#SRtRCSpotlight: Anti-racism education in partnership with Sunderland City Council & Together for Children
In the summer of 2025, the North East Education Team secured funding from Sunderland City Council and Together for Children to deliver a programme of anti-racism education to 25 schools in the local authority area.
The partnership was developed in response to the riot activity that took place in parts of the city in late August 2024, and has seen Show Racism the Red Card work closely with representatives from the Council and Together For Children to identify schools to participate in the programme in areas where communities were affected by the rioting and the subsequent divisions among local communities.
Schools were identified through a series of information sharing events at Head Teachers Forums and through regular consultation with service leads at Together for Children at the start of this academic year with delivery beginning in December 2025 and delivered intensely since schools returned in early January 2026.
Young people workshops
Each school has received a series of one-hour workshops for classes of young people in years 5 & 6.
Workshop aims:
- A deeper understanding of racism and its impact on both individuals and society
- Increased awareness of their responsibility to challenge racism and practical ways to do so
- Enhanced critical thinking skills to identify and question stereotypes, media and social media bias
- Greater knowledge of appropriate and respectful terminology related to ethnicity
Teacher Training
Each participating school has received two hours of Teacher Training, designed to achieve the following aims and to support them in continuing to develop approaches to ensure that the young people in their care are educated about racism and its impact and that the schools continue to foster an environment that is safe and inclusive for all:
Following participation in Show Racism the Red Card training, Teachers will:
- Understand the need to critically reflect on their personal prejudices and professional practice
- Have a greater understanding of appropriate terminology relating to ethnicity
- Have an increased understanding of how to recognise racism
- Be better equipped to respond to incidents of racism
- Be more aware of the need for a culturally affirming curriculum/school ethos for all pupils
- Be more aware for the need for anti-racism practice
To date, the North East Education Team have delivered anti-racism education workshops to 769 children and young people in 12 identified schools, and teacher training to 82 teachers across 5 partnership schools.
Here’s what some of the children and young people who have taken part in the programme have had to say about their experiences:
“It is important to treat everyone fairly, actions affect others so think before you speak, especially in this context.”
“We are all human. If we were all the same the world would be boring.”
About stereotypes..
“We should not call each other the bad word. We shouldn’t judge people for who they are. We shouldn’t be mean to people.”
“The history of racism and that we share 99.9% DNA”
“I absolutely loved the workshop and can’t wait for you to come again. Thank you!”
By the end of project delivery in July 2026, the programme will have worked directly with over 1475 children and young people, and over 200 teachers across the 25 participating schools and settings.
We asked participating teachers what the biggest thing they learned from the training was:
“Able to make my lessons more inclusive, as I now know where to start to make changes within the classroom setting.”
“How to better recognise and identify the culture within my school”
“Not worrying about saying the wrong thing. I feel confident to speak to parents/carers on the subject.”
“To not dismiss racism, ensure it is addressed, and children are educated about racism”
Coming next
As part of the partnership agreement, Show Racism the Red Card are also delivering two anti-racism education events in partnership with Sunderland AFC. The events will see classes of children and young people from five schools take part in a carousel of anti-racism education workshops, including one which focuses on the transmission of racism online and the role of young people in protecting themselves and others. Each class will also be treated to a special tour of the Stadium of Light.
Later, they’ll have the chance to demonstrate their learning by putting their questions about the issue of racism to a panel of special guests, including current and former professional footballers from the club, along with other key stakeholders. They’ll also have the opportunity to take in the Sunderland AFC First Black XI exhibition, an initiative that showcase the contributions of the first eleven black players to play for the club, developed in partnership between Show Racism the Red Card and the football club, funded by The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and The FA. The first of two events is scheduled for Tuesday 17th February.
To find out more about how your school or Local Authority can get involved with Show Racism the Red Card in the North East, please complete our enquiry form, with details of the issues that you are looking to tackle.