South Ayrshire Council News

Show Racism the Red Card

South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership is taking part in a national initiative to tackle racism and highlight problems caused by racial abuse.

Community Support Officers from the Partnership, who work in the Ayr North and Wallacetown areas, have launched a series of events and projects to tackle racism. The launch was held in Russell Street in Ayr.

The Officers will be working with Junior Community Supporter Officers and various community groups to help ‘Show Racism the Red Card’.

Once exciting project is an Easter football tournament planned for 2008, that has been sponsored by Unison, which will bring together boys and girls with a common interest in football.

Speaking about the initiative Councillor Hugh Hunter, the Leader of South Ayrshire Council said: “Racism is not acceptable, whether it is racist graffiti, racial stereotyping or disrespecting other peoples cultures. The Community Support Officers are working very closely with their community to eradicate racism, and I would like to thank them for all their hard work. Eradicating racism is something that must be done, so that people can live and work together in harmony.”

Junior Community Support Officers will work alongside the Community Support Officers to help detect and remove graffiti. The Junior Officers will carry the anti racism message into their schools and let their peers know that it is not acceptable behaviour.

An anti racist art project is another way in which the young people will cascade the news that racist behaviour is not acceptable. Community Support Officers will be working on the art project that will see the side of a local store being painted by young people from the community.