Anti-sectarian charity in cash boost to tour schools
A CHARITY set up to rid Scotland of sectarianism has been given funding to expand its work.
Nil By Mouth will receive £3600 of funding to organise the ‘Kiss Bigotry Goodbye’ tour in schools, football clubs and community projects.
The group was founded by former Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year, Cara Henderson in memory of her friend who was murdered.
The tour will be running as part of the ‘Football People’ campaign which runs across Europe from October 5 to 19, organised by Football Against Racism Europe to promote diversity and inclusion.
More than 100,000 people are expected to take part in activities across 43 countries.
During the tour, Nil by Mouth will host a series of events, workshops and cultural exchanges focusing on how football can challenge intolerance.
Schools, football clubs and community projects in Glasgow will be visited by the charity to offer a mix of sporting events, educational work- shops and panel discussions with figures from the world of football.
One of the tasks will include briefing MSPs on the proposed induction of Uefa’s Strict Liability principles into the Scottish game in an effort to hold the sport to account for repeated instances of sectarian, racist, sexist and homophobic behaviour in the stands.
Nil by Mouth Campaign Director Dave Scott said: “We are very excited to have been chosen to be part of this European initiative to promote equality through sport. There can be no denying that Scottish football has clear problems with sectarianism and also needs to do more to ensure that other forms of abuse are tackled effectively. We also aim to show that Scottish football can be a beautiful thing which brings people together each week right across the country.”
Cara launched Nil By Mouth in memory of her friend Mark Scott, who was killed for wearing a Celtic scarf as he made his way through Bridgeton after watching his team play at Celtic Park.