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Nottingham Forest Community Trust has reinforced its ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) by appointing a new specialist EDI committee. As the charitable arm of Nottingham Forest Football Club, the Trust plays a strategic role in supporting people and organisations through community engagement, as well as establishing strong partnerships with the private, public, and third sectors.

The new EDI committee will work to support the Trust as it continues to progress its aim of becoming a fully inclusive organisation through its work with a range of different organisations and communities across the county. Made up of five external members, the committee will advise on the Trust’s EDI based programmes, as well as specific priorities and policies.

Taking the role of Chair is Metra Rowe, who has worked in the people and organisational development sector for almost 20 years. In 2011, she established Starling Business Solutions, where she has been instrumental in reshaping organisational cultures, dismantling biases, and championing underrepresented voices for both national and international clients.

Supporting Metra on the committee is equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) practitioner and former professional footballer, Jason Lee, who spent more than 20 years on the pitch and another ten working to address discrimination across the industry.
Also joining the committee is Martin Stone, director at award-winning digital PR agency Tank. Martin has supported hundreds of businesses and organisations, both in Nottingham and across the country, to develop effective and impactful communications strategies.  He is also an active member of Nottingham’s LGBTQ+ community, sitting on the Board of Trustees at the Notts LGBT+ Network.

Solicitor and Lecturer at Nottingham Law School, Natalie Robinson brings a wealth of experience of advocating on behalf of young people to the Committee. Through volunteering at local, national and international levels, Natalie has successfully lobbied the UK Parliament/ European Parliament to effect policy change to benefit young people. She is also an alumni member of the Nottingham Youth Council.

Completing the committee is James Jackson, an award-winning equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing professional. James has led transformational organisational culture programs and developed effective EDI & wellbeing strategies and solutions both nationally and internationally. He is currently leading an EDI & wellbeing strategy towards a culture of belonging within the NHS.

The new EDI Committee will be working directly with Nottingham Forest Community Trust’s EDI Manager Claire Henson. Commenting on the creation of the new Committee, Claire said: “We have been working hard to form a committee with members with a vast range of experiences and expertise and I am delighted that all five have agreed to be part of what we are working to achieve at the Trust. The committee will also be supporting the wider work of the football club’s EDI programme, Forest For Everyone and we look forward to working to further develop our work in this important area.”