The Sport Allies Story

Our organisation was formed in 2014. It grew out of the success of Warwick Rowers, a calendar launched in 2009 to raise funds for the rowing programme at the University of Warwick. The calendar continues as the Worldwide Roar to fund Sport Allies almost entirely. 

Featuring predominantly heterosexual male athletes and produced by an LGBT photographer and film-maker, the calendar project has won an international following as an exemplary gay/straight alliance and as a “straight allies” project that champions greater LGBT inclusion in sport.

When the calendar team decided to commit a share of profits to furthering the message of the calendar through non-profit work, their research led them to conclude that there was a gap to be filled by a new organisation. Sport Allies became that organisation.

In 2016, Sport Allies was accepted as a registered UK charity (No. 1169945). It has a board that includes professionals and experts in media production, education, charity management, financial governance and sport, as well as a youth representative who has worked on both sides of the calendar project. More information about our team can be found here.