Project shortlisted for national award

Suffolk FA and BSC Multicultural Services (BSCMS) have been
shortlisted for a national award by the English FA.

The two organisations have been working together for many years
now. This has culminated in their joint Playmaker Course (face to
face), which is one of four finalists in the Coach Development
category for 2023.

The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony at Wembley
Stadium on Thursday, November 23 rd . Staff and Trustees from both
organisations will be attending the ceremony.

A record 242 submissions were received across 12 categories from
the 50 County FAs operating across England, highlighting continuous
improvements and showcasing how they are innovating to improve
grassroots football and increase participation across all levels of the
game.

The FA Playmaker Course is a free entry-level football course aimed
at anyone taking a more active role in grassroots football but is only
available online.

Suffolk FA & BSC Multicultural Services worked together to plan and
deliver a Just Play sessions on Sundays in Ipswich. Based on positive
feedback from participants, the first ever face to face Playmaker
Course was then planned and delivered, which was a national pilot
programme.

Nimesh Patel, FA Regional Coach Development Officer (D&I),
delivered the course at Goals in Ipswich. Suffolk FA Football
Development Officer, Kirsty Smith, worked closely with Mohammed
Alam of BSCMS, with input from Ruth Ward of Suffolk FA.

Kirsty said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for a National
CFA award. Over the last few years, the relationship between SFA &
BSCMS has grown significantly and it’s great to see all the hard work
put in by everyone has been recognised.”

Mohammed Alam said: “This was an important project for us and we
are looking at continuing this work, whilst also discussing new ideas

with Suffolk FA about how else we can use football to have a positive
impact on people’s lives and upskill people from under-represented
backgrounds and communities.”

Suffolk FA Chief Executive, Richard Neal, said: “By being able to
deliver this course face-to-face, in partnership with the brilliant BSC
Multicultural Services, we have been able to reach people who
would otherwise not have been able to take the course, and in turn
pass on their learnings to others. I’m proud of the work already
undertaken with this project, and hope it will open up more
opportunities for others in the future.”

FA’s Head of Operations for Grassroots Football, Tim Foster, added:
“I’d like to congratulate Suffolk FA and BSCMS in making the final
shortlist for the Coach Development and all of the other shortlisted
County FAs in what has been a record-breaking number of
submissions this year. “

Boshor Ali, Chair of BSCMS, added: “We are delighted to have been
shortlisted for this prestigious award and we look forward to visiting
Wembley Stadium in November for the award ceremony. I want to
thank everyone involved with BSCMS and Suffolk FA on their
achievement.”

Group photo

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