Leicestershire & Rutland County FA Wins at 2024 County FA Recognition Awards
Leicestershire & Rutland County FA (LRCFA) has won the Employee Wellbeing & Engagement award at the 2024 County FA Recognition Awards for its ‘Thriving Employee Workforce’ initiative.
The Awards, which were hosted at Wembley Stadium connected by EE, recognise and endorse the best projects, products and services delivered by County FAs over the past season while sharing best practice and learnings from around the country.
Over 220 submissions were entered from across the County FA network operating across England, highlighting continuous improvements and showcasing how they are innovating to improve grassroots football and increase participation across all levels of the game.
The twelve categories recognised at the awards were:
- Brand Engagement
- Coach Development
- Employee Wellbeing & Engagement
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Facility Development
- Football Development
- Partnership
- Positive Football Environment
- Referee Development
- Special recognition
- Women & Girls
- Youth Engagement
LRCFA’s Winning ‘Thriving Employee Workforce’ Initiative
The Association’s award-winning People Plan has transformed how LRCFA recruits, develops, retains, and rewards its workforce, achieving outstanding results. In the FA's 2024 State of Play survey, Leicestershire & Rutland County FA scored an impressive 100% in staff satisfaction—20% above the average across all County FAs, which stands at 80%.
Key initiatives of the People Plan include:
- Workforce Commitment Statement – Underlines the organisation’s dedication to employee value and support.
- Mental Health Training – All staff receive mental health training, with six leaders completing the Mental Health First Aid England course.
- Modern Employment Benefits – Attracts and retains top talent through new, progressive benefits.
- County FA Council Reforms – An evolved council structure that promotes positive change across Leicestershire and Rutland.
- Dedicated Well-being Afternoons – Ensures regular opportunities for staff to focus on their well-being.
- Health and Well-being Group – Guides and evaluates well-being initiatives, ensuring their relevance and effectiveness.
- Comprehensive People Plan – Focused on staff welfare, support, and retention.
- PDR Process with a Health Focus – Reviews are designed to consider both performance and well-being.
Highly Commended Referee Support Surgery
LRCFA’s Referee Support Surgery was also highly commended, finishing as runner-up in the Referee Development award category. Introduced last season, the Referee Support Surgery is a dedicated initiative to assist County FA referees with any incidents they may have encountered over the weekend. This service has been instrumental in providing targeted support, ensuring that referees feel valued and confident in their roles.
Leicestershire and Rutland County FA CEO, Joe Dunmore, expressed his delight at the award. He said: "We’re incredibly proud to receive the Employee Wellbeing & Engagement award. This recognition highlights our commitment to building a positive, supportive work environment that values every member of our team.
“Our People Plan reflects our belief that a thriving workforce is essential to delivering meaningful impact in grassroots football, and we’re excited to continue creating an environment where our staff can grow, feel valued, and contribute to our shared mission of inspiring positive change through football across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.”
The FA’s Head of Operations for Grassroots Football, Tim Foster added: "Once again, these awards have provided us with a brilliant platform to celebrate the tremendous work that takes place across all of our County FAs.
"I am always impressed by the quality of the projects submitted which demonstrate the hard work, passion and dedication across our County FA teams, who work tirelessly to support our grassroots game.
"My congratulations go to all of the winners, and to everyone involved in delivering new and innovative projects to grow and enhance grassroots football."
Click here to find out more information on the work of County FAs