14,000
estimated individuals within the LGBTQ+ in Hertfordshire
6%
of the total population in Hertfordshire have a moderate to serious physical disability
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are more than principles – they are part of our identity as a Trust and a community. It is vital for the Trust to embed preventive and educational tools to promote Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in everything we do.
Our strong community ethos dates back to the 1980s, championed by Graham Taylor and Sir Elton John, who built a legacy of ensuring that local people remain at the heart of our work.
Watford FC CSE Trust offers a variety of programmes and manages two community facilities, dedicated to supporting individuals of all backgrounds. With a strong commitment to inclusivity, we strive to inspire, empower, and engage local people, helping them create a positive impact in our community.
As a charity, we continuously adapt to meet the changing needs of our communities, working closely with the Club. By gathering participant data annually across all our programmes, we identify trends and make informed, evidence-based decisions to enhance our impact.
We work in an increasingly diverse community where our areas reflect a broad range of people from different backgrounds.
We are not only committed to, but also have a responsibility under the Equality Act 2010 to:
- Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
- Advance equality of opportunity between people from different groups.
- Foster good relations between people from different groups.
- Understanding Hate Crime Trends
Over the last 10 years, there has been a continued increase in hate crime related to individuals’ protected characteristics.
Between 2020 and 2021, the communities we operate within recorded the highest levels of hate crimes for:
Race: 73%
Sexual Orientation: 12%
Religion: 7%
Disability: 6%
Transgender Identity: 2%
WE aim to:
- Improve the quality of life for our communities.
- Create opportunities for all.
- Eliminate discrimination at every level.
Read our EDI Policy here Read our Hate Crime Policy
We will continue to consult with external community groups who play a pivotal role in advising, guiding, and supporting us. This collaboration enables us to gain a better understanding of valuing relationships with diverse groups while recognising the intersectionality that shapes everyone.
Our Trust is committed to standing against all forms of discrimination, promoting equality and fairness for everyone. In collaboration with the Club, we encourage the reporting of any incidents.
If you have concerns about discrimination, please contact the EDI Officer or use the reporting system on this page.
We Campaign
Watford FC is proud to have launched the We campaign in 2019, working with the hate crime unit at Herts Police to encourage inclusivity and tackle discrimination and abuse directly.
Actions speak louder than words and the issue of discrimination and abuse in football is something that should and will remain in sharp focus. The We campaign has provided a clearer route for supporters to report incidents, which has led to over 100 reports being received since the campaign launched.
The Trust remains dedicated to working alongside the Club and Herts Police to tackle all abuse and discrimination, ensuring that all incidents are reported to the constabulary where possible.
