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Show Racism the Red Card and unionlearn – the TUC’s learning and skills organisation – have yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which commits both parties to working together to combat racism through education.

The agreement recognises the particular roles of each organisation in using education and training to end racism in UK society. Show Racism the Red Card will mainly work in schools and colleges, while unionlearn will use its network of 30,000 learning reps in workplaces across the UK. 

The MOU is being signed ahead of the annual unionlearn conference yesterday. Speakers at the conference include Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable MP, ex-Premiership footballer Paul Mortimer, who now works for Show Racism the Red Card, Chairman of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and Chairman of John Lewis Charlie Mayfield, and internationally-renowned author, TV script writer and journalist Veronica Henry.

Show Racism the Red Card is the UK’s anti-racism education charity. It utilises the high-profile of professional footballers as anti-racism role models and campaigns against racism through its publications, holding educational events and delivering educational workshops to adults and young people.

Chief Executive for Show Racism the Red Card Ged Grebby said: “Show Racism the Red Card was established in 1995 with the help of the public sector trade union UNISON. Since then we have made great strides in combating racism through anti-racism education, but we still have a long way to go.

“We see the trade union movement as central to the focus of combating racism through education and welcome the new MoU with the TUC and unionlearn. This formal agreement will lead to more partnership working with the trade union and we look forward to further joint events with the TUC and unionlearn.”

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Professional footballers too often face horrific and very public racial abuse, as we saw in a Champions League match in Moscow only last week.

“But Show Racism the Red Card has also shown that footballers can use their profile to be effective anti-racism ambassadors, particularly when speaking to young people.

“By working closely with Show Racism the Red Card, we can educate people and set about eradicating racism school-by-school, college-by-college and, through our network of 30,000 learning reps in workplaces across the UK.”

A MoU was also signed yesterday between The Age and Employment Network (TAEN) and unionlearn. The agreement commits both organisations to work together to support the employability and career progression of older and mid-life people in the workforce.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- Photo © Jess Hurd/Unionlearn. High resolution photos of the signing of the MoU with Frances O’Grady and Ged Grebby, as well as the unionlearn press conference, are available from the TUC press office.

- All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk

- Follow unionlearn on Twitter: @unionlearn