Presentation by Michael Boyd (Head of Community Relations, Irish Football Association, Northern Ireland) on the occasion of the EESC and Fondation de Corse - Umani conference on Non-violence, a new way forward for the 21st century? in Bastia, Corsica on 14 June 2013

1. Creating a fun, safe
and inclusive culture
Michael Boyd
Corsica June 2013
football for all

2. ‘Troubles’
•Late 1960s –1998 (‘Good Friday Agreement’)
•Constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the relationship
between the Protestant unionist and Catholic nationalist
communities in Northern Ireland
•Political and military (or paramilitary) dimensions.
‘Setting the Scene’ – NI Context
• In 2013, there are 99 interface areas divided
by peace walls
Peace Walls

3. Divided CommunitiesDivided Communities

4. Northern Ireland is deeply divided post conflict society.
In the last 12 months:
-531 racist incidents recorded
-995 sectarian incidents recorded
-137 homophobic incidents recorded
-78,686 antisocial behavior incidents recorded
The Northern Ireland Executive is the administrative branch
of the Northern Ireland Assembly. It is answerable to the
Assembly and was established according to the terms of
the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good
Friday Agreement.
The Northern Ireland Executive consists of a First and
Deputy First Minister and 11 other Ministers. Just announced
500 million pounds being invested into tackling community
relations over next 5 years!

5. To develop, foster and
promote ‘football for all’
in Northern Ireland
IFA Vision Statement

7. • Qualify for a major tournament
• Deliver the new national stadium and improve other facilities
• Create a healthy domestic game at all other levels, i.e.
intermediate, junior, women’s, boys, schools
• Build a culture of lifelong participation in football
• Reach beyond the game – use the power of football
for health, education, peace and social
development
IFA Long Term Objectives

8. FFA Message
“FFA are building their programme of work through involving key
partners across all levels of the game”
“FFA is transforming NI football, making the sport of football more
vibrant, dynamic and inclusive at all levels”
“FFA is research led and focused on measuring the social and
economic impact”
“FFA is focused on building the capacity of our staff, clubs, fans
and volunteers”

9. FFA Partners

10. International Areas of Work
•FFA International Fans
Strategy
•FFA Events Programme
o FARE Week
o Euro Fans Team
o Annual Women’s
Conference
o Workshops
o CR Training
• Research and Evaluation
• Supporter Charters
www.fanseurope.org
• Annual International Fans
Seminar

14. • Club Development
o IFA Club Mark
o Licensing
o Community Engagement
• Peace III
o Intergenerational
o Dealing with the Past
o Youth Forum
Domestic Areas of Work
• Volunteer Policy and
Development
• FFA Accreditation Courses
• IFA Staff Training
• Research and Evaluation

16. Grassroots Areas of Work
• Street League (homeless)
• Women’s World United (intercultural)
• Limestone United (anti-violence)
• World United (intercultural)
• Game of 3 Halves (value based coaching)
• Belfast United Forum (interface peace plan)

17. Belfast United Forum
• 14 groups
• Belfast wide
• Intervention Summer Programme
• Community Engagement, Sport and Social
Inclusion
• 60 participants
• Over 20 nationalities
• Deliver SRTRC Training
• Weekly training sessions
World United

18. Limestone United
• 50 participants
• Males aged 11 – 25 years
• Interface area of North Belfast
Street League
• 92% players have a new motivation for life
• East Belfast Mission, FFA, BCSDN and
UEFA
• Homeless people, ex-offenders, drug
and alcohol dependent individuals,
long-term unemployed, refugees and
asylum seekers.
• PSNI, FFA and North Belfast Youth Centres

19. Game of Three Halves
• Peace Players, Ulster Rugby,
Ulster GAA and IFA
• Power of sport to promote
respect and diversity
Aims:
-Use sport to promote respect for diversity and positive community
relations
-Encourage young people to play sport in a fun, safe and inclusive
environment
-Create new friendships and encourage young people to get
active

20. Women’s World United
• 30 participants
• Over 20 nationalities
• Weekly training sessions
• Community Integration
Club Community Engagement
• Community Relations Strategies
• Community Development and
Sustainability
• Capacity Building

21. • Football for All Evaluation (Wilson & ICR, 2010)
• Football for All Evaluation (Wilson & ICR, 2011)
• Transforming Northern Ireland (Bell, 2011)
• Barriers to Inclusion (Hargie, Somerville & Ramsey, 2011)
• Baseline Report on IFA Community Relations Club Community
Development (CENI, McDonnell, 2012)
• Economic Evaluation of Football for All (Helen Matthews Consulting,
2012)
Research and Evaluation

22. Economic Evaluation Findings
International Level
•80% of all football fans agreed IFA works for all sides of the
community
•86% of all football fans agreed IFA have actively tried to eradicate
sectarianism from football over the past 4 years
Domestic Level
•Activities which seek to maximise the appeal of domestic clubs,
address unacceptable behaviour and promote a positive image of
local football
•Club Community Audits
Grassroots Level
•Actively addressing sectarianism and racism, raising awareness of
opportunities in football and increasing participation at the
grassroots level

23. EU Regional Policy Commissioner Hahn said:
"Over the last ten years, the Football For All Project has
transformed the atmosphere at Northern Ireland
international football games creating a fun, safe and
family friendly environment.
Bringing together key partners from both the private and
public sectors, the project has played a central role to
get real progress in community relations in football. I am
proud that EU funding has been essential for its success.
Not only has Football For All made a meaningful
difference locally, but we also see it as a model which
other countries around Europe can learn from and aspire
to."

24. • EU Peace Programme Awards (1999 – 2014)
• Brussels International Supporters Award (2006)
• Mama Intercultural Award (2007)
• Excel Leadership Award (2009)
• PSNI ‘Unite Against Hate’(2010)
FFA Recognition
Jim Rainey, from the Amalgamation of Official
Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs, receives a
Football For All award from Northern Ireland
football legend Billy Hamilton, for services to NI
football.

26. Contact Information:
Michael Boyd
Head of Community Relations
mboyd@irishfa.com
07894614328
02890 669458
#footballforallNI