Rutherglen and Cambuslang pupils attend anti-racism event

Oct 28 2009 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

RUTHERGLEN and Cambuslang primary pupils were encouraged to Show Racism the Red Card at an event in Rutherglen Town Hall.

The venture has been held for the last five years and encourages children to boot out racist behaviour.

The event is run by jointly by South Lanarkshire Leisure, South Lanarkshire Council, Cambuslang and Rutherglen Sports Council, Active Schools coordinators and trade union Unison.

This year the project has additional partners in Sportworx and South Lanarkshire Council community wardens.

The project is educational and activity-based and started with a DVD presentation in the Town Hall.

A total of 260 youngsters from 10 primary schools attended.

On the following day, there was non-stop cricket and a football festival, again education-based but allows the kids to get active with the project.

The number of participants taking part in this year’s ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ campaign is 500, the biggest in the South Lanarkshire area.

Since the first event in 2004, Provost Russell Clearie has been a fantastic supporter of the project.

Valerie Kemp, area manager from South Lanarkshire Leisure, gives her full support in promoting and running the event.

The message that is sent out from the event is simply that racism has no place in our area, in sport and in our lives. As Provost Clearie pointed out in his speech, when you listen to music, does it matter what colour or race the singer is if you like the music?

Councillor Denis McKenna also attended the event and said he was delighted that there was such a great turn-out for such a high-profile event.

This year an additional feature of the campaign was the arts competition, which was won by Sean Mullen from Calderwood Primary School.

Active schools coordinator David McKegney was happy with the turn-out and the enthusiasm of the kids for the whole event and thanked all the partners involved.

The campaign was also the last big event David will be organising in the area as he is leaving South Lanarkshire Active Schools for a new position with Sports Coach UK.

Provost Russell Clearie also presented David with a gift from the sports council and Active Schools.

Jim Sheerin from the Cambuslang and Rutherglen Sports Council was delighted with the way the event went.

He said: “With the level of commitment and response from the kids and partners involved, we hope we will show Show Racism the Red Card in the Cambuslang and Rutherglen area.”

Provost Russell Clearie said: “It’s a fantastic event and a big thank-you to all the partners involved. The 10 schools that were present brought 250 kids and it was absolutely fabulous. The message that they were singing back to us really snows they know what the event is all about.”