Inclusion Advisory Group

Inclusion Advisory Group

In partnership with STFC Community Foundation

Wiltshire FA and Swindon Town FC Community Foundation recognise that we are at the forefront of promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We are committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging equal opportunities.

We believe football is for all, therefore we must ensure there are no barriers to participation and involvement. We are responsible for setting the standards and values which should be applied throughout football.

Football is for everyone and should be enjoyed by all.

Vacancy: IAG Chairperson

This is a voluntary role to: 

1. Preside over meetings so that business can be carried out efficiently and effectively.
2. Provide leadership to the IAG.
3. Develop the agenda for each meeting.
4. Ensure that the work of the IAG and any issues are regularly reported to the relevant parties.
5. Ensure all voices have an opportunity to be heard within the IAG.
6. Report directly into the Wiltshire FA Board as a strategic advisor on Inclusion and Equality and to support Board level decision making.

Download the application pack to find out more

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WILTSHIRE INCLUSION ADVISORY GROUP

The Wiltshire & Swindon Inclusion Advisory Group (IAG)

Our Inclusion Advisory Group (IAG) supports our vision to unite the community to provide football For All.

The IAG recruits members from under-represented communities/diverse backgrounds and provides guidance and direction to engage with under-represented communities or diverse groups in football. The group promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in football and raises awareness of football opportunities to under-represented communities or diverse backgrounds. We educate with the aim to prevent and reduce harassment and discrimination in football and are committed to make football inclusive.

To express your interest in joining the group please complete the application form.

IAG Application Form

 

 

Meet the IAG

OLIVER SELFE

Oliver Selfe - CEO - Wiltshire FA

Oliver joined Wiltshire FA in December 2018, having previously worked for the Football Association, as National Development Manager for Schools, Colleges and Universities. Oliver is a Level 3 coach and still laces his boots on a weekly basis for a local Vets team. Oliver has played football since the age of five and represented the game at every level of the football pathway, including grassroots, semi professional and professional. Throughout his career Oliver has held management roles with JJB Sports, Power-league, Surrey County FA and British Universities and Colleges Sport. When he is not working/playing football he can often be found mountain biking in the Surrey Hills.

Jon Holloway

Jon Holloway – Head of Foundation – Swindon Town FC Community Foundation

Jon took up the role as Head of Foundation in 1996 having spent the previous four years playing in the youth team and as a young professional at Swindon Town. Alongside working for the Foundation Jon continued to play football at a semi professional level and really enjoyed the mix of playing at a good level whilst developing his professional career with the Community Foundation. Jon achieved his UEFA A License at the age of 22 and he still very much enjoys getting out on the pitch and coaching within the community sessions. Jon has a HND in Business Management and he has recently overseen the development of the new £2.5 million pound Community Foundation headquarters – Foundation Park. Away from football Jon enjoys spending time with his family and travelling abroad.

Clive Archer

Clive Archer - Chairman - Wiltshire FA 

Clive is a retired BT Group IT Consultant having completed over 40 years’ service. He was elected to the Wiltshire County FA in 2000, became a Director in 2014 and served as Chairman for the last five years. He has played semi-professional football, represented the Royal Navy and played at every level of Football in Wiltshire mainly for Pinehurst FC on Saturdays, many teams on Sundays and finishing up manager/secretary to BT Nalgo FC who were sponsored by BT to become reasonably successful in the SSFL. At present he is the General Secretary and Fixture Secretary of the Swindon Sunday Football League along with his love of running and walking which takes up most of his spare time left.

BAZIL SOLOMON

Bazil Solomon - Inclusion Advisory Group Chairman

Bazil has played football since his school days. He is the Chairman of the Wiltshire FA Inclusion Advisory Group (IAG) and a Co-opted Director on the Wiltshire FA Board. Bazil has been actively driving the work of the IAG, increasing playing and participation opportunities for under-represented groups across the County. In his day job, Bazil serves in local government. Here he has successfully got a motion voted in by all for Equality and Inclusion policy in Swindon. It is for all characteristics of the 2010 Act, from BAME, LGBT, gender to disability characteristics. He champions the cause of BAME and all communities in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. The former mayor has awarded him the mayor of Swindon medal 2020. He also runs an IT analysis & training company, which helps develop students in colleges and universities to understand the technology and become job-ready.

"I believe that diversity and inclusion play a key role in developing local communities, socially and economically. Football brings people of different backgrounds and nationalities together. It can unite us, as one team where we can support each other!"

Pradeep Inclusion Advisory Group Wiltshire FA

Pradeep Bhardwaj

Pradeep Bhardwaj is Senior Strategy Director and Head of Industry Standards in the mobile industry. Pradeep is a recognized industry expert in leading technologies like 5G, Internet of Things, with 3 decades of experience including some historical moments – India’s 1st Public Email service, India’s 1st Public Internet service, India’s 1st Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) service, setting up mobile and international telecom services in Seychelles, a stint in Australia designing a satellite network. Pradeep has also served as the Chairman of the GSMA Hubbing Provider Group. Pradeep also holds several positions – being Governor of New College Swindon, Parish Councillor and a Trustee of several local charities in England. Pradeep has been awarded as “Pride of Swindon 2018”, “Ambassador of Peace 2019” and “100 Great Westerners”. He also established the first Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre in Swindon, Wiltshire and the region.

Junab Ali

Junab Ali

Junab Ali is a Swindon Borough and Parish Councillor and former Mayor of Swindon. His mayoral year provided him with a unique insight into the voluntary and charitable sector locally and fuelled his determination to become a champion for local groups. He was drawn to take up a role on the board of Wiltshire Community Foundation because of the reach they have across Swindon and Wiltshire.

Junab runs his own electrical contracting business in Swindon and is married to Rajhia and has three children. He is a non-executive director of Business West and has stood as an MP in Devizes and as an MEP in the South West. He is also a school governor, a member of Rotary, vice-chairman of the Wiltshire Police Crime Panel.

Nigel Sully

Nigel Sully 

Nigel spent most of his career in the field of Human Resources (HR), firstly in the Natural Environment Research Council and then as HR Director in the House of Lords.  Having done lots of interesting things and having met lots of amazing people during his career, the 2020 pandemic made him question what he was doing and why he was doing it and so he semi-retired at the end of that year.

As he has been interested in inclusion and wellbeing both professionally and personally, he was very keen to seek opportunities to contribute his skills and knowledge which maintained these interests locally.  Joining Wiltshire FA’s Inclusion Advisory Group has enabled Nigel to continue his lifelong connection to football, starting from his first game as a fan of Cardiff City, as a parks player, as a County referee for 20 plus years, as a secretary to a local youth football club and all the way through to being a parent of a child who spent (and still spends) a lot of happy time playing football.

Also on the Board of Trustees at the charity, Carer Support Wiltshire, an organisation which aims to create a society which understands and supports unpaid carers.

Married to Jo with two grown-up children, one of the many benefits of semi-retirement is that they have been able to walk around many parts of the beautiful Wiltshire countryside and to have more (mainly UK!) holidays than they were able to when Nigel was working.     

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WILTSHIRE INCLUSION ADVISORY GROUP

Inclusion Action Plan 20/23

Football is for everyone and we’re determined to break down barriers which get in the way of progress.

Our ‘Inclusion Action Plan’ will be driven by the Inclusion Advisory Group and supported by the Boards of the Wiltshire FA and STFC Community Foundation. It will be endorsed from the top and cascaded across all levels of the organisations.

Read the full action plan

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