A GROUP of youngsters across Teesside have come together to champion racial justice in schools.

Academy players at Middlesbrough FC have launched the new Teesside Trailblazers initiative to act against racial justice in classrooms, playgrounds and on football pitches.

After experiencing racism play across communities the Teesside Trailblazers are using their own experience of recognising and tackling racism as a team to inspire other young people to fight the issue.

Middlesbrough FC U18s player and Teesside Trailblazer George Gitau, said: “Tackling racism is important to me because I’ve experienced it, and my experiences might not be as bad as some other people who are from different backgrounds, but it’s still has meaning and is important to me.

“I am proud of our record of tackling racism. As a team, we’ve done this through sharing our experiences, speaking out and education.

“I know people look up to football players as role models and that our club is at the heart of the Teesside community. We can help make a big difference if we promote the right messages on and off the pitch.” 

The Northern Echo:

Read more: Inspiring Darlington golf coach gets national award for revamping club's junior programme

Up to 950 people in schools across the region have signed up to take part in the new scheme – and more schools have been encouraged to take part.

One primary school and one secondary school from the Tees Valley will have a chance to visit the Middlesbrough FC training ground as a reward for their outstanding work.

Fellow academy player Tylah Wallace-Ming recalled how he has been the victim of racist abuse before.

“I’ve had experiences in the past,” he said, “and my parents have, and it’s really not a nice feeling. It’s something that’s not right in our society.

“We came together to create a group to try to understand what racism is and how emotional it makes us.”

 

Yacou Toure believes children should be educated about racism and the threat it poses from an early age.

He said: “In this modern world everyone should be equal, it all starts from the basics from young. If they’re taught from young and how they shouldn’t be racist and how they should apply themselves in life I think it would be very good for the future.”

And Ash McCarthy hopes for a united, collaborative approach across society in tackling racism in years to come. “It doesn’t matter what skin colour you are, what religion or country you’re from, we’re all human at the end of the day so we should all be together,” he said.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054