Levelling the Playing Field has facilitated anti-racism education for young people and staff in the secure estate by linking up with the charity Show Racism the Red Card.
Show Racism the Red Card started sessions with staff at HMP & YOI Parc in Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan on 29 March, focusing on awareness, manifestations and impact of racism in the secure estate.
The next step is delivering sessions with young people in Parc’s young persons’ unit which will combine with sport and physical activity sessions delivered by Dallaglio RugbyWorks and Cardiff City Foundation.
At its heart, Levelling the Playing Field is an EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) project which aims to tackle the problem of over-representation in the youth justice system through the power of sport and physical activity. Linking up partners to deliver this anti-racism project in the youth estate is part of that ethos.
Show Racism the Red Card’s anti-racism education sessions form part of a new enrichment project at HMP & YOI Parc which sees young people given opportunities to earn their Duke of Edinburgh awards as well as working with coaches from Dallaglio RugbyWorks and Tennis Wales.
Dallaglio RugbyWorks have recently become a specialist partner on the Levelling the Playing Field project and join our other partners working in the secure estate; Sports Connect, Sharks Community Foundation and Climb Unity.
Dean Pymble, Campaign Manager for Show Racism the Red Card, is delivering four sessions for staff at HMP & YOI Parc. The sessions with young people will consist of three sessions per group, each delivered over six weeks.
Dean said: “Our work is very engaging and empowering for young people and is designed to bring about lots of young people-led conversations. Peer-led learning is essential.
“We look at how racism is manifested, stereotypes and understanding how stereotypes are created. We look to develop their critical thinking skills around the subject.”
The course looks at the use, history and power of terminology and challenging the use of certain words in the secure setting, even if they’re used as terms of endearment. Strategies to challenge racism (whether it is direct and intentional or otherwise) are also explored.
Dean explains: “We talk about rephrasing, questioning and challenging racism (directly and indirectly) and when to withdraw from a situation if young people don’t feel safe and the situation might escalate.
“We also talk about identity and allyship – how to support targets of racism – and we create an anti-racism action plan.”
Sessions with staff will help them developing understanding and definitions of racism, its manifestations and its impact both in the Criminal Justice System and wider society.
As well as informing them about statutory duties and key reports and recommendations, sessions will help them reflect on their own world view and how this may influence their practice.
This work feeds into the EDI Forum which has been developed at the Parc young persons’ unit by Enrichment Officer, Jamie Williams.
He says: “The young people we have here are extremely complex. Our EDI Forum has boys in it from lots of different ethnicities so this project with Show Racism the Red Card will raise awareness of what to do if they feel racism has occurred.
“It will educate all our young people about the wider context of their language and behaviour. Education is absolutely key and hopefully that will help them post-release.”
Jamie feels that blending the one-hour sessions with an hour of sport and physical activity is essential to encouraging young people’s engagement.
“From 23 years in the prison service, there’s no doubt in my mind that sport and physical activity is the key to reduce reoffending. Working with outside agencies and educating by using the power of sport is such an important tool.”
Levelling the Playing Field is also partnering with Show Racism the Red Card and the NOVUS education team to co-design a similar programme for young people inside HMP/YOI Wetherby in West Yorkshire. More news will come on this in the near future.