Local school children have been ‘showing racism the red card’ for the third year running, with the help of two former professional footballers and Barclays Wealth & Investment Management.
Former Newcastle United defender Olivier Bernard and ex-Cardiff City winger Christian Roberts were on the Island promoting the Show Racism the Red Card initiative; a charity that produces anti-racist educational resources and harnesses the power of high profile professional footballers to help combat racism.
Barclays supported the visit as part of its commitment to diversity across all areas of the business while striving to build a workforce that reflects the communities in which the business operates.
The Show Racism the Red Card team visited pupils at Peel Clothworkers and Kewaigue Primary and held a special session at the Bowl for children from the Island’s other schools, organised by the IoMFA.
Christian and Olivier played fun football games with the pupils before providing them with an introduction to the subject of racism and its origins, causes and practical ways to combat it. The children were also given the opportunity to ask any questions they had on the topic of racism.
Christian said: ‘We have been given such a warm welcome to the Island on our previous visits, and this year has been no exception. We are so pleased with the children’s enthusiasm for this project; it really is inspiring to see how much they care about these important issues even at such a young age.’
‘Our team is also very appreciative of the ongoing support of Barclays in making our trips to the Island possible. They have been a fantastic help in sponsoring and helping to arrange our visits over the past few years.’
Simon Scott, Managing Director, Barclays Wealth & Investment Management in the Isle of Man said: ‘We are committed to promoting diversity and seek to work in partnership with charitable organisations to help others in our community. The Show Racism the Red Card initiative provided the opportunity to do both of these things’.
‘At the sessions, the children were given learning resource materials so that they can continue to explore the subject at home and in their lessons at school. It is hoped that this continued education will help to get the message across to children at a young age and help them to accept all cultures and groups’.
‘I would like to extend my thanks to the Manx FA, Sefton Group and Flybe, without their assistance the visit to the Island would not have been possible.’
Following the sessions the visiting footballers and organisers from Barclays chose two children that they felt had particularly embraced the messages they were delivering. Robyn Sweeney and Edie Richardson were presented with personalised football shirts by Barclays Carl Lawrenson and Barclays Cultural Awareness Network Chair, Caroline Cornish.
IoMFA Chief Executive, Frank Stennett, added: ‘The message taught by this charity applies not only to football, but to the Island community as a whole. I would like to thank everyone at Barclays for their continuing support for this initiative and for helping to make these events possible.’
Photo - Robyn Sweeney and Edie Richardson being presented with personalised football shirts by Barclays Carl Lawrenson (left), Barclays Cultural Awareness Network Chair, Caroline Cornish and Simon Jones, Headteacher of Peel Clothworkers School (right).
