Show Racism the Red Card action weeks

by Kevin O'Neil

Once again this year all of the Scotland's 42 professional football teams will be involved in anti-racist events at fixtures and SRTRC are hoping for an increase on the 117 community based anti-racist events that took place last October.

The dates for this year's Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) Fortnight of Action are 17 - 30 October 2006. SRTRC will again be offering grants of up to £1,000 for local community-based initiatives that can demonstrate the following criteria:

• Projects must take place within the Fortnight of Action.
• Projects to be of educational value.
• Projects to involve/ be led by BME participants.
• Projects to demonstrate local partnership working.

During last year's Fortnight of Action, UNISON South Ayrshire branch decided to get active in the local community and vigorously promote the anti racist message across the county.

The Branch Communications Sub-Committee decided to make their target audience the youngsters living within South Ayrshire. "The main aim was to help promote the message as early as possible to our youngsters and keep it fresh in their minds", said South Ayrshire UNISON's Campbell Peden.

A competition to be the Club Mascot at the Ayr United v Alloa Athletic was organised via the local radio station, local newspapers and internal email within South Ayrshire Council. The kids' task was to make up an anti racist slogan.

The branch also commissioned three advertising boards enforcing our anti-racist message as well as sponsoring the Ayr United v Alloa Athletic match and ball The boards are sited at Somerset Park, Ayr. Portland Park, Troon. and Beechwood Park, Auchinleck, .

The SRTRC 10th Anniversary magazine is now available. The magazine is an excellent educational tool to assist branches, activists, members and their families, in the fight to combat racism. The magazine is available from SRTRC. This costs £50:00 for a box of 100.

Visit www.theredcardscotland.org for further details.

For details on how to get involved with the Fortnight of Action, then contact Kevin O'Neil, or Eileen Dinning, Tel: 0845 355 0845 k.oneil@unison.co.uk; e.dinning@unison.co.uk.

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