Skip to main content

Creating inclusivity through leadership action

Orange flower

About

Play Proud is a leadership, network and coach-centred training programme developed by Common Goal. It aims to promote inclusion and safe spaces for  LGBTQ+ youth and adults, enabling them to be themselves on and off the pitch.

  • Create LGBTQ+ curricula and policies that can be used by organisation leaders and coaches to make programmes, organisations, and ultimately, communities more inclusive.
  • Build capacity of grassroots organisations to be able to incorporate the methodology into their programmes through training the first generation of Play Proud coaches.
  • Roll out a Play Proud Playbook to guide organisations’ facilitation of open and safe football programmes, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. 
  • Develop a strong network of Play Proud coaches who can exchange ideas and promote collaboration.

The programme focuses on empowering organisation leaders and sports coaches through activities covering leadership skills and tools, coaching inclusion methodologies, influencing change, and knowledge acquisition on discrimination towards LGBTQ+ communities. It equips participants with a Play Proud toolkit, empowering them to create inclusivity through leadership action.

Participants also design and implement local action learning projects designed to increase inclusivity and be a catalyst for concrete change.

  • 22 organisations engaged in 8 countries. 
  • 406,950 youth indirectly impacted by Play Proud programming. 
  • 100% completion rate.
  • 100% of participants feel they are more knowledgeable about gender identity and sexual orientation.
  • 100% of participants feel they are more knowledgeable about the challenges that the LGBTQ+ community face in sport.
Testimonials
See what our customers say about us
Kevin Wright
Shell Sales Excellence EMEA
Shell
"The business value created by Impact was immediate. This experience was a highly effective catalyst to generating superior performance both as individuals and as a team. It gave us the foundation to build connection and mutual endeavour, which we have now encapsulated in our ways of working. We recognise that this is the start of our journey to becoming a high performing team with visible success and recognition driving real commitment at all levels. A highly motivating and rewarding experience."
Sisca Margaretta
Chief Marketing Officer
Experian
"I see a marked difference in my mentee: a boost in confidence and a transformation at the end of the programme. I’m proud to be an executive sponsor, as gender parity and developing women’s careers is something that I feel passionately about. WILD deserves all the recognition that it can get for its transformative quality and how it’s impacted many women’s lives – imparting lessons that they can take with them for the rest of their lives."
Marika Templeman
National Manager, Workforce Development
Emerge Aotearoa Trust
'Highly recommend Impact International if you’re looking for a bespoke Leadership Program to lift capability, improve self-awareness, build trust and connection with your Senior Leaders. Together we developed a great partnership, they really listened to our needs, and adapted quickly to our ever changing needs (during COVID). They oozed professionalism throughout the development and design but we also enjoyed great laughs along the way.'