Academy welcome Kick It Out for staff workshop
Football's equality and inclusion organisation Kick It Out dropped by the Academy last week to present to the club's staff as part of the Equality Inspires programme.
Equality Inspires was launched by Kick It Out and the Premier League with the aim of delivering equality and inclusion training for clubs’ young players, staff and parents.
The workshops raise awareness on current issues including discrimination, underrepresentation and stereotypes within the game.
Kick It Out’s education manager Troy Townsend joined mentor and ex-professional footballer Marcus Gayle as they talked about their experiences of equality and discrimination in the game to help educate the Academy staff based in Kirkby.
Kick It Out has worked closely with the club for a number of years and focuses on promoting the message of equality, inclusion and anti-discrimination through the Academy programme.
Since 1993, Kick It Out has worked throughout the football, educational and community sectors to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices and campaign for positive change.
The educational sessions form just part of the work Kick It Out do with professional clubs. This season, they are running the Call Full Time On Hate initiative, which seeks to highlight the positive messages of inclusion echoed by the football authorities, clubs, players, managers and supporters’ groups.
As part of the initiative, the club recently dedicated its Premier League game with Swansea City at Anfield to Kick It Out's work.
LFC Academy director Alex Inglethorpe said: "The club works closely with Kick It Out to reiterate the importance of equality, not only in football but in life as a whole. It was really interesting and thought provoking for all of the Academy staff to listen to the stories of Troy and Marcus about discrimination they have suffered in the past.
“Listening to Troy and Marcus really challenged our thinking so I would like to thank them both for taking the time to deliver the workshop to our staff and we look forward to welcoming them back in the near future.”
Townsend added: “The sessions we deliver for club staff are equally as important as the sessions that we to deliver to players throughout the Premier League and Football League. Staff are critical not only in developing the talent of these young players but also in ensuring and supporting them to become well-rounded individuals.
“It is fantastic that Liverpool have been so supportive of Equality Inspires and we look forward to continuing our regular visits to the club.”