Barnsley College students able to recognise and confront racism
They've been learning about the issue through Anti-Racism Workshops
Last updated 26th Oct 2024
With the number of religious hate crimes surging across England and Wales, a South Yorkshire college has been putting on anti-racism workshops to educate youngsters on the issue.
Barnsley College students are stepping up in the fight against racism through impactful and educational Anti-Racism Workshops.
Led by the UK’s leading anti-racism education charity, Show Racism the Red Card, the workshops are hoping to give students vital skills to recognise, understand, and confront racism in their everyday lives.
This engaging initiative, organised by the College’s Enterprise team, aims to cultivate awareness, empathy, and proactive action against racial injustice with the workshops offered to students across all subject areas.
Students who attended the first lot of workshops described them as ‘empowering’ and one student shared, “I feel more confident in standing up for what’s right and creating a more inclusive environment at College.”
The workshop is said to be essential in light of the 140,561 hate crimes recorded in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024, despite an overall 5% decrease; notably, religious hate crimes surged by 25%.
By equipping students to identify and address various forms of racism, including Islamophobia and antisemitism, the College hopes the workshops empower them to challenge racism and foster positive change in their communities.
Lucy Evans, Cultural Capital and Personal Development Coordinator at the College, who organised the workshops, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be working with Show Racism the Red Card and equipping students with both the knowledge and confidence to challenge racism, stand as allies, and champion equality in our local community.
“These lifelong skills will empower them to build a more inclusive, respectful society - we look forward to welcoming Show Racism the Red Card back next month for future workshops, ensuring every student is part of this important journey.”
The College also participated in Show Racism the Red Card’s Wear It Red Day, with a range of activities including visits from the Barnsley FC U21 squad, Barnsley City of Sanctuary, South Yorkshire Police, and the Educational Learning Support Hub.