Bolton Wanderers in the Community and Show Racism the Red Card today kicked off a run of three anti-discrimination events involving almost 500 youngsters from local schools.
The workshops, which run until Wednesday, aim to inform the pupils about the importance of diversity within society and how people should all work together, celebrating their differences.
Wanderers’ players Elias Kachunga and Dion Charles were at the University of Bolton Stadium to help support the first of three events which also promote being an ally to people from a variety of backgrounds and how calling out negative and discriminatory behaviour should be encouraged.
Over the course of the week, the events will engage children from 12 different schools in a fun and interesting day of activities as the largest of its type that leading anti-racism educational charity Show Racism the Red Card has done alongside a football club.
Fred Harms, of SRtRC, said: “It is always great to travel down to the University of Bolton Stadium to work with Bolton Wanderers in the Community.
“Joe (Conway) and the team have set up a great platform for us and the opportunity to educate this number of young people over three days is unique and something we relish. Thanks again to everyone involved.”
First-team stars Charles and Kachunga answered questions around racism and discriminatory behaviour on a panel which also included Liz Cameron, Chair of the Greater Manchester Race Equality Panel, and Phil Mason, CEO of Bolton Wanderers in the Community and BWFC Chaplain.
Bolton Wanderers in the Community (BWitC) is committed to tackling discrimination, educating the community on how to recognise and report hate crime, and supporting anti-racism campaigns such as Show Racism the Red Card.
Beth Warriner, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at BWitC, said: “BWitC are proud to be the lead organisation of the Bolton Unity Project; an alliance made up of six diverse organisations across Bolton, whose aim is to promote a safer, more welcoming and better connected Bolton for all – and this sequence of workshops is a perfect example of that.
“Bolton Unity Project has been funded by the Bolton’s Fund (an investment programme for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Bolton) and this SRtRC event has been made possible with funds from this project.”
Wanderers will continue to lend their support to the three-day event, which also forms part of the work BWiTC does as part of its Premier League Primary Stars project and which is set to feature a visit from former England international Viv Anderson on the final day.
Neil Hart, CEO of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, said: “This is a fantastic example of the work being undertaken by BWitC to promote and support diversity and inclusion across our local community.
“It’s something as a football club we also fully endorse in making Bolton Wanderers a welcoming place to everybody.
“It’s great to see such a productive partnership with Show Racism the Red Card and also our first-team players sharing their experiences, engaging with the young people, and giving their backing to such an important message in promoting equality for all.”
For more information on the activities and events Bolton Unity Project are delivering, please visit www.facebook.com/BoltonUnityProject