Cityzens partner with Ask for Clive
Reading City Football Club is delighted to be the very first Berkshire based club to partner with Ask for Clive and join esteemed company, in the form of English Football League sides Forest Green Rovers and Watford.
Ask for Clive is a charity that partners with venues to promote inclusion and to create welcoming environments for the LGBTQ+ community and works directly with local communities and venues as well as collaborating with law enforcement on training and reporting initiatives.
Initially founded in 2019 in response to the rise in homophobic and transphobic incidents throughout the UK, their first year saw them partner with 2,000 venues and they’ve continued to grow ever since. In February 2020 Ask for Clive became a charity with the objective of promoting social inclusion among the LGBTQ+ community by preventing people from becoming socially excluded and relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded. As a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic many Pride events were cancelled in 2020 and postponed or downsized in 2021, Ask for Clive therefore launched Pub Pride to give communities the opportunity to celebrate pride locally and support their partner venues.
Ask for Clive partner venues include pubs, clubs, theatres, universities, tattoo parlours, social clubs, churches and major international venues such as Arena Birmingham.
As a club at the heart of the community we’re proud to champion the values of unity and equality, striving to create a safe haven that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, these are values that closely align with Ask for Clive’s vision: ‘Inclusive communities that provide welcome spaces for LGBTQ+ people everywhere’.
Kirsty Limacher, Trustee at Ask for Clive had this to say regarding our partnership:
"Ask for Clive are thrilled to welcome Reading City FC as a registered venue sending a clear message that everyone is welcome at their matches".
Ryan Sheehan, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer had this to say:
“Today’s announcement is testament to our ongoing commitment to make football enjoyable for all. Earlier this year our new club values were launched centred around Reading’s most iconic monument the Maiwand Lion, more commonly known as the Forbury Lion.
Lions happen to be the only big cats that live in groups, these are known as prides. Prides are close family groups, and we are ‘The Pride of Reading’ that welcomes everyone irrespective of race, colour, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, age, ethnic and national origin, pregnancy or maternity, disability or gender reassignment. We are therefore very proud to become an Ask for Clive registered venue highlighting that everyone is welcome here at the Rivermoor Stadium”.