The Scottish FA has completed ‘Actively inclusive’ training for its staff as part of the association’s commitment towards the Equality standard and Scottish FA Equity policies

Training was carried out and aimed at all Scottish FA managers plus all staff involved in developing participation across the different equality strands including age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. The training focused on:

- To increase knowledge and understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity

- To explore the nature of homo/bi/trans-phobic discrimination and understand the impact of prejudice and discrimination on LGBT people in sport

- To support participants to identify improvements within their own governing body, club or organisation to better include LGBT people

Amongst the less spoken of groups, and generally recognised as being subjected to abuse and isolation in sport, and in football specifically, are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (usually referred to as LGBT) groups.

LGBT people continue to face homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and other barriers to participating in sport, and, despite the legal protection achieved, there remains a lack of understanding and awareness regarding the barriers LGBT people face.

In order to address this issue and in accordance with our Equity Action Plan 2011-15 , the Scottish FA, in partnership with LEAP Sport, developed a workshop in this specialist area.

The ‘Actively Inclusive’ training workshop was highly participative through discussion and group work and was delivered by LEAP Sport.