
Kings Langley FC is delighted to announce the appointment of Natalie Wigzell as the club's new Inclusion Officer, joining the Management Committee as part of our continued commitment to ensuring football is welcoming, accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
As one of the area's largest grassroots football clubs, with more than 500 local children and young people representing Kings Langley FC each week, we recognise the important role we play both on and off the pitch. Football has the power to bring communities together, build confidence and create lifelong friendships, and every player should feel that they belong.
Natalie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience through her organisation, NeuroRelate, which has already been working alongside Kings Langley FC to help make the club more neuroinclusive. Her expertise has been instrumental in supporting the club to better understand the needs of neurodivergent players and families, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy grassroots football in an environment where they feel understood, supported and valued.
One of Natalie's first projects with the club has been the design of the interior of our new Calm Corner.
As part of this exciting partnership, NeuroRelate will also make its expertise available to Kings Langley FC families, providing access to support, guidance and resources. In addition, club members will benefit from exclusive discounts on NeuroRelate's specialist paid services, further strengthening the support available to our football community both on and off the pitch.
As Inclusion Officer, Natalie will work alongside the Management Committee, coaches, volunteers and parents to help ensure that our club continues to provide a positive environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background, ability, gender, ethnicity, faith, disability, neurodiversity or sexual orientation.
The role will help the club to:
* Promote an inclusive culture across every team and age group.
* Champion neuroinclusive practice across the club and remove barriers to participation.
* Support players and families who may face challenges accessing grassroots football.
* Champion equality, diversity and inclusion throughout Kings Langley FC.
* Provide guidance and support to coaches and volunteers on inclusive best practice.
* Help ensure that club policies and procedures reflect the needs of our diverse community.
* Work proactively with the County FA and wider football community to adopt and share good practice.
Grassroots football should be open to everyone, and with more than 500 young people wearing the Kings Langley FC badge each season, it is more important than ever that we continue to evolve as a club and meet the needs of our growing football family.
Co-Vice Chairman of Kings Langley FC, Tom Sterling, said:
"We're incredibly proud to be a community club that welcomes over 500 young players every week. Appointing Natalie as our Inclusion Officer is another significant step in our journey to ensure every child, parent, volunteer and coach feels valued, respected and able to enjoy everything that football has to offer.
"Natalie's work through NeuroRelate has already had a hugely positive impact on the club. From helping us become more neuroinclusive to creating our Calm Corner, she's bringing expertise that will benefit so many of our families. We're delighted to welcome her onto the Management Committee and excited about what we can achieve together."
Natalie Wigzell added:
"I'm passionate about helping every child feel that they belong and have the opportunity to thrive in sport. Kings Langley FC has shown a genuine commitment to becoming a more inclusive club, and I'm delighted to be joining the Management Committee to help build on that work. Through NeuroRelate, we're also pleased to be able to offer support and discounted services to club families, helping ensure that no one feels excluded from the many benefits that football can bring."
Kings Langley FC believes that diversity and inclusion make our club stronger. By embracing different backgrounds, experiences and ways of thinking, we create a richer environment where young players can flourish, not just as footballers, but as confident, happy and resilient young people.
This appointment, together with our partnership with NeuroRelate, marks another important milestone in the club's ongoing commitment to providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for every member of the Kings Langley FC family.