|
KICK RACISM LINKS
►
Kick Racism Home
►
Kick
Racism Programme 2007
►
March 2007 Update
►
April 2007 Update
►
May 2007 Update
►
June 2007 Update
►
www.kickitout.org [External site]
►
Return to Sports Home
Page
|
APRIL 2007 Update
The second update. Comments and queries
on the format of this, general feedback and thoughts on the emerging
programme welcome. Contact details follow at the end.
Steering Group
The meeting notes from 27th March are attached for your reading and
information.
►
Meeting Notes 27th March 2007
Programme News
Unfortunately on account of core budget constraints and lacking time
now, there are two elements of the original programme proposal for this
year (previously circulated) with which it will not now be possible to
run:
- the curriculum resource pack we
proposed to purchase for schools across the Borough and launch through
the PSHE&C team to encourage and enable take-up on the anti-racism
learning opportunities presented by the local 'Kick' programme and
national Kick It Out campaign
- the anti-racism
song-writing/recording project for primary schools with a view to
performance at the Question of Race event in October and Hate Crime
Awareness Week launch in February 2008
On the former I have spoken with
colleagues from the PSHE&C team and Fiona Will in particular has been
very helpful. She has provided me with curriculum information on
citizenship and personal, social, health and economic education (as it
will be become) - enabling me to make a much stronger case for financial
support from CYPS when the budget planning process for 2008/9 starts in
the Autumn. Hers was a very positive impression of the programme's
potential to add value to the learning experiences of children & young
people in our Borough and with her support/the on-going advice and
assistance of CYPS Equality & Diversity Officer Pete Coulson and their
key senior colleagues I am hopeful that distribution of a curriculum
resource pack from the Kick It Out office will be possible next year -
Steering Group colleagues retaining their interest and willingness to
help teachers bring this to life.
The anti-racism song-writing/recording project is also one that can
hopefully be factored back into next year's programme with external
funding. Possible revenue streams for this and the 2008 work more
generally are currently being identified.
June
The local Women's World Cup, a football tournament for girls (under 12)
and young women (under 14) from secondary schools across the Borough,
will be played out at Robin Park Arena on Friday 15th June. Involving
almost 20 6-a-side teams (see David Bradley's attachment below for
indication of spread) and bringing together a number of teachers/support
staff, it will present opportunity to engage young girls and adults
alike with our anti-racist stand - raising awareness of reporting
procedures (in schools and the community more widely) and disseminating
positive messages on the Borough's growing multi-culturalism.
►
Wigan Girls' World Cup 2007 Participants
At the time of writing:
- Gary Pilling of the Council's
Anti-Social Behaviour Unit is pursuing funds through the Township
Community Safety Groups (to cover playing kits in the international
colours of ladies' teams that will participate in the international
tournament in China this Summer, refreshments, information packs,
volunteer expenses)
- David Bradley of the Leisure &
Culture Trust's Sports Development Unit is working on tournament
infrastructure and logistics (fixtures/format, rules, referees,
presentations, teams' transport and risk assessment for example),
and
- I am working to secure the
support of the Mayor, Township Community Safety Group Chairs, senior
Council, Trust, Police and Football Club colleagues in order that we
can properly showcase this highly colourful anti-racist event,
inform them of the wider programme's purposes and opportunities for
their support in years hence, have VIPs enjoy multi-cultural
refreshments, support the girls in their participation - recognising
the teams' commitment through presentations afterwards - and assist
in conversation with/photography by local press and media
Though the Programme Steering Group will
not be able to contribute financially to this event this year - the
Leisure & Culture Trust being unable to provide the budget that had been
hoped, the prospects for this element of the 2007 programme look very
positive in light of Township Community Safety Groups' positive
reflections on last year's World Cup for boys and high level of
satisfaction with the value for money achieved in investment. It is very
much to the credit of Gary and David that, believing in our cause, they
go on in determination with their planning and preparation and I thank
them for their efforts on the Steering Group's behalf.
More will follow on this in coming
monthly updates (in reflection of work's progress and review of the day
once it has passed).
►
back to top
August
As lead on the 'Kick Racism at WOW' element of the original programme,
Andrew Bond (the Trust's Parks Regeneration Manager) has committed to
trying to find funds from within his own Environmental Management and
Sustainability Division and through the pursuit of sponsorship from
companies with which they work. Though programme budget will not extend
to inter-cultural sporting taster sessions, Kick Racism information
packs and t-shirts on festival day he does hope that the input at Wigan
One World in August can still be assured. With the potential to engage
up to 800 participants in branded activity on the day, the anti-racist
taster sessions could enable the programme to reach a large number of
new people with the zero tolerance message and, in so doing, secure
additional support for this stand-point.
October
I am very pleased to report that the Leisure & Culture Trust's Community
Investment Fund will cover the costs of three supportive projects
culminating during the 'Kick It Out Week of Action' in October (dates
expected in June/July). These will include:
- A Dance Project that will
hopefully see an inter-cultural group of 12 young people perform
at Wigan Athletic's home game during the 'Week of Action',
working with a tutor out of school hours and the Latics'
cheerleaders in preparation. With the club's support the young
people will wear Kick Racism-branded t-shirts and work to convey
positive messages about friendship and the value of diversity
through their creative performance - adding in that respect to
the anti-racist programme editorial, PA announcements and pitch
side presentations that usually feature at the club's
anti-racism day. Of course, with Wigan Athletic stepping-up
their commitment to kick racism out - through their engagement
with and implementation of the Premier League's Race Equality
Standard - there may be other media through which the message
that racism is wrong and will not be tolerated can be conveyed
to the spectators in attendance (hopefully numbering between 15
and 20,000). I met yesterday with the lead from CYPS and
together we will start soon on the detailed planning with a view
to maximising the project's potential and factoring provision
for positive PR generation in from the outset
- A Theatre Project
Presentation involving year 5 and 7 pupils from Leigh Sacred
Heart Primary and Bedford High School in work towards a
performance piece that will profile the positive and negative
experiences of bme and white indigenous children and young
people living in Leigh; and their core belief in diversity and
its value for all the local tensions that have been felt as
communities' composition has changed over recent years. This
will support the anti-racism work of the Borough's 'Kick'
programme and the Leigh Neighbours Project more particularly in
its efforts to promote community cohesion, encourage good
neighbourliness and the celebration of local diversity. It will
involve 30 young people, see a film made covering production and
performance for later use, and hopefully succeed in attracting a
good audience. Formative planning is underway and all being well
this will see tasters start in July, a good number of boys and
young men signed-up, and production/rehearsal sessions run
mid-September through mid-October for performance in Leigh
during the 'Week of Action'.
- A Question of Race event that
will see inter-cultural and inter-generational teams of local
young people and adults compete for a contribution to the race
equality charity of their choosing through a black & minority
ethnic themed sports quiz. Its primary aim will be to promote
the Kick Racism message and encourage informal dialogue between
participants and audience members from different backgrounds in
a relaxed social setting. A multi-cultural buffet will be served
during the evening and a charity raffle overseen. The Many
Different Colours, One Beautiful Game exhibition that local
schools played a part in creating last year will be displayed,
the Borough's Hate Crime Co-ordinator and other active players
in the Borough's Cohesion, Diversity & Equality Strategies will
be invited to exhibit as well. 4 teams of 4 will be sought and
an audience of 100 worked towards
I am confident that next month
I will have more to report on progress with programme planning
and a greater clarity on associated works with which you might
be able to assist.
Friends Together
The Project Working Group meet next on 3rd May and my hope is
that in my May update I will be able to inform you of:
- plans for the 'Carnival
Chaos' showcase activity at Leigh Centurions' Hilton Park on
8th July, the Arts for All festival at Haigh Country Park on
22nd July and possibly - depending on parent/volunteer
availability - the Leigh Mela event on 28th July
- progress with the pilot
year's creative evaluation - quantitative and qualitative
- formative proposals for
the 2007/8 programme - partners, themes, school year
schedule, associated peer mentoring and volunteer
arrangements etc
- progress in developing a
funding strategy to secure this important project's future
and enable it to continue positively impacting on the
schools' cohesion work
Much work continues
'behind the scenes' and I am hopeful that efforts will soon
start bearing fruit in this respect.
And Finally...
The Kick Racism Programme continues in its support of Wigan
& Leigh United Against Racism with work towards
dissemination of its anti-racism pledge (draft poster
below).
►
Draft Poster
Over the last month work
has started with Wigan Borough Sports Council and to date a
number of very positive, pledge-related actions have been
agreed that will see:
- the pledge presented
to the Borough Sports Council Executive in coming months
- with a view to setting a context and ensuring a level
of understanding on its origins and purposes, going on
then to set-up a local press and media call at which
they formally sign-up to adoption of the pledge
- a 'pledge web page'
created on the Wigan Borough Sports Council website
www.wbsc.org.uk in readiness for postage shortly
after the Executive's signature/public commitment
- the opportunity of
exhibition at the Cultural Partnership's Convention in
May extended to Wigan & Leigh United Against Racism
the question asked of the Council's Diversity Champions
Group as to the need of a Compact review to reflect a
fulsome and joined-up commitment to the diversity agenda
- the Leigh Sports
Trust's constitution revised to ensure provision for a
zero tolerance stand in the management of Leigh Sports
Village
The Sports Council's
support is much appreciated by Steering Group/WLUAR
colleagues and my hope is that there will be further
news to report soon. In the meantime the prospect of
work centred on awareness-raising and the equipment of
club volunteers to review policy, procedure and practice
in light of pledge adoption - officers/WLUAR volunteers
having established baselines on multi-cultural
engagement, racism, reporting, bme involvement relative
to the demographic make-up of communities served and
external perceptions of inclusivity, also agreeing to
testing changes after an agreed period - will be
re-visited difficult though this would doubtless be.
Wigan Athletic's Football in the Community Programme are
proposing to set-up an Ethnic Inclusion Project that
will "… use football as a tool to increase and promote
social inclusion and challenge social nuisance,....
[also aiming to positively impact on] prejudice and
racism… and bring all minorities of the community
together through football". I am in contact with the
lead Adam Sherratt and hope to meet him soon to discuss
collaboration in anti-racist activity over months and
years hence. There would seem lots of scope all the
same.
A couple of good news stories from Hertfordshire worthy
of local thought as well:
Watford launch text reporting service -
http://www.kickitout.org/index.php?id=9&StoryID=3101
Community stalwarts take a bow -
http://www.kickitout.org/index.php?id=9&StoryID=3091
Over the last three or four years I have been
consistently impressed by works elsewhere in the country
and hope that through continued efforts in Wigan the
importance of anti-racism work and positive action can
be impressed more and more. With British National Party
8 candidates standing for local election in May it is
clear that complacency and 'laissez-faire' stand-points
can have no place.
John Hesketh
Community Regeneration Manager (Youth & Community
Development)
Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust
►
back to top
|
