Annual Report 2013/14
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ANNUAL REPORT 2013/14 Marking 20 years of campaigning Annual Report 2013/14 Marking 20 years of campaigning 1993-2013 “It is clear to see footballPage has come title a long way in CONTENTS tackling racism and discrimination yet it is far from being eradicated from our game. The more overt forms have been reduced significantly since the 70’s and 80’s but we are still dealing with complaints of this type of behaviour at all levels of the game every single week. 2 FOREWORD “There are constantly new challenges which we are looking to overcome, especially when it comes 4 MARKING 20 YEARS OF to diversifying football’s workforce, and it is incumbent on the whole of the English game to work collectively to bring about the change which KICK IT OUT is long overdue. It is time we all take responsibility and show leadership in our own way.” 6 BUILDING CONFIDENCE Roisin Wood, Director of Kick It Out IN REPORTING 8 SETTING THE EXAMPLE 10 GRASSROOTS AND COMMUNITY LEVEL COMMITMENT 12 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE 14 PLAYER INTERACTION 16 KEY PARTNERSHIPS 18 READ ALL ABOUT IT 20 ACCOUNTS Annual Report 2013/14 Marking 20 years of campaigning 1993-2013 Annual Report 2013/14 Marking 20 years of campaigning 1993-2013 02 Foreword 03 ...it has been noted that there is little appetite to “The male and pale pinnacle take radical action against wrong-doing on the part and power of football” of top people in the game and that represents the immediate frontier for equality action. So, who will blink first? Is there any club or any of the authorities in football prepared to make their senior management teams or boardrooms reflective of the gender and ethnic balance of our society and make football more diverse where the power and decision-making reside? There is much to acclaim in the progress Out often finds itself open to criticism made to end discrimination on the fields when major high-profile events occur. of play as well as the conduct by fans but More recently, it has been noted that progress elsewhere remains tokenistic. there is little appetite to take radical It’s not for the lack of external lobbying action against wrong-doing on the or leaders talking about the shame of part of top people in the game and football in the poor representation of that represents the immediate frontier black people and women as managers, for equality action. coaches, administrators and directors There is a limit to what an external, in the game. voluntary, independent organisation can Kick It Out has been knocking on the do to change the culture by itself and the doors of the football establishment progress made to date can be attributed for over 20 years to bring about to the authorities and the clubs, with the unacceptable behaviour, wherever it invaluable contribution to football change. Whilst we have been on the players and other participants working occurs. It is also a credit to the game taking on its responsibilities to make all outside as an independent campaigning together to give meaning to the avowed that The Football Association (FA) is in opportunities accessible and available to organisation, we nevertheless recognised ‘zero tolerance’ position of the governing the forefront of investigating all such people of all backgrounds. The fact that the importance of working with the bodies against all forms of racism, complaints in all forms of the game. It it still does not happen is a stain on the organisations and individuals running sexism, homophobia, antisemitism and is equally important that clubs should reputation of the leaders and decision- the game from the inside, in order to other forms of discrimination. There is a do the same and not hide behind The makers in football. If football is to get persuade them about their deficiencies convergence of commitment to policies FA when tackling wrong-doing is an the credit it craves for being a force for requiring attention and helping them and practices to achieve equality, inescapable responsibility of theirs. good in society, those people at the top, to change their policies and practices. diversity and inclusion. It is of particular who possess the power and resources, This review of the activities of Kick Substantial progress has been made over importance to acknowledge and praise must face up to their responsibilities It Out from July 2013 to July 2014 the past two decades but, because it has those players, fans and others who now in this regard. Is anyone listening, and is a tribute to the staff, volunteers been gradual and often too slow, Kick It feel sufficiently confident to complain who is going to take it on?” and Trustees of the organisation. It about and challenge discrimination and is a substantial body of work and an Lord Herman Ouseley Chair, Kick It Out Annual Report 2013/14 Marking 20 years of campaigning 1993-2013 Annual Report 2013/14 Marking 20 years of campaigning 1993-2013 04 MARKING 20 YEARS OF KICK IT OUT 05 We recognised our 20 year anniversary by launching a series of key initiatives and events to demonstrate the progress made throughout our history, and the challenges which continue to exist in the battle to eradicate all forms of discrimination within football. ‘Season Our dedicated periods of activity had how much work takes place throughout 20 year We rounded off our first ‘Season traditionally fallen in October since the the year to promote football as a of Action’ by welcoming over 750 of Action’ launch of the ‘weeks of action’ in 2001. welcoming and inclusive environment. anniversary guests from across football, politics and To mark our 20 year anniversary, we a wide range of industries to the Great Professional clubs responded particularly dinner decided to embark on our inaugural Hall at Wembley Stadium for a special well to the change in format, and certain ‘Season of Action’. 20 year anniversary dinner event. teams opted to dedicate more than one The new season-long drive provided game over the course of the season The event, organised by Action Against an extended opportunity for the game’s to profiling us and reflecting on our Dicrimination, acted as an opportunity Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister stakeholders to dedicate their commitment achievements to date. to profile some of the prominent of the United Kingdom, Jeffrey Webb, to equality and diversity, and showcase and respected individuals who have Vice-President of FIFA, and human challenged exclusion and hatred in rights advocate Martin Luther King the game, and looked to generate on- III, all highlighted the vital role our going support for our essential work. organisation has played in the vanguard The Kick It Out app was released in were involved in testing the reporting Kick It of combating discrimination in football. July 2013 to supply users across all function to ensure it is quick, easy Out app levels of the game with a revolutionary and discreet to use. alternative to reporting discriminatory The app has made an immediate behaviour they may see, hear or be on impact and was our second most- the receiving end of. New logo used reporting mechanism during The app was developed by Make Positive, the 2013/14 season. It is available a specialist cloud technology firm, and to all iPhone and Android users, and ➤ all Premier League and Football League can be downloaded for free via the clubs, and The Football Association, App Store and Google Play. We launched a new logo at the end new slogan ‘Kick It Out – Tackling The ‘Next 20’ initiative was introduced rehabilitation centres and community ‘Next 20’ of the 2013/14 season to replace Racism & Discrimination’. in October 2013 and sees 20 young projects, as part of the role which the iconic ‘Let’s Kick Racism Out football stars from across the Premier they will continue to hold throughout The new design has retained key of Football’ branding – globally League, Football League and Women’s their careers. elements of the original logo by recognised since our organisation’s Super League spreading our key keeping the colours synonymous The players involved have truly inception in 1993. messages to younger members with Kick It Out, its corner angle, embraced their ambassadorial roles of their local community. The decision to make the shift came as and the striking grass shape which with us and spent time gaining a better we looked for our logo to become more has been evolved into a full football The ‘Next 20’ have been able to return understanding as to what our work reflective of the breadth of our work pitch tilted on a 3D landscape. to their old schools and youth football entails from the professional game across football by introducing the teams, and visit local colleges, down to grassroots level. Annual Report 2013/14 Marking 20 years of campaigning 1993-2013 Annual Report 2013/14 Marking 20 years of campaigning 1993-2013 06 BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN REPORTING 07 Social media abuse Education and rehabilitation Our work on reporting has seen a dramatic transformation in the Our statistics show the high level last 12 months with the introduction of the app, the employment of We have begun to deliver educational of incidents of football-related hate a new full-time member of staff dedicated to dealing with complaints, sessions, in agreement with the Police, crime on social media – a total of and the delivery of educational training to perpetrators. to offenders of social media abuse when 142 – reported to us. We pass on all the Crown Prosecution Service would these complaints to the Police, via its not press charges.