Runners-up place for Trust at Football v Homophobia Awards 2026

The Trust claimed the runners-up award in the Community Trust of the Year category at the recent Football v Homophobia Awards.

Keith Jackson, deputy of community, represented the Trust at the ceremony, alongside Darren Yates of Rainbow Spireites. Speaking about the event, Keith said: “It was a privilege to be nominated and to be invited to hear some of the stories, not just football club charities, but grassroots football as well.

“There were two lifetime achievement awards that went out; there were incredible stories, but you hear about people who are changing the game and doing positive action to get more support, more inclusion, more access for people in the community, and I think that can only be a good thing.”

Keith also spoke about the Trust’s work with Rainbow Spireites, explaining: “It’s been a long-term project that we’ve been involved in, working alongside Rainbow Spireites from when they were first created.

“They subsequently have gone on to do a lot more work in making both the Trust and the club somewhere where people from the LGBTQ+ community can feel safe, feel engaged, feel listened to, and feel like they’re part of the football club.

“When Ellie and Darren came to us in the first instance about setting the fans group up, it was just about making sure that people could come to the game and feel safe.

“It is brilliant how they’ve grown that project, and now you can get the merchandise, they’re having meet-ups, and they’ve got the regional alliance with all the other local clubs.”

Finally, Keith reflected on last season’s EFL Rainbow Ball fixture at the SMH Group Stadium. He said: “We had a Q&A before the game, which Jamie Hewitt and Steph O’Brien attended as panel guests and had a room at the stadium.

“Jamie talked about the importance of the group and how he will do anything he can to support them in their mission, and Steph spoke as a member of the community, having played in an FA Cup final and now, through her work at the Trust, is empowering lots of young players who are on the Trust’s Football and Education Programme.”