The Robins Foundation ‘We are City’ project has been nominated for the EFL Diversity Award for 2026. This award celebrates and recognises excellence and innovation in equality, diversity and inclusion.

The ‘We are City’ project is built on strong relationships with local communities and the sentiment that football is much more than a professional game.

Through tailored engagement, community consultation and partnerships with local organisations, the project works to provision the involvement of underserved and underrepresented groups in football.

To provide equitable access to opportunities in line with Bristol’s landscape and needs. Groups engaged with include women and girls, diverse cultural groups, LGBTQ+ community, faith groups, those with special educational needs or disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and older adults, among others.

We are City Project Lead, Roza Bailey, said,

“We are City’ is exactly what it says on the tin: together, anyone in Bristol can get involved in football, the club and their benefits. We are all Bristol City, no matter our background or circumstances. The project celebrates the strength in diversity and works to enable inclusivity across opportunities, often bringing people together who may not otherwise interact.

Being able to engage with a wide range of people and get them involved in the club has been very rewarding. Club staff are passionate about this community involvement and they have helped enable some amazing opportunities. For instance, this season’s Foundation matchdays which engaged hundreds of individuals from local communities in their home team, with some playing on pitch, announcing and meeting their heroes.

I’d like to give a big thank you to all the individuals and communities the project has worked with over the last 2 seasons for your continued passion and enthusiasm to also get more people involved in football. You make my job a lot easier and it’s been great to work with you!”

Since starting, this project has engaged with over 100 community organisations and individuals beyond these. It has invited over 2000 individuals to the stadium. It has held three Iftars during Ramadan, in collaboration with the club, 4 Robins Foundation takeover matchdays, yearly Bristol Pride involvement, 5 visits to the training ground for local young people, kit donations to communities in need and many other bespoke opportunities.

The project was initially built on 4 amazing associate teams, providing opportunities for those to represent their club, who may not otherwise have been able to. Bristol City Cerebral Palsy, Panthers, Deaf and Down Syndrome are welcoming and inclusive clubs. Launching the 2024/5 home kit under the banner ‘We are City’, these clubs continue to provide amazing opportunities to be a part of a community, meet new people and most importantly play football.

The EFL awards will take place on the 19th of April, with winners of this award crowned from a nomination list of three projects.