Immigrant Council to re-launch Ireland’s Show Racism the Red Card project

Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC), an anti-racism project that has operated in Ireland since 2007, is being re-launched under the management of the Immigrant Council of Ireland. The move sees SRTRC winding up as an independent charity, with responsibility for delivery of the SRTRC programme passed to the Immigrant Council.

The SRTRC programme aims to harness the high profile of sportspeople to combat racism. The programme provides educational resources, workshops, coaching sessions and awareness-raising activities for primary schools, secondary schools, youth groups and sporting stakeholders nationwide.

High-profile sportspeople that have supported SRTRC activities in the past include former Ireland internationals Roy Keane, Kevin Kilbane and Curtis Fleming; current Ireland internationals Darren Randolph, Rihanna Jarrett and Séamus Coleman; basketball player Jolie Niland; inter-county GAA players Lee Chin and Sharoize Akram; and table tennis player Sabina Devereux.

Aiming for Sustainable Growth

The re-launch of the SRTRC programme was announced today (20 April 2021) by the outgoing Board of Show Racism the Red Card, along with Brian Killoran, CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

“We are delighted to take on the Show Racism the Red Card programme at a very significant time for all those involved in promoting integration and battling racism,” said Brian Killoran. “We aim to build on the excellent work done by the charity over the past 13 years to ensure the SRTRC programme reaches into every community in Ireland, and that young people are educated – from primary school onwards – on how to identify and challenge racism.”

Emer Costello, a member of the outgoing Board of SRTRC, said: “Over the lifetime of Show Racism the Red Card, it was a constant challenge to source funding to achieve sustainability for the organisation and enable it to grow. By winding down as an independent entity and transferring responsibility for programme delivery to the Immigrant Council, we believe we have finally found a solution to this ongoing challenge.

“We know the Immigrant Council does excellent work in combatting racism and promoting integration in Ireland, and – under the Immigrant Council’s guidance – Show Racism the Red Card will now have the capacity to deliver anti-racism work that has never felt more important or urgently needed. We hope the Immigrant Council continues to receive strong support from the Government and wider stakeholders and, crucially the funding needed, to deliver this essential work.”

The relaunch of Show Racism the Red Card is being made possible by the Merger Fund of The Community Foundation for Ireland. Chief Executive Denise Charlton added:

“Strong voices are vital if we are to end racism. This coming together of two fantastic advocacy organisations give’s Ireland such a voice. The Community Foundation wishes the relaunched campaign every success and looks forward to it being a leader on integration, inclusion and equality.”

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Launch of New Education Pack

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Nial Ring, pictured at the launch of our new education resources, with footballers from Dublin’s Airtricity League Clubs and SRTRC Board members, Des Tomlinson, Mags O’Brien and Emmet Malone.


Wednesday, 15th May 2019
 
Show Racism the Red Card highlights need for young people to be educated about racism
 
The need to educate young people about racism is greater than ever before because of the growth of far-right movements across Europe. That’s according to the anti-racism charity, Show Racism the Red Card, which today (15.05.19) launched an education pack for schools, youth groups and sports clubs across Ireland.

Speaking at the launch, Martina Quinn, Chairperson of Show Racism the Red Card, said: “Across Europe and the world, we have seen a growth in far-right movements in recent years. This has been accompanied by growing anti-migrant sentiments and increasing incidents of racism and xenophobia.

“Here in Ireland, where we pride ourselves on our tolerance and our traditional ‘Irish welcome’, we are starting to see some far-right forces creeping in. Some people in public life are using discriminatory statements about migrants and ethnic minorities to scaremonger and court popularity. And racist incidents still occur on the streets of our cities, towns and villages all too often.

“Against this backdrop, it is more important than ever before that we educate young people about racism and the steps they can take to challenge it. At Show Racism the Red Card, we are delighted to work with people who are in the public eye and who choose to use their position for good – to advocate for tolerance and respect, and to influence young people to speak out against racism.

“We know our new education pack will be used by hundreds of primary and secondary schools, youth groups and sports clubs throughout Ireland. As such, it will have an impact – at the most grassroots level – on tackling racism and discrimination.”

Involvement of Ireland footballers
The new education pack contains online resources and an accompanying video, featuring high-profile sportspeople such as Ireland international footballers Aiden O’Brien, Darren Randolph and David Meyler.

The pack was developed with support from the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration at the Department of Justice and Equality, as well as the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, and the Football Association of Ireland. It is available to download, free of charge, from www.theredcard.ie.

Launch by Lord Mayor of Dublin
The Show Racism the Red Card education pack was officially launched by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Nial Ring, at an event in Dublin’s Mansion House today.

Speaking at the event, the Lord Mayor said: “Since it was established in 2007, Show Racism the Red Card has done excellent work in educating young people and adults about racism and how it can be challenged. The new education resources will build on all the work done with schools and youth groups over the past decade. I know they will be put to excellent use in classrooms throughout the country in the years to come.”

ENDS
 

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Wear Red Day report

This year saw 8169 people from 45 groups participate in Wear Red Day. This is the highest number in the three years of Wear Red Day. We were delighted that a number of workplaces joined the activities on the day. A new and exciting aspect to Wear Red Day 2018 was the lighting up Red of a number of iconic buildings around the country.

Check out the full report on this link

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Wear Red Day Friday 23rd November

42 schools, councils, sports clubs and trade unions are gearing up to get at least 6,000 participating in our 3rd annual Wear Red Day.

On Wear Red Day, we invite you to Wear Red to make a stand against Racism.  This year, not only are people wearing Red but buildings are too.  Watch out for the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House and SIPTU’s Liberty Hall in Dublin and Spanish Arch in Galway being lit red.

Wear Red Day is an opportunity for you and for us to be public with our stand on racism and our belief that racism has no place in our society in work, school, sport or wherever and that why we invite you to get involved.

We also need to fund our education work and are asking for donations.  We are asking all participants to donate at least €2 to help our work.  This year, you can do that by text at sending ‘SRTRC’ to 50300, so we received €1.80 of €2 charged to your phone (service provided by Likecharity.com) .

You can also donate online at www.theredcard.ie/donate or by cheque in the post.

 

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FARE fortnight full report

The reports and pictures are in and here we report on FARE fortnight actions 2018.  The action fortnight took place from 11-25th October and this year saw a record number of participants.

67 clubs took Show Racism the Red Card actions

4311 players took part in those actions

118 schools hosted Show Racism the Red Card workshops led by the FAI Development Officers

5724 participated in those workshops

Local and national print media carried reports of the action too.  Check out the full report here FARE-Report 2018 (2)-ilovepdf-compressed

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Football Associations must respond with investigations of anti Irish racism

The FA have announced that they have investigated and warned James McClean for use of language arising from a post he put up on Instagram in which he referred to supporters who were abusing him.

This statement is a joint call from Show Racism the Red Card Ireland, Show Racism the Red Card UK and the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland to both the Football Association in England and the Scottish Football Association to have a more robust approach to abuse faced by players like James McClean and managers such as Neil Lennon.

Racism on the basis of colour, nationality, religion or ethnicity is not acceptable and all within the game have a responsibility to respond appropriately.

James McClean has stood in solidarity with team mates who have experienced racism and spoken out.   We stand in solidarity with James McClean, Neil Lennon and all those who experience racism.

We call on both the Football Association in England and the Scottish Football Association to investigate all incidents of anti-Irish discrimination.

We also call on both associations to invest funding in anti-racism education to help both supporters and young people understand the dangers and the impact of racism.

Garrett Mullan (SRTRC Ireland)
Stephen Mc Guinness (PFA Ireland)
Ged Grebby & Paul Kearns (SRTRC UK)
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Help us Tackle Racism

Text Donate to 50300 using keyword ‘SRTRC’ Text costs €2. Show Racism the Red Card will receive a minimum of €1.80.

Donate online at www.theredcard.ie/donate

We need your help to educate young people against racism.  You can do that by participating in our Wear Red Day fundraiser on Friday 23rd November 2018.
We are inviting participants to:
– Wear Red on the day to make a stand against racism
– To donate €2 to support our message
– Organise an activity

Text Donate to 50300 using keyword ‘SRTRC’ Text costs €2. Show Racism the Red Card will receive a minimum of €1.80.

Donations will be collected by activity organisers throughwww.theredcard.ie/donate  If you want to organise an activity, go to www.theredcard.ie/wear-red-day to express an interest and we will send you:
– Red Cards against Racism
– Posters
– Leaflets
– Stickers

Iconic buildings turn red
This year, we will see the Mansion House, City Hall Dublin and  SIPTU’s Liberty Hall turn red on Friday 23rd November.  Between now and then, we hope to involve other buildings but most importantly, we hope to involved people to take a stand and #TackleRacism and participate in #WRD18

The picture below is the pedestrian bridge at Newcastle Gateshead on the River Tyne, which went Red for Wear Red Day England. We want Wear Red Day Ireland to be a great success.  We invite you to get involved!

About Show Racism the Red Card-
We work to tackle racism through education and through producing education resources, which harness the role model status of stars of Irish sport and young people who speak of their experiences.  Our programme of activities enables over 20,000 young people to get involved to tackle racism each year.  Our activities include:
– FARE fortnight (involving 10,035 in 2018 October 11-25th) www.theredcard.ie/fare
– Anti Racism Creative Competition (involving 200 schools & youth services in 2018) www.theredcard.ie/competition
– Club Welcome Refugees supporting 4 sports clubs to include refugees www.theredcard.ie/clubwelcome
– Anti Racism Training training.theredcard.ie

Help us Tackle Racism!

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Clubs and Schools take a stand against racism – FARE fortnight action and pictures

Tomorrow is the last day of the FARE fortnight and what a time it has been with a record number of clubs and schools getting involved alongside national league clubs in the SSE Airtricity League.  We have seen 4511 players at all levels of the game involved in taking a stand against racism and to say ‘we are for Equal Game’.

In addition, we have seen the FAI bring the Show Racism the Red Card message to over 7,000 children in 135 schools in all four provinces of Ireland.  This means that in 2018, we have had more participants in FARE fortnight of action than in any year previously.

Football is a game open to all, regardless of age, gender, nationality, religion, culture or disability.  You can get involved and clubs are willing to take a stand for EqualGame and TackleRacism.  Watch this space for updated reports over the next weeks.

In the meantime, you can still get involved with another Show Racism the Red Card programme and just as exciting.  On November 23rd, we are hosting Wear Red Day #WRD18 for the third time and we invite you, wherever you are, to wear red to make a stand against racism and to donate to us, to help us develop the anti racism education packs we will launch soon.

www.theredcard.ie/wear-red-day


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Call for Football Clubs to tackle Racism #footballpeople #fare

The letter below is being sent to clubs around the country.  Help us spread the word.  We have great resources available for clubs who want to tackle racism.  For more information go to www.theredcard.ie/fare

RE: Call for participation in Football against Racism Weeks-11th-25th of October

Dear Club Secretary,

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) together with Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) are co-ordinating grassroots actions as part of the UEFA supported #FootballPeople actions weeks by FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe)Many of you may already be promoting respect for diversity and take a clear stance on racism in your club.

As part of the #FootballPeople fortnight, we would like you to consider:

 Contact the clubs you are playing during the campaign period 11th -25th October, and explain to managers/mentors that your club/s is supporting the fare campaign by exchanging wristbands at the start of your match (es).

  • Agree with opposition that players will exchange wristbands just prior to the start of the match and shake hands (Champions League style).
  • Agree with mentors and managers that they will need to explain to players prior to the match (during warm ups) why your club is supporting this campaign.
  • Take a photo of players exchanging wristbands and shaking hands-send this to info@theredcard.ie
  • Use anti-racism signage cards for a group photo with all players. Display the anti-racism signage cards after use in prominent places in your club (clubhouse, changing rooms etc.).

 What will be provided by the FAI and Show Racism the Red Card?

  • 50 Show Racism the Red Card wristbands (underage clubs/teams or actions involving children).
  • Anti Racism branded football
  • 11 Show Racism the Red Card small A4 signage cards.
  • Template text announcement and press release

 How to express your interest to take part?

  • You can apply for support through Show Racism the Red Card by completing the expression of interest form at theredcard.ie/fare by Friday 21st September
  • We will then send you the resources needed in the week prior to 5th October.

 

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Roscommon Community Games Welcome Refugees

Roscommon Community Games from Ballaghaderreen have been actively including children of refugees from the EROC centre which accommodates refugees from Syria, as part of Show Racism the Red Card Club Welcome Refugees programme. 
They attended the National Finals for Community Games last weekend but activities had been ongoing before that as Declan Regan explains: ‘In Ballaghaderreen, our U-14 Mixed Skittles team
won the Connaught Final back in July and they will compete on Saturday representing Connaught. Two of the team of seven are Syrian refugee children.   We had two further teams that won Silver at Connaught Finals for U-12 & U-16 Skittles events.
‘We also have 3 Athletics Relays competing in the National Finals on Saturday on the brand new Athletics track at University Campus in Limerick.  These relays qualified from our County Athletics back in June.
All 3 relay teams involves Syrian children from the center’.
‘Everyone was very excited about the Bus trip to Limerick on Saturday morning and competing in the largest Children’s sport event in Ireland – estimated 4000 children will compete from across Ireland.  Training sessions are alternating over the past weeks to have everyone ready for action in the different events’.
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