Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to tackle racism in grassroots football.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
We are committed to combating racism in any sport. Government's sport and physical activity strategy ‘Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation’ has diversity and inclusion at its heart. I continue to meet regularly with decision-makers to check on the progress football is making collectively to tackle discrimination in all its forms. The Department supports the Football Association’s work led by their Inclusion Advisory Board and is committed to investing £2 million, through Sport England, towards Football Association coaching bursary schemes. Grassroots football also receives support from our national sport council, Sport England, who provide free guidance for running a club through its "Club Matters" programme, to help clubs become inclusive. There are 11063 Club Matters registered football clubs.
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to support grassroots football organisations in tackling racism.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Our aim is to get more children and young people playing football and volunteering in the game and the 2018 World Cup in Russia promises to be a great spectacle for inspiring young people to take up and remain in the sport. Through the year-on-year investment, we will be funding grassroots programmes in schools and clubs and in the provision of new facilities and all-weather pitches that encourage greater levels of participation up to, during and after the World Cup.
The Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people, particularly those who are currently least active or from under-represented groups, have the best opportunities to engage in sport and physical activity.