective of these sessions is to gather valuable feedback and insights from our LGBTQ+ community to help us transition into permanent weekly sessions. We encourage everyone to participate and share their experiences and feedback, which will be crucial in shaping the future of LGBTQ+ football in London.
For more information and to register for the sessions, please visit www.wlqp.org
Quotes
"This initiative represents a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment in football. We are thrilled to partner with Brentford FC, Chelsea Community Trust, and Fulham FC, to provide these sessions and look forward to receiving feedback from our participants to help shape future programs," said Aubrey Crawley, founder of the West London Queer Project. "Football should be accessible to everyone, and through these sessions, we aim to ensure that every member of the LGBTQ+ community feels valued and included."
Luke Brooks-Smith, Head of Community Sport at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust said, "From the first ever LGBTQIA+ session we ran in February 2023 which had over 50 people attend, this partnership has continued to go from strength to strength. It’s important to us as a Community Sports Trust and Football Club to run these sorts of initiatives with the LGBeeTs, and with the West London Queer Project. "These sessions help to unite our local community and hopefully it also introduces some new fans to Brentford and helps people to feel included in football and valued.”
댓글