England Futsal EEDI Commission Publishes Community Storytelling Form
“Every story shared helps us better reflect the diversity of our futsal community, challenge barriers and create a sport where everyone feels they belong”
Image Credits: Becca Taylor - @beccataylor.photography IG
England Futsal Community C.I.C. is today delighted to share the launch of a brand-new community storytelling form, designed to amplify the voice of those involved in the sport and champion the work being done across the country by stakeholders at every level.
The initiative comes following research, discussion and planning conducted by the Equality, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Commission across the 2025/26 season, in pursuit of developing and leading an approach towards an ambition for the game which is inclusive, welcoming and accessible.
If you’d like to read more about the England Futsal commissions, you can visit the Our Commissions section of our website.
Lauren Rudelhoff, one of our EEDI Commission members and a recent alumni of the St Mary’s University Women’s futsal team, has been a driving force behind this project. She said:
“Everyone's journey in futsal is unique, shaped by different backgrounds and experiences. Hearing these individual stories is inspiring and a powerful reminder of how futsal brings people together from all walks of life.
By telling your story, you can inspire others to get involved in the sport while helping identify the barriers that may prevent those from participating. Understanding these challenges allows us to adapt and continue making futsal more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Together, we can help this amazing sport reach its full potential!”.
Telling the stories that matter
There are no guidelines as to the types of story that can be submitted. If it matters to you or your community, we want to hear it.
“Everyone’s journey in futsal is unique, shaped by different backgrounds and experiences. Hearing these individual stories is inspiring and a powerful reminder of how futsal brings people together from all walks of life.”
What happens once I submit my story?
As stories are submitted to England Futsal via the above form throughout the season, responses will be monitored and read periodically by a member of our team or EEDI Commission. All submissions will receive a written response confirming receipt of the story.
The submissions will then form part of “England Futsal Community Stories” a regular and ongoing series of digital storytelling campaigns, combining our website, social media channels and email communications to our members.
When a story is selected to be published, England Futsal will contact contributors via the details provided on the form to begin collaboration over how you would like your story to be shared with the community.
As the series develops, the aim is to build a rich and diverse tapestry of profiles, stories and case studies from across English futsal, that uncovers, platforms and amplifies the people upon which futsal is built.
Please note: Submission of a story via the form does not guarantee whether, when, or in what format, the story will be shared with the community. Each and every submission is of equal importance to England Futsal, and will be treated as such. However, due to the nature of our small executive team and limited capacity, the frequency and volume of stories being shared may vary, especially during busy periods. Your patience and understanding is therefore appreciated.
Chris Bright also sits on the EEDI commission and has recently been appointed as one of England Futsal Community C.I.C.’s non-executive board directors. Chris has been involved in futsal for over a decade, and is one of the leading voices in raising awareness of Type 1 Diabetes in sport. Having worked closely with Lauren to bring this storytelling initiative to life, Chris said:
“Inclusion isn’t just about opening the door, it’s about making sure everyone has the opportunity to be seen, heard and celebrated. Every story shared helps us better reflect the diversity of our futsal community, challenge barriers and create a sport where everyone feels they belong.
By listening to the lived experiences of our community, we hope to better understand what’s working, where barriers still exist, and how we can continue to improve. These stories will help shape a more inclusive future for England Futsal, ensuring the decisions, opportunities and initiatives are informed by the people they are designed to serve.”
Giving a voice to the whole community.
Anyone can submit a story. Just read the top of the form carefully before contributing.
How do I know if my story is right for this?
If your story matters to you and the people within your futsal network, then it belongs on the form and deserves to be shared with the community.
Whether it’s the actions of a person, group or organisation, or a special moment that demonstrates the power of futsal, we want to hear it, and tell it in a meaningful and engaging way.
“These stories will help shape a more inclusive future for England Futsal, ensuring the decisions, opportunities and initiatives are informed by the people they are designed to serve.”
