QPR take part in schools programme to tackle hate crime and prejudice
Categories: Latest News
Tuesday February 14 2017
Local news website London News Online reports on an initiative launched by Queen’s Park Rangers football club to tackle hate crime and abuse in West London.
The site reports that the club’s project follows rising concerns over racist abuse in the area. A Muslim woman was reportedly spat on as she ate with friends at a fish and chip shop in Hammersmith last month while a man was convicted in the same week for distributing “vile anti-Islam propagandaaround a Fulham park”.
The recent incidents follow last year’s graffiti and xenophobic criminal damage incident at the Polish Social and Cultural Association building in Hammersmith. The police have lately released CCTV images of a suspect sought in connection with the incident.
QPR football club is now planning to team up with local teachers to tackle abuse by running anti-racism workshops as part of its ‘Stop the Hate’ programme.
Coaches from the club’s community trust will be working with Show Racism the Red Card tutors to provide the educational workshops at five schools close to the club’s Loftus Road football ground in Shepherd’s Bush.
The classes, which are supported by the local council and the National Union of Teachers, will also see pupils pay a special visit to the football ground as an incentive.
Steve Goodsell, from Show Racism the Red Card, said “Our joint ‘Stop the Hate’ educational initiative is truly innovative and will play a part in promoting community cohesion in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and in keeping children safe.”
Mark Hopper, from the NUT, said schools had a “huge part to play in empowering children and young people to recognise prejudice and racism” by providing them with the tools to “stand up against discrimination in all its forms”.
Hammersmith and Fulham council has announced that it will be staging another Unity Day event following last year’s trial event at Ravenscourt Park which saw “thousands of residents turn out with placards and banners decrying racism and discrimination”.