This week saw MK Dons become the latest Club to receive the prestigious Kick it Out Preliminary Equality Standard.
The Standard sets out a series of measures that supports the development of racial equality practices and policies within a club environment and will eventually incorporate all aspects of equality in future years.
Kick it Out are a long-established national organisation aimed at developing partnerships that bring together footballing organisations and communities to work together on problems relating to exclusion or discrimination.
The award is the culmination of 18 months work by the 'MK Dons Together' team, which consists of the MK Dons Sport and Education Trust, Academy and Football Club in conjunction with the MKD Supporters Association.
The Preliminary Award is essentially a framework setting out a series of measures that supports the development of racial equality practices and policies within a club environment.
In addition, the granting of the award shows a commitment by the Club, though the MK Dons Together team, to genuinely develop its inclusion strategy and develop greater links with all the local communities in and around the Milton Keynes area.
Having now achieved the Preliminary Award, the Club can now begin to set its sights on the two remaining award levels, Intermediate and Advanced, which set out guidelines and development procedures for further integration and inclusion.
In order to achieve the Preliminary Award, MK Dons had to satisfy the criteria in three areas of activity that cover all areas of a clubs activity - Stadium and Outreach, Policy and Planning, and Administration and Management.
Through audits of staff, participants and even supporters at a home match the 'MK Dons Together' team were able to identify which groups are represented at MK Dons and create a Racial Equality Action Plan that will enable MK Dons to reach a wider audience in the activities they deliver and provide staff with the tools for an equal future.
To celebrate the granting of the award, Kick it Out Director Piara Power will be attending the Dons' home match with Leicester City on Saturday 28 February, when Chairman Pete Winkelman will receive the certificate marking the Dons having been named the 31st club to achieve the award.
Speaking about the granting of the award, Pete was obviously pleased that the Club had been acknowledged.
He said: "I'm delighted that we have been able to achieve this, it shows Milton Keynes is a place for everyone together and whether it be at a first team match at stadiummk, or on one of our community programmes through the Sport and Education Trust football, education and sport in general should be accessible to all."
The next phase in the Together Team's plan is achieving the Intermediate Standard which builds on the work started in obtaining the Preliminary Standard. It hopes to achieve this within half of the three year accreditation period outlined by Kick it Out making it one of only ten clubs in the country to achieve this level.
For further information on MK Dons community projects including work with BME, disability and other socially excluded groups please contact the Sport and Education Trust on 01908 622888 or sportandeducationtrust@mkdons.com.
For further information on Kick it Out speak to Danny Lynch at Kick It Out on 020 7684 4884, 0777 903 6696 or danny@kickitout.org or visit www.kickitout.org.
