At the start of October, Blackpool FC Community Trust (BFCCT) hosted our annual anti-discrimination event for schools, in partnership with Show Racism the Red Card, Blackpool FC and the Premier League Primary Stars programme.
The full-day event welcomed 100 children from 12 Blackpool primary and SEND schools to Bloomfield Road. The attendees participated in two education workshops in the morning covering themes such as hate crime, racism and discrimination in sports. The topics were well received by the pupils, with knowledge and lived experience shared in constructive and thought-provoking discussions. The tutors used videos and stories to demonstrate scenarios which helped to highlight the importance of challenging preconceptions and welcoming differences. The groups of school ambassadors, sports teams and school council members made notes throughout the day to support them in relaying learning back to their respective schools.
Aims of the workshops:
Hate Crime Workshop
- Help young people prepare to play an active role as citizens in an increasingly multicultural society.
- Enable young people to develop good relationships and respect the differences between people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, culture or nationality.
Racism
- Educate young people about the causes and consequences of racism.
- Explore the various forms racism can take.
- Empower young people to challenge racism in their communities.
- Provide relevant knowledge and information to enable them to do this.
Anti-Discrimination
Pupils participated in group discussions about discrimination in society and sport, with recent high-profile news articles and campaigns shared. The group were then tasked with designing a poster with an antidiscrimination message, the winning design
will have their poster electronically redesigned and professionally printed before being displayed around the Football Club and sent to all local schools to share the message of unity and equality.
The afternoon session began with an anti-racism video featuring many past and current English players from the men’s and women’s national teams. It emphasised the role society plays in ensuring that any discrimination is challenged, and football clubs play a big part in protecting their fans and players from abuse. This led to a conversation focused on the importance of being an upstander and not a bystander, to help confront discrimination and show solidarity and support for those who are victims.
This led nicely into our special guest Q&A panel with Blackpool FC first team players James Husband and Elkan Baggott along with Academy Foundation Lead Gabe Kubwalo. The children used this opportunity to share their learning from the day with the players and question them on how they would deal with discrimination or racist abuse. Hearing the players share their thoughts during the Q&A was a real wow moment for the many Blackpool fans in attendance. After the Q&A, the players stayed to sign autographs, take photos and chat with the children before they headed back to school.
Marc, Head of Early Years and Primary Programmes at BFCCT said,
“Events like Show Racism the Red Card are important today, and unfortunately the topics covered are still relevant. Richard Offiong who delivered part of the programme displayed a real connection with the pupils and you could see that his passion was reflected in the learning taking place. The main reason for hate and discrimination is due to prejudices and uneducated views, and we hope the work put in to deliver this programme has a positive effect on the actions of those attending and their peers.”
Mr Wilson from Great Arley School gave his feedback,
“The event was great, and our students did us proud. The workshops were fun and engaging, the kids loved visiting the changing rooms to produce the anti-racism posters. Richard from the organisation was great with the students, entertained them, and taught them. We had some very mature questions and answers from our students during the panel and they loved seeing Gabe and the players.
“I think their highlight was getting autographs from James Husband and Elkan Baggott but they also really enjoyed the day. One of the students told me he had the ‘bestest day ever’. They are looking forward to being ambassadors at school and helping me deliver an assembly to the rest of our KS3 and KS4 students.”