If you’re a football lover, the name Shaka Hislop may be familiar to you. But did you know the former Newcastle United goalie is also the honouree president of the UK’s leading anti-racism educational charity, Show Racism the Red Card? SRtRC was established in 1996, and it was around the same time Hislop recently experienced a moment of racial abuse that propelled his desire to drive more activism into the sports scene.

You can hear a recount of the event from the footballer himself on SRtRC’s Youtube and Website about a night when, filling up his car at a gas station with his wife and daughter, a group of youths begun to shout racial abuse at him before recognising him as the Newcastle United Footballer and asking for an autograph. This moment inspired him with “the power of the individual” and how footballers can use their social impact as a positive force. Since then, his original donation to the charity helped kickstart their mission and several other iconic football players – even England manager Gareth Southgate – have appeared in the charity’s educational films. The charity produces educational resources to “challenge misconceptions, stereotypes and negative attitudes in society” that can be delivered in the classroom by teachers to their students as well as workshops that have been delivered to more than 50,000 individuals per year across the UK.  

You can read all about SRtRC’s mission and their amazing work challenging racism in the sports world and society on their website, as well as how to donate and get involved: and one way to do that is taking part in this year’s Wear Red Day! 

This Friday 20^th October is the annual day where the charity calls for individuals to show their support by wearing red. Last year the charity had 440,000 individuals register their support on Wear Red Day and every year is a new opportunity to beat that number and get even more people standing up to racism by showing their true colours. As a university, this Friday we want to see as many people as possible donning the vibrant colour to show support for this amazing campaign and its message. As SRtRC states themselves on their website: 

“Every heart and every mind that we change changes at least one life but has the capacity to change hundreds if not thousands of others.” – Show Racism The Red Card, Wear Red Day 2023 

If you don’t own any red clothes – or just want to show even more support – SRtRC have an exclusive Wear Red Day t-shirt that you can buy on their website along with badges, wristbands and even their own magazine! The Red Card magazine features personal stories from people who have dealt with racism as well as information that shows us how to tackle racism in “an educational and inspirational way”. Once you’ve donned your red colours, be sure to snap and selfie and use the hashtag #WRD23 to add yourself to the cause. If you or someone you know is involved with teaching or working in schools, let them know they can register on their Wear Red Day 2023 website page and receive a fundraising pack as well as free downloadable assets.  

So this Friday we want to see the University’s social medias flooded with red colours and bold individuals who are giving Racism the Red Card. It can be anything from your shirt to your socks – and to see some official Show Racism The Red Card products would be amazing too! – and if you are financially able to do so, consider making a donation to the charity to help fund its brilliant inspiration and educational work. You don’t need to know anything about football to make a stand and be a positive impact in society!