#SRtRCSpotlight: International Women’s Day 2026 event at Stamford Bridge
On Thursday 19th March 2026, our Southern England Manager, Martina Barton, was invited along to Stamford Bridge Stadium, as a guest at The Paul Canoville Foundation’s second annual International Women’s Day event. The theme of this year’s event: Give to Gain.
Fittingly, the event was held in the stadium’s Canoville Suite. Paul Canoville of course being Chelsea FC’s first black player, as well as being a long-time patron of Show Racism the Red Card.
Students from schools in West London, Warwickshire and Nuneaton gathered in the morning to take part in the ChangeLab workshop. Each table was given a different challenge rooted in the Give to Gain theme, covering everything from mentoring and advocacy to allyship and visibility. The brief to students was simple: discuss, create one practical idea, and pitch it to the room in 60 seconds.
The Changemaker panel was made up of professionals from across the world of football, media, policing, and the charity sector and included;
- Martina Barton — Show Racism the Red Card
- Perry Groves — TalkSport & Show Racism the Red Card
- Leonie Carpenter — TalkSport & Chelsea TV
- Niall Couper — FairGame
- Frederick Afrifa — The Apprentice & athlete
- Det Insp Donna — Metropolitan Police
- PC Kurtiss — Metropolitan Police
- Alice Braybrook — Chelsea Foundation
- Alexa Loukas — Fearless / Crimestoppers
- Omari Elliott — The Football Association
- Andy Pitchford — University of Westminster
The Changemaker panel then chose the idea that they felt stood out above the rest. Details of that chosen idea will be unveiled by Team Canoville on their Substack in due course (https://teamcanoville.substack.com).
The afternoon session gave the young people showcase their creative talents, focussing on performance and art. Nuneaton Academy’s choir opened with a number from the musical Six – a fitting choice for a day celebrating women’s stories. This was followed by poems, speeches, and a music. Students from George Eliot Academy, Heath Lane Academy, and Hartshill Academy all performed original work inspired by the Give to Gain theme, with prizes being awarded to the best pieces.
Your contribution as a changemaker made a real difference to the young people in the room. Seeing our students engage with your story, your experiences, and your honesty was genuinely powerful, and that kind of connection is exactly what the Paul Canoville Foundation is here to create.”
Raphael, Paul & the Foundation Team
Thank you to everyone at The Paul Canoville Foundation for inviting us to Give to Gain and for your kind feedback. An overwhelmingly positive day was had by all involved, which Martina was proud to be part of on behalf of Show Racism the Red Card.