Events to take place ahead of Charlton Athletic’s Red, White & Black Day
Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) is hosting two free webinar sessions in March as part of this year’s Red, White and Black Day, together with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, Charlton Athletic Football Club and University of Greenwich.
The Red, White and Black Day initiative held at The Valley has been part of the Charlton fabric for over 25 years and celebrates the diversity of the club and its surrounding areas. This year’s matchday will be taking place on 1 April before Charlton Athletic face Shrewsbury Town.
The webinars will be celebrating the life and legacy of Stephen Lawrence as this year marks 30 years since his murder in Eltham. On Monday 27 March, Charlton Athletic men’s first team players Sean Clare and Michael Hector will join the club’s Head of First Team Player Care Tracey Leaburn for a webinar around the theme of ‘All Together, All Different, All Charlton’, hosted by Charlotte Richardson. On Tuesday 28 March, Dr Leroi Henry, a University of Greenwich Senior Lecturer, will be hosting a webinar with Paul Elliott CBE, the FA’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Special Advisor to the Chair and CEO; Jess Neil, CEO of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation; and Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE, the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation’s Founder and Chair, said:
"In April three decades will have passed since we lost Stephen, just a stone's throw away from Charlton Athletic, a club deeply ingrained in the fabric of the local community. This connection imbues the club with a unique significance for me and my family. We are tremendously proud of our partnership with Charlton Athletic and the efforts they've undertaken over the years to honour Stephen's memory by fostering diversity, inclusion, and equity through initiatives like the Red, White & Black matchdays."
Jessica Neil said:
"Sport, particularly football, has the power to bring people together, regardless of race, religion, or background. It is essential for us to work collectively, utilising this platform to foster empathy, respect, and connection in our communities.
“Charlton Athletic has long been a champion of unity and diversity in football, both on and off the pitch, and the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation is proud to join forces with the club, working together to inspire a kinder and more equitable environment for everyone who loves the beautiful game."
University of Greenwich Vice Chancellor, Professor Jane Harrington said:
"The University of Greenwich is absolutely committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our Race Action Plan reinforces our commitment to race equality and working in partnership is a key in helping us to deliver our objectives. We are proud to be working with Charlton Athletic Football Club, its Community Trust and the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation for Charlton’s upcoming Red, White and Black Day fixture.
“Both Sport and Education have the power to drive change, and we are immensely proud of our partnership, which promotes equality and celebrates diversity at every opportunity. We are looking forward to what promises to be a fantastic week."
Dr Michael Seeraj, CACT and the club’s Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), said:
“Charlton Athletic has a long, proud history of promoting equality and tackling discrimination. Over a quarter of a century ago our pioneering fans, alongside the club, led the way in professional football, establishing a ground-breaking partnership with the local council, with a specific remit to tackle racism. Red, White and Black Day formed part of this and has now been a permanent fixture on the Charlton Athletic calendar for over 30 years. Both Charlton and CACT are now recognised as one of the leading club and trusts, in the field of EDI.
“This season we are delighted to be working in partnership with the University of Greenwich and the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, to host two online panel discussions, looking at football and equality. We have an excellent range of panellists who will offer different perspectives – from a professional player point of view, and from a wider, organisational standpoint. I am really looking forward to both sessions - and this is another example of Charlton leading the way 30 years on.”
The webinars are also supported by the EFL and EFL Trust.
Make sure to book your free place on the two webinar sessions now!