Charlton Vice-Chairman Paul Elliott CBE MBE and men's first-team duo Karlan Grant and Charlie Kelman recently visited an anti-racism workshop at The Valley delivered to local schoolchildren by Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) and Show Racism the Red Card, as part of the Trust's Premier League Primary Stars delivery.
The session provided young people with an opportunity to learn about the impact of racism and discrimination, how to challenge unacceptable behaviour and the importance of supporting others who may experience discrimination. Elliott, Grant and Kelman also took part in a question-and-answer session, sharing their experiences and highlighting the importance of supporting one another, challenging discrimination and speaking up when incidents occur.
The workshop took place ahead of the EFL's Together Against Racism campaign, which the club will mark this Saturday when Norwich City visit SE7. The campaign sees all 72 EFL clubs unite behind the Together Against Racism message and highlight the positive work taking place to tackle discrimination, support those affected and build a game where everyone feels they belong.
Grant, who appeared on Sky Sports News to discuss the workshop, said: “We came to The Valley today to see some local school children and explain to them about discrimination, and how important it is that they voice their opinion when they see stuff like that. It's a further bit of education and it’s amazing that the Trust provide these workshops.”
“The fact that we're trying to take a big stance on it and educate people from a young age and understand right from wrong is really good,” Kelman added, echoing Grant's sentiments.
“My generation didn't really get workshops like these and become educated on this sort of stuff, so it's nice to see the work that the Community Trust does.”
The workshop continued a longstanding partnership between CACT and Show Racism the Red Card, whose annual Wear Red Day campaign was marked last week, with the organisations regularly delivering anti-discrimination workshops to local schools through the Premier League Primary Stars programme.
Fran Ojo, CACT Senior Primary Education Officer, said: “We've had a longstanding relationship with Show Racism the Red Card. We work together two or three times a year with local primary schools as part of the Premier League Primary Stars programme to educate participants around discrimination and, in particular, anti-racism.
“This session also formed part of our wider preparations for Red, White and Black Day, which will see local primary schools support the club and CACT's annual celebration of equality, diversity and inclusion by taking part in the pre-match parade.”
Elliott praised the engagement shown by the young people throughout the session and the role football can play in uniting people, saying: “What really empowered me was listening to the young people. If you give young children those good habits where they're looking out for each other, then they're colourless, and that's the power of education and intervention so early in young people's lives.
“The messaging has been really positive and there is no power quite like the power of football to break down barriers, tackle racism and discrimination and bring people together.”