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Nottingham Forest Community Trust proudly celebrated Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, in partnership with the Premier League, during the club’s home fixture against Ipswich Town.

Premier League matches played between 29 November and 5 December provide the League, clubs, and their club community organisations with the opportunity to celebrate their commitment to inclusion and support for LGBTQ+ people in football.

The Premier League collaborates year-round with its clubs to champion LGBTQ+ inclusion. This effort is supported by ongoing work to improve policies, reporting measures, and pastoral care, alongside extensive staff training and education programmes.

Many of these programmes are delivered locally through Nottingham Forest Community Trust, which works to ensure football remains a sport where everyone feels welcome.

To mark this season’s campaign, Nottingham Forest Community Trust invited Proud Forest, the club’s official LGBTQ+ fan group, to its Community Corner within the matchday fan zone.

This welcoming space provided the group an opportunity to meet fellow supporters, raise awareness of the Rainbow Laces campaign, and highlight their role in promoting inclusivity within the club and the wider community.

Community Corner is a vital platform for the Trust, enabling meaningful engagement with fans in a friendly atmosphere. It serves as a hub for sharing key initiatives and building connections throughout the season, strengthening the relationship between the club and its supporters.

Martin Hyland, Founder of Proud Forest, reflected on the event: “This Rainbow Laces match marked one year of Proud Forest.

“We’ve grown exponentially over the last 12 months with the help and support of everyone at the club and community trust.

“The Rainbow Laces campaign entered its 11th year this year, and it is still as important as ever because recent research has shown that 1 in 4 LGBTQ+ people do not feel safe at sporting events.

“There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure everyone feels safe and welcome in sport.

“It was amazing to be given the space in the community corner of the fan zone prematch to highlight and raise awareness of the campaign.

“Over 80 pairs of laces were handed out to fans and conversations were had around LGBTQ+ inclusion in football, resulting in a positive and productive pre-match event.”

The Trust’s activations at the fan zone are supported by the Premier League Fans Fund, which provides grants to strengthen connections between clubs, fans, and local communities. These efforts tie directly into the club’s wider Forest For Everyone campaign, ensuring inclusivity remains at the forefront of Nottingham Forest’s ethos.

Through these initiatives, Nottingham Forest Community Trust continues to champion the belief that football is for everyone and to work tirelessly towards a future where every supporter feels safe, welcome, and valued.