The Rams' Football in the Community team kicked off half-term week today by organising a trip to Skegness for an inner city U12s football team.

Two FITC coaches are accompanying 15 youngsters from Normanton All Stars on an activity week at the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Home in Skegness.

The team is based in the heart of Derby's most culturally diverse area - and, appropriately, the activity week coincides with the national "Kick Racism Out of Football" week of action.

Derby County FITC has organised the trip with support from Walbrook Community Sport, Cawarden and The Derbyshire Children's Holiday Home.

The group set of on Monday morning from Arboretum Park in Rosehill Street, Derby, and among those seeing them off was Derby County's Operations Director John Vicars, who told dcfc.co.uk: "It's part of the philosophy of this football club to engage and interact with all types of diverse communities, particularly those in the inner city, and this is a perfect example of the way we can use football as a vehicle to make a difference.

"These community initiatives are undertaken most weeks of the year and we perhaps don't shout loud enough about what we do. Our community department has grown from three members of staff 10 years ago to 20 today and we are looking to add another dozen or so members of staff in the next 12 months as we seek to extend our community impact both in Derby and Derbyshire."

Paul Newman, of the Rams community team, added: "It's the third time we have taken part in the Skegness project and it's a great example of the way Derby County works effectively with other partners to put a smile on people's faces while also helping to raise awareness of the Kick It Out message."