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Time to act on racism
Bedford High School pupils will urge their
classmates to report racism when they perform a play as part of Kick
Racism Out of Football’s Week of Action on Thursday (October 25th).
The children have created ‘Kick and Tell’ with guidance from Wigan Pier
Theatre Company and their Extended Schools Co-ordinator.
The drama tells the story of talented footballer Victor who is racially
abused by a jealous classmate called Peter. The play draws on the
experiences of black minority ethnic and white indigenous young people
who have witnessed racial tension as the ethnic composition of Leigh has
changed in recent years.
Tuesday Hardman, 12, from Leigh, who plays Victor’s mum, says: “I have
seen people being racist. There was one time a white boy started calling
a black boy names and it ended up in a fight. I thought it was really
wrong and he shouldn’t have picked on him just because of the colour of
his skin.
“When there is friction between two people they will pick out the thing
that is most obviously different about the other person, like how they
talk or their name. But people are different in all sorts of ways so you
shouldn’t call someone just because they’re not the same as you. The
play shows the problems of racism and how they can be solved.”
The Year 7 pupils will give three performances of the play to fellow
pupils, teachers, family, carers, friends and officers with a
responsibility for equality & diversity.
The Kick Racism out of Football Week of Action runs between October 18th
and 30th. The Kick Racism Out of Football Programme in Wigan Borough is
now in its fifth year and is co-ordinated by Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust, with support from many organisations including Wigan Athletic FC,
Wigan Council and its Out of School Hours Learning Team, Wigan and Leigh
United Against Racism and Greater Manchester Police.
John Hesketh, Community Regeneration Manager (Youth and Community
Development) for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said, “We are
delighted the Bedford High pupils have drawn on their personal
experiences to create a play that sends out the message racism is not
acceptable in any circumstances.
“The pupils have shown great enthusiasm and commitment throughout and,
as well as having great fun, they are tackling an important issue that
is relevant to their local community. This kind of activity shows the
value of the Kick It Out campaign and proves that football can reach
beyond the boundaries of the pitch to positively impact on race
relations in our communities.”
For further information about Kick Racism Out of Football’s national
‘Kick It Out’ campaign visit
www.kickitout.org For further information about Kick Racism
Out of Football locally visit
www.wlct.org/Sport/krof/krof.htm or telephone John Hesketh on
(01942) 486916.
-ends-
Notes to Editors
Photo opportunity
• Members of the press are invited to photograph the 3pm performance of
‘Kick and Tell’ at Bedford High School on Thursday October 25th. Please
ask for Pauline Birchall or Martin Green (Wigan Pier Theatre Company) at
the school reception on arrival.
Further information
• For further information contact Kennedy Stewart, Young People’s Press
Officer at Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, on (01942) 486927.
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