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June 2007 Update
Steering Group
The Kick Racism Out of Football Steering Group last met on 22nd May and
notes in summary of discussions and action points agreed on that
occasion are attached for your reading and information.
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Steering Group Minutes 22/05/07
The Group will next get together on 17th
July and notes from this session will follow for your information with
the next update - enabling you to track progress with agreed actions
relevant to this year's anti-racist events and activities, and formative
work towards a new anti-racist programme for 2008 when it is hoped to
join with the Witness This Group. Drawing together colleagues from
Children & Young People's Services, the Community Engagement Team, Wigan
Pier Theatre Company and the Trust's Arts & Festivals Section, they have
focused over the last 18 months or so on creative work with young people
to profile experiences of bullying, homophobia and racism for example -
their aim being to stimulate strategic debate on considered responses by
local public service providers with an interest in/responsibility
towards young people. It is felt that each group could add value to the
other's efforts and more on the logistics of join-up, programme
proposals for next calendar year, output/outcome projections,
collaborative pursuit of funds and new partners' commitment will follow
over coming months.
Programme News
The final programme for this year was agreed in early June and, with
West Lancashire design company Loaf Creative, the Trust's Marketing &
Communications Team drew together a small, informative booklet for local
people and prospective participants in the events and projects organised
for 2007 - with a view to growing cultural awareness, encouraging
inter-cultural participation and conversation, developing a positive
sense of togetherness and belonging in communities across our
increasingly diverse Borough, and securing sign-up to the growing zero
tolerance stand against racism in Wigan.
The pocket-sized publication reflects the programme's coverage of
football, sporting tasters, dance, theatre, an inter-cultural and
inter-generational, bme-themed sports quiz and exhibition event - and
provision of opportunity for people with a range of interests to show
their support for anti-racist work against a backdrop of increasing BNP
success - more than 2,500 residents voting for them in this year's local
elections (30% more than in 2006). Copies were distributed to
participating girls and young women, teachers and support staff at the
Wigan World Cup event on 15th June and, over coming weeks, will be
delivered to communities across the Borough. A proposal on ways, means
and their spatial distribution will be taken to Steering Group on 17th
July for debate and refinement - and in the meantime a PR Plan will be
worked-up with the Trust's Media and Public Relations Manager Chris
Dunbar.
June
Three weeks ago the Leisure & Culture Trust's Sports Development Team
and the Council's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit together oversaw a large
and highly colourful football tournament for girls and young women at
Robin Park Arena. Some 25 teams from 13 schools across the Borough took
part and, supported by the Mayor (Cllr John O'Brien), Leader of the
Council (Cllr Peter Smith) and Wigan & Leigh United Against Racism
(through Maggie Coghlin), all enjoyed a good day with the early morning
rain giving way to dry and warm weather soon after kick-off.
(Unfortunately Brenda Spencer - Chief Executive of Wigan Athletic - had
to give her apologies in the morning on account of other business
commitments.)
The retrospective
LINC Online report offers some insight into the day's story but,
simply, teams represented the different nations set to take part in the
international tournament in China later this Summer - sharing a common
interest in football and promoting the messages that:
- football is an inclusive sport
encouraging communication, friendship, team-work, mutual support and
respect, and growing physical fitness
- in life, as in football, young people
and responsible adults can learn much and benefit greatly by working
with one another - looking past difference and recognising the worth in
varied perspectives on the world, skills, talents and experiences
- racism is wrong and should not be
tolerated on the playing pitch or in our wider communities
It was a memorable day for all concerned
and, sponsored by the Township Community Safety Groups and JJB Sports,
it also succeeded in showcasing emerging talent and offering insight
into community clubs' offer of opportunity to play football out of
school, build skills, the confidence and self-discipline needed to
engage, enjoy and improve. It encouraged constructive occupation after
school, in the evenings and at weekends promoting the concepts of
self-development and aspiration too - in reflection on the priorities
that youth nuisance and anti-social behaviour constitute for Township
Community Safety Groups. The tournament is one that can hopefully be
repeated next year.
July
On Saturday 28th July the inaugural Leigh Mela will take place on the
Civic Square - bringing a variety of international artists to the town.
Celebrating local diversity in its fullest sense the Township-led event
will hopefully succeed in interesting and engaging a variety of people
from different backgrounds.
The local Kick Racism team will take the opportunity that this event
presents to distribute programmes, anti-racist literature and Kick
Racism t-shirts to local people - reinforcing the message that racism is
wrong. All being well volunteers will pass through the crowd handing-out
and speaking to people as they go, but there will also be a wider
Leisure & Culture Trust stand from which information on the Trust's
wide-ranging portfolio of facilities, services and projects will be
available.
August
At this year's WOW Festival football, netball and cricket tasters
will be offered to those in attendance - of all ages and from several
different backgrounds if the diverse profile of audiences in years past
is to be reflected again. Over the course of the afternoon the 'top
field' and hard court areas at Mesnes Park will hopefully be alive with
people sharing in positive experiences together, talking informally/even
establishing new friendships and learning something from the information
pack they take away on the importance of anti-racism work in our
Borough.
The areas used will be Kick Racism
branded. Stewards, volunteers and colleagues from the Wigan Athletic
stall will be encouraging visitors in the direction of Parks and Sports
Development-led tasters, prizes (including a mixed hamper from Heinz, a
signed Wigan Athletic shirt and Wigan Warriors tickets) will be given
away in recognition of efforts and achievement and, for those with an
interest, information will be available on sporting opportunity in
community-settings, coach training and prospective volunteer placements.
For more information contact Andy Bond (Parks Regeneration Manager,
Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust) on 488471 or Chris Essex-Crosby
(Community Sports Development Manager, Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust) on
404983.
October
On the Racism Divides, Football Unites (formerly Question of Race) event
planned for Saturday 13th October, outlined last time and reflected
again in the attached programme, a couple of points:
- The JJB Stadium will accommodate
the quiz, displays and exhibition, catering for participants and
supporters and showing the England versus Estonia European
Championship qualifying game
- Stephen Lythgoe (Libraries'
Reader in Residence) and Rosanne Patterson (Equalities and Diversity
Officer for the Trust) are now taking expressions of interest in
teams' participation. They can be contacted on 404566 and 828546
respectively
This should be a good day for all -
promoting the Kick Racism message and encouraging informal dialogue
between participants and audience members from different backgrounds in
a relaxed social setting. The winning team will donate raffle proceeds
to the race equality team of their choice, but all attending will
hopefully take positive memories away from this unique inter-cultural
event.
At the time of writing I am trying to arrange a meeting with colleagues
from Children and Young People's Services and Wigan Athletic
Cheerleaders on the Cheerleading/Dance Project that will involve young
men and women from across the Borough (aged 10-15) in work on the
development of a routine that somehow represents difference and the
value of cultural diversity in a very positive and visual way. The idea
is that this will complement the Kick Racism Out of Football Programme
and its representation on the day of Wigan Athletic's home game against
Portsmouth during the Kick It Out Week of Action - adding to the
anti-racist programme copy, tannoy announcements and pitch side
presentations to promote the message that racism is wrong and will not
be tolerated.
Will keep you up to speed on arrangements. In the meantime if you know
of a young person or people who would like to get involved they can book
a place by phoning Taryn Abel on 828899.
The Kick and Tell Theatre Project - drawing on young people's
experiences of living in Leigh, and conveying their belief in the value
of diversity for all the tensions that have been felt as local
communities' composition has changed over recent years, will see a
special performance piece created for presentation to children and young
people/teachers, parents and carers, and officers with an interest
in/responsibility towards diversity. Some 25 young people from Bedford
High School will take part in an introductory/taster session before the
Summer break (this Thursday in fact). 10 creative sessions will run from
mid-September through mid-October with a full day rehearsal and
performances on Thursday 25th October.
Performance publicity will follow nearer the time.
For more information in the interim contact Martin Green of Wigan Pier
Theatre Company on 709305.
Friends Together
This inter-cultural activity project for children attending Leigh
Central and Sacred Heart Schools, delivered from mainstream resource and
with in-kind support from Leigh Centurions Rugby League Club and the
Trust's own Arts & Festivals and Play Sections over the last year, will
conclude at the end of term - Head teachers having drawn the conclusion
that they will not have the frontline co-ordination capacity needed in
the new school year on account of other pressures and priorities, and
the Extended Schools team having notified that they do not consider
personal development or holistic learning work to fall within their
remit. Over the 10 months past it has nevertheless grown cultural
awareness and understanding among pupils from a variety of backgrounds,
encouraging the development of communication and group work skills,
friendship and a sense of cohesive community in each school. More
particularly, it has enabled the exploration of global responsibilities
that we all share regardless of our background - adding value in that
sense to the over-arching Leigh Neighbours Project established by the
Township Forum in positive response to growing racial tensions in the
area as communities' composition has changed. Appreciated by the
Learning Mentors and children themselves it is a shame that it will
finish in these two schools but the options of part-time staff support
and parent/carer involvement have been explored and there would seem
little other option.
The Project Working Group's meeting notes from Friday 8th June give more
insight into the project's position and frustrations looking forward but
my only remaining hopes for 2006/7 are that:
- the children involved make
good use of and enjoy their Carnival Chaos showcase
opportunities - at the Leigh Centurions versus Batley game on
8th July at Hilton Park and the Arts for All Festival at Haigh
on 22nd July; certainly I'll do all I can to make sure the
positive PR opportunities are taken-up
- with the schools we can
complete a full and robust evaluation reflecting successes and
qualitative impact, but also lessons that we might learn from
the pilot experience this year has constituted
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Friends Together Meeting Notes 8th June 2007
With Leigh Centurions and the
Turnpike Gallery willing to support another creative,
extra-curricular programme focused on children's heritage,
responsibilities towards one another and their community - and
external funding available - the prospect of two other schools
elsewhere in the Borough benefiting in 2007/8 is to be explored.
Children & Young People's Services - through the Out of School
Hours Team and their Equality and Diversity Officer, have
committed to advice on their identification.
And Finally…
On Wigan & Leigh United Against Racism's pledge I am hoping to
meet again soon with Chair of the Borough Sports Council, Trevor
Barton, and Cath Foxon of Wigan & Leigh United Against Racism to
revisit the opportunity of a presentation to WBSC Executive on
the pledge, its context and purpose prior to their formal
adoption and a press/media call to mark this occasion. I am also
wanting to speak again about establishing a web presence for
WLUAR and the pledge, and how together we might encourage clubs'
review of policies, procedures and inclusion. Other priorities
seem to have overtaken us a little on this work, but the shared
sense of importance and potential impact has not been lost and I
look forward to our getting around the table again - with
anti-racist funding strategy for 2007/8 also in focus in the
broadest sense.
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Wigan Athletic Ethnic Inclusion Project
I met on Monday last week with
Adam Sherratt of Wigan Athletic's Football in the Community
Programme about his aspirations to develop an Ethnic Inclusion
Project. For your review brief details are attached but, simply,
it was a useful session during which:
- I advised on a couple of
prospective contacts for funding advice and support in
application - because at this point he has no funding and
none will be forthcoming from the club
- We talked about the
opportunities for learning from others' experience of
similar work - at Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers in
particular, and the need of clear planning with the future
in focus
- A start was made on
scoping opportunities for mutual-support going forward -
possibly in the context of curriculum support and
participation work, and/or in the attraction of good PR
through real player involvement in anti-racist activity
We have agreed to keep in
contact and speak again once a project plan and supportive
funds are in place.
A few stories of prospective interest from Kick It Out to
finish - evident of national and international debate on
racism, cultural beliefs and mixed-gender participation in
football:
Eto'o Believes in Play Walk-Off and Support from the
Public -
http://www.kickitout.org/index.php?id=9&StoryID=3276
FA Backs Players Wearing Headgear -
http://www.kickitout.org/index.php?id=9&StoryID=3272
FA Given Go-Ahead for Mixed Football Tournament -
http://www.kickitout.org/index.php?id=9&StoryID=3273
UEFA announces three social projects for Euro 2008 -
http://www.kickitout.org/index.php?id=9&StoryID=3283
In football and in Wigan racism, discrimination and
exclusion remain. Our responsibility to help address these
social issues and associated challenges - as responsible
citizens and people in positions where contribution and
impact is possible - cannot be ignored. Your reflective
comment and feedback, new ideas and proposals are always
welcome because there's still much good for us and the
programme to do. So if you feel at all inclined to get in
touch please do. We're very much in this together - Steering
Group members and stakeholders alike. Positive action - now
and into the future - is of the utmost importance.
John Hesketh
Community Regeneration Manager (Youth & Community Development)
Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust
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