Show Racism the Red Card
Show Racism the Red Card is an anti-racist education charity, established in January 1996.
The aim of the organisation is to produce anti-racist educational resources, utilising the high profile and experiences of professional footballers to combat racism. The main resources the campaign produce are films and education packs that use professional footballers as positive anti-racist role models. The status of footballers amongst young people is such that they will listen to their opinions and learn from them.
Over the years, Show Racism the Red Card has expanded the range and quality of the campaign’s resources. The main resource remains the ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ film and education pack. This film is updated with new interviews regularly (latest edition available September 2008), to keep the resource relevant. The campaign has also developed films and packs on asylum (‘A Safe Place’) and lately on, Islamophobia (September 2008). All three films feature professional footballers, as well as the experiences of young people themselves. Show Racism the Red Card have also developed supporting resources such as magazines, posters, badges and t-shirts.
During the 2007-08 football season Show Racism the Red Card has grown from a small base in North East England to have offices in Wales and Scotland. These offices carry out the SRtRC campaign work in the respective Countries. In Scotland, Show Racism the Red Card also has the remit of trying to combat racism in football.
The campaign’s educational resources are used in schools throughout the UK, however this is not the only way in which the anti-racism message is spread. Show Racism the Red Card hold educational events with football clubs for schools in the locality. The campaign has accumulated a list of Honorary Patrons who attend these events along with players from the club. The interaction between the players and young people in the form of a Q&A session on racism is one of the highlights of the campaign.
Show Racism the Red Card also visit schools and youth groups in NE England, Scotland and Wales with the aim of familiarising young people with a range of facts and skills that will enable them to challenge racism. The young people also increase their understanding of issues of diversity and identity, their rights and responsibilities. The school visits include workshops on anti-racism and a football-coaching session, lead by a former professional footballer. This is a free service for schools and youth groups in these areas, thanks to the sponsors of this work. The Community Education Teams utilise our existing resources such as the Show Racism the Red Card DVD and ‘A Safe Place’ film and education packs in delivering this work. The teams also develop new activities to use in schools, which in turn, improves the resources.
Show Racism the Red Card also run a national anti-racism school competition in England, Scotland and Wales. Young people from schools all over the UK have the opportunity to produce a piece of anti-racist artwork, creative writing, music or film to enter. The winners of the competition are invited to a National Prize Giving Ceremony in their respective Country, held at a prestigious venue. The venue for the 2008 competitions in England, Scotland and Wales were the Emirates Stadium, Hampden Park and the Millennium Stadium, respectively. Football Clubs donate prizes such as signed shirts, balls and match tickets and professional footballers and managers attend to present the prizes.
The entries in the competition in England are turned in to a touring exhibition, which is available to public buildings for loan. Show Racism the Red Card also produce a calendar using winning pieces of artwork from the competitions and make use of winning entries in other ways, in our magazines, as promotional posters and some winning film entries are featured as extras on our films. For more information on the work and resources see Show Racism the Red Card.