SRtRC: Scotland celebrates 15 year Perth & Kinross Partnership.

Officials from SRtRC: Scotland, St Johnstone’s community trust Saints in the Community, and members of the Perth and Kinross council gathered in Perth chambers to celebrate fifteen years of successful partnership working. This proactive programme was established to embed active anti-racism education across schools and normalise inclusive cultures within schools, sport and society. SRtRC: Scotland is incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of the Council, Saints in the community, St Johnstone Football Club and Unison to allow this impactful work to continue.

As it turns fifteen, this partnership is the longest running of its kind with any local authority in Scotland with anti-racism education sessions being first delivered in schools and communities in Perth and Kinross in 2008. During this time work has been delivered across the authority, including to Perth College, Perth Prison, adult community groups, grassroots sports teams, youth organisations, football supporters, teachers, pupils, parents, and elected representatives within the council. Show Racism the Red Card’s material has been delivered through the tireless efforts of Saints in the Community, who have engaged 13,708 young people in schools and many more in other communities and contexts.

From left to right, Perth & Kinross Council’s equalities lead Councillor Peter Barrett, SRtRC Scotland’s Chris Priestey, Saints in the Community Chief Executive Francis Smith, and Perth and Kinross Council’s Learning and Families convener John Rebbeck.

Since its inception this partnership has been the location of multiple milestones for the organisation, including the first local authority to deliver SRtRC:Scotland’s programme of Islamophobia workshops to local secondary schools (2009), it’s Peer Educator Programme (2012), it’s Refugee & Asylum Seeker inclusion workshops (2014), and it’s ‘Out of Site’ workshops (2016) that challenge racism directed towards Traveller communities across Scotland.

Speaking after the event equalities lead councillor Peter Barrett had this to say,

“The preventative work Show Racism the Red Card does in our schools is invaluable.It challenges children and young people to consider discrimination and what to do when they encounter it.”

Councillor John Rebbeck who is the authority’s learning and families convenor said:

“Having attended sessions myself, it is a fantastic programme and explains the harm discrimination of any kind can cause.”

Chris Priestley who manages the team at SRtRC: Scotland shared the following reflection:

“We are extremely proud to work within a partnership where active Anti-Racism is such a clear and continuing priority. With the continuing diversification of the region we are determined to support this project and those like it that normalise inclusion, justice and anti-discrimination.”

Pupils from North Muirton and Tulloch primary schools engaged in an anti-racism pupil summit at McDiarmid Park in March 2023.

Show Racism the Red Card: Scotland would like to thank everyone involved in the partnership during its fifteen years, including staff past and present at Saints in the Community, SRtRC: Scotland, and Perth and Kinross council, as well as staff and volunteers at all participating schools and community organisations. In particular we would like to place on record our gratitude to SRtRC Hall of Fame inductee and Perth and Kinross Council employee David Mcphee, executive director of education and children’s services Sheena Devlin who spoke in support at the ceremony, and long standing Saints in the community educators and coaches Josh Henderson and Danny Griffin.

We are excited to continue this important work fo the next 15 years and beyond!