North Riding Football Association has landed the Insight & Data Award at the 2022 County FA Recognition Awards for its “Active Through Football” 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.

A record breaking 235 submissions were entered from the 50 County FAs operating across England, highlighting continuous improvements and showcasing how they are innovating to improve football and increase participation across all levels of the game. 

The eleven categories recognised at the awards were: 
• Brand Engagement
• Coach Development
• Digital Engagement
• Employee Engagement
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Football Development
• Insight & Data
• Partnership
• Special recognition
• Women & Girls
• Youth Engagement

North Riding FA was handed the Insight & Data Award for its community engagement work that allowed it to develop the Active Through Football programme, ‘Shape The Play’. The Football Foundation funded project aims to increase participation in football with a place-based approach. The initiative focuses on driving participation from residents in the Roseworth, Hardwick and Salters Lane, Newtown, Stockton Town Centre, Parkfield and Oxbridge Wards in Stockton, plus Mandale and Victoria, Village and Stainsby Hill Wards in Thornaby. The scheme targets four key audiences, namely: females, ethnically diverse communities, people with learning disabilities and people with mental & physical health conditions.

North Riding CEO, Steven Wade, said: 
"We are delighted to have won the Insight & Data Award. The recognition is a testament to the vision and dedication shown by everyone involved in our Active Through Football initiative. Community engagement was at the heart of our planning and preparation for the funding bid to the Football Foundation for the programme and to have this piece of work recognised nationally is a fantastic achievement. I would like to say a huge thank you from myself and all of us at North Riding FA to everyone that participated in helping us to develop ‘Shape The Play’.”

The FA’s Director of Football Development, James Kendall added: 
“It gives us great pleasure to recognise and reward our County FAs and I want to thank each and every one of them for the vital work they deliver across their local communities, ensuring we continue to develop, promote and protect the game so it can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age, background or ability.

I’d like to congratulate North Riding FA in winning the Insight & Data Award and all of the other County FAs for their dedication and achievements over the past two seasons." 

For more information on the work of County FAs, visit here.