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Jason Roberts - Ambassador for
Anti-Racism Campaign
 Wigan Borough’s Kick Racism out of Football team are pleased to announce
that Wigan Athletic’s star striker Jason Roberts, has kindly accepted the
opportunity to become the ambassador for the 2005 campaign. Jason will
become the key spokesperson and figurehead for this year’s campaign across
Wigan and Leigh, which focuses much of its activities during October and
includes fun football festivals and an exhibition at the Turnpike Centre
in Leigh.
“Kick Racism out of Football is really important to me and I’m very
pleased to be asked to be the ambassador of such a worthwhile cause. We
all have to keep working hard to eradicate racism from football and
society in general; it’s good to see that the campaign is very active in
Wigan,” says Jason. “There is still some racism about in football,
hopefully over time things will improve, but there are a lot of talented
black ex-footballers who have never really been given the chance to prove
themselves at the highest level of football management.”
Co-ordinated by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT), with the support
of key partners from across the borough, this year’s programme has grown
significantly and is aiming to build on the work of previous years. The
campaign aims to improve people’s understanding of other cultures and to
improve racial tolerance amongst all age groups. As well as the October
activities, the campaign also includes anti-racism education sessions
taking place across the borough’s primary and secondary schools.
“The important message we need to spread to young people is that racist
attitudes are very outdated,” continues Jason. “We are all human beings
and it hurts when you are criticised for the colour of your skin or your
ethnic origin. We have to be forward thinking and spread the message that
we should all be judge by our actions – that’s why the work in schools is
very important.”
John Hesketh, Community Regeneration Manager for WLCT, stresses the
serious message behind the fun activities, “Kick Racism Out Of Football
reaches across football’s boundaries to encourage people young and old to
become increasingly tolerant and have a healthy understanding of the
diversity of the world around them.”
During October, there are plenty of events and free activities taking
place across the Wigan Borough that people from all communities are
encouraged to become involved in:
• Two adult community football festivals taking place at Westleigh High
School on 16th October and at Abraham Guest High School on the 23rd
(over-16s only).
• Primary and secondary school tournaments during November.
• Open-age art workshops during the National History of Black Footballers'
Exhibition at the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh which runs from the 10th to
22nd October.
• Anti-racism education sessions which take place in the borough’s schools
and the campaign’s many partners will be represented at community events
through the autumn.
Those involved in any aspect of the programme will be offered the
opportunity to attend a Wigan Athletic game and win signed Kick It Out
T-shirts. Details of all these events and how to sign up a team for the
five-a-side fun festivals can be obtained from John Hesketh on 01942
486916.
Kick Racism out of Football in Wigan and Leigh is supported by: Wigan
Council, Wigan Athletic FC, Greater Manchester Police, Wigan and Chorley
Groundwork Trust, Wigan and Leigh United Against Racism, Ashton Insurance,
Wigan Warriors, Leigh Centurions, Positive Futures, Wigan and Leigh
Community Safety and The Cultural Partnership.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS:
For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org
Kick It Out: For further information on the national Kick It Out campaign,
please see www.kickitout.org
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support
Leisure and Cultural facilities, initiatives and events for 300,000
residents across the Wigan Borough.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is WLCT’s vision to ensure that
people across the Wigan Borough have the opportunity to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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