Show Racism the Red Card and Heads Up
I’m finally back, sorry it’s been a while!
A lot has been happening since we went into the original lockdown, way back in March of last year. At the school that I teach at, I have been teaching about ‘Discrimination and Prejudice’, in the Humanities and PE lessons. A focus area that has been looked at is the racial abuse England football players received, after the summers European Championship final against Italy and the effects it had on the players mental health. After Danny Rose was abused by fans, Raheem Sterling tweeted 'get some education', and that's exactly what Larches High School wanted to help with. Students have been looking at the North-East charity organisation ‘Show Racism the Red Card’, which uses inspirational footballers to help children tackle racist attitudes.
Show Racism the Red Card is the UK's largest anti-racism charity and students and staff have been encouraged to wear something red to show how we unite against racism.
In 1990s Newcastle, Shaka Hislop was at a petrol station near St James Park when he was confronted with a group of young people shouting racist abuse at him. After one of the group realised that they had been shouting at Shaka Hislop, the then Newcastle United football player, they came over to ask for an autograph. It was from this experience that Shaka realised he could harness his status as a professional player to make a difference. Coupled with the power of football and his status as a role model, Shaka thought education could be an effective strategy in challenging racism in society.
The students worked through lessons that explored the idea of stereotypes and how to identify a racial incident and the way in which they can deal effectively with these potential incidents. They also explored what Hate-Crime is, how to distinguish what is and isn’t a hate crime and how to report a hate crime. The lessons identified how people of all ages and backgrounds have suffered with the experience of racism and how much it can cause innocent people to suffer just because of their race, culture, heritage and religion.
An educational film was also viewed which features high profile players from across the footballing world, past and present discussing their experiences of racism.
Our very own club president and coach and not forgetting Captain of League Two side Tranmere Rovers FC’s Peter Clarke. Who kindly lent us use one of his shirts to display in the lessons. The shirt carries the ‘Not Today or Any Day’ logo on which is the EFL’s campaign against anti racism.
Following on from this topic we looked at mental health and looked at the work the charities and organisations have set up such as ‘Mind’, whose logos are on the back of all EFL teams numbers. Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Mind also campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
We also looked at the FA’s Premier League’s ‘Heads Up’ and ‘Heads Together’ campaigns.
These initiatives are spearheaded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex to change the conversation on mental health and give people the tools that they need to have a conversation – wherever they are and whenever they need to.
In the build up to these sessions I attended webinars and online courses for Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) and trauma-informed practice, Childhood Trauma and Attachment in schools, Emotion Coaching and Supporting children and young people with ADHD and or/ ASC in football.
These causes have linked up with my teaching position and role within Southport Athletic JFC. During the October half term, myself and U7s coach Scott, trialled a new initiative that we hope will become a regular event over the course of each year. The ‘Football for All’, Foundation football sessions invited 12 players from 7 different clubs from the Southport area. The session looked at players who had just started out in the game, who were looking to increase game time and established players who could buddy up with the newer players to help each other gain confidence in the game. The session was a great success and me, Scott and the club are looking at dates for next year that will again look at specific target areas such as promoting ‘girls football, players with SEN or extra needs, academy style sessions for the older players, coaching work shops and player position specific sessions’. We aim to run these sessions with a small donation to the club from each player who attends. The next sessions we are pencilling in for around Easter time, so watch out for more updates on the foundation sessions.
For more information on the topics discussed in the article please follow the links or numbers below, which will direct you with the various organisational charities and groups
Call Mind Infoline 0300 123 3393
Text SHOUT 85258: A free text service providing 24/7 support for anyone who needs support.