Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Golden Youth Football Academy (GYFA) and Golden Youth Football Club (GYFC) are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion across all aspects of our programmes in The Gambia and the UK. As a youth-focused NGO, we believe that every young person—regardless of background—deserves access to safe, supportive, and empowering opportunities for growth, development, and participation in sport.

We welcome and value the contributions of individuals from all genders, ethnicities, nationalities, abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, and belief systems. Our football academy and community programmes are open to all, and we are dedicated to ensuring that no one is excluded or disadvantaged on the basis of race, age, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.

As an organisation working across cultures and continents, we actively celebrate diversity and strive to create an environment where staff, volunteers, players, and participants feel respected, heard, and able to contribute fully. We recognise the power of sport to bring people together and are committed to maintaining inclusive spaces free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying.

In line with NGO and safeguarding best practices, we promote equal access to opportunities, training, and support at every level of our work—from football development and education programmes to UK-based fundraising and cultural exchange initiatives. We encourage applications from individuals who may be underrepresented in sport or international development, including women, people with disabilities, and those from minority communities.

Our goal is to model the values we teach: fairness, respect, teamwork, dignity, and empowerment. By embedding equality and diversity into everything we do, we work to ensure that both young people and staff can thrive—and that our mission of creating opportunity through football is truly accessible to all.