Schoolchildren from across Tameside came together this week for a special celebration event marking the end of a borough‑wide programme of anti‑racism workshops and interactive theatre sessions.
The initiative, funded by Tameside Council’s Community Safety Partnership, brought two powerful productions, Coming Home and The Great British Lie, to both primary and secondary schools.
Delivered by Odd Arts and Show Racism the Red Card, the sessions helped pupils explore how to recognise, challenge and respond to racism in their everyday lives.
Following the workshops, each school was invited to send a small group of pupils to a celebration day at Curzon Ashton.
The event gave children the chance to continue the conversations sparked in the classroom, deepen their understanding, and reflect creatively on what they had learned.
One of the highlights was a collaborative art activity, where pupils created pieces representing the past, present and future of Tameside through the lens of anti‑racism.
Their artwork will soon be displayed at Portland Basin Museum in Ashton, giving the wider community an opportunity to see the children’s perspectives.
The day also featured a special visit from Winston Jones, whose real‑life experiences during the Windrush scandal inspired the play Coming Home.
Jones shared his story directly with the children, offering a powerful and personal insight into how racism has affected people within the local community. Pupils were able to ask questions and hear first‑hand how his experiences shaped the production they had seen.
Cllr Stephen Homer, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Towns, Transport and Connectivity, praised the project’s impact.
“This has been a really powerful project and it’s excellent to see follow‑up conversations taking place with the pupils involved,” he said. “The day was an opportunity for the schools involved to come together for a day of anti‑racism, creativity and celebration of Tameside’s community.
Continuing the conversation is so important to ensure the learning really sinks in. I hope the students carry this learning forward to help create safer, more supportive communities across Tameside.”