Building bridges and breaking down the barriers of hate through community sport: An anti-sectarian resource for informal settings

Published 01/01/2017.  Last updated 11/04/2023
sourceLearning resources schoolHealth and Wellbeing (HWB) groupsCommunity Learning and Development (CLD) groupsThird sector categoryInclusion Wellbeing and Equality

​​This resource includes both sport and educational activities that deliver various aspects of equalities and sectarianism education, using sports as a delivery vehicle, to address key hate behaviours that result in hate crime.

The flexible and modular make-up of this resource makes it ideal for delivery in a variety of community based environments. Evaluation suggests this resource compliments other learning within Curriculum for Excellence.

Explore this resource

It is recommended that staff read Tackling sectarianism: An overview of resources  and use the Timeline professional learning resource as preparation for delivering this anti-sectarian resource.

How to use this resource

This resource pack provides practitioners with the necessary tools to achieve four key outcomes:

  • promote inclusion, tolerance and understanding
  • address prejudice, discrimination, bigotry and hate behaviours
  • encourage personal and social responsibility
  • create a positive impact through community sport

The pack has been designed so that practitioners can easily adapt workshops to best suit the needs of the client group, from young children to adults.

Each workshop can be used in a variety of settings, delivered in short regular sessions or in more extended and structured workshops making them suitable for the classroom, community room, sports hall, changing room or even pitch side.

The resources satisfy several experiences and outcomes within the second level of Curriculum for Excellence. Topics include:

  • what have we got in common
  • bridges and Barriers fair play
  • what is sectarianism/prejudice/discrimination/ bigotry
  • the history of Celtic and Rangers
  • flags and songs
  • offensive behaviour at football and threatening communications
  • name calling
  • rumours, myths and mischief
  • sectarian myths and language
  • rights and responsibilities

A film which explains the project as well as written feedback from participants is available from North Kelvin Sports:

Bridges & Barriers - North Kelvin Sports

Improvement questions

  • How does this work link with the  range of protected characteristics that are defined by the Equality Act (2010)?
  • To what extent do our community members understand the concept of sectarianism?
  • Do we offer our community members the opportunity to explore their own life experiences in relation to sectarianism?
  • How far as a community do we challenge bigotry, prejudice and discrimination towards members, or presumed members, of a religious denomination?

Content author

Bridges and Barriers is a Scottish Government funded anti-sectarian and equalities project that is being delivered into the North-West of Glasgow by the North Kelvin Sports Development Group.

Download the resource

PDF file: Building bridges and breaking down the barriers of hate through community sport: an anti-sectarian resource for informal settings (1.6 KB)

Building bridges and breaking down the barriers of hate through community sport: An anti-sectarian resource for informal settings

Published 01/01/2017.  Last updated 11/04/2023
sourceLearning resources schoolHealth and Wellbeing (HWB) groupsCommunity Learning and Development (CLD) groupsThird sector categoryInclusion Wellbeing and Equality

​​This resource includes both sport and educational activities that deliver various aspects of equalities and sectarianism education, using sports as a delivery vehicle, to address key hate behaviours that result in hate crime.

The flexible and modular make-up of this resource makes it ideal for delivery in a variety of community based environments. Evaluation suggests this resource compliments other learning within Curriculum for Excellence.

Explore this resource

It is recommended that staff read Tackling sectarianism: An overview of resources  and use the Timeline professional learning resource as preparation for delivering this anti-sectarian resource.

How to use this resource

This resource pack provides practitioners with the necessary tools to achieve four key outcomes:

  • promote inclusion, tolerance and understanding
  • address prejudice, discrimination, bigotry and hate behaviours
  • encourage personal and social responsibility
  • create a positive impact through community sport

The pack has been designed so that practitioners can easily adapt workshops to best suit the needs of the client group, from young children to adults.

Each workshop can be used in a variety of settings, delivered in short regular sessions or in more extended and structured workshops making them suitable for the classroom, community room, sports hall, changing room or even pitch side.

The resources satisfy several experiences and outcomes within the second level of Curriculum for Excellence. Topics include:

  • what have we got in common
  • bridges and Barriers fair play
  • what is sectarianism/prejudice/discrimination/ bigotry
  • the history of Celtic and Rangers
  • flags and songs
  • offensive behaviour at football and threatening communications
  • name calling
  • rumours, myths and mischief
  • sectarian myths and language
  • rights and responsibilities

A film which explains the project as well as written feedback from participants is available from North Kelvin Sports:

Bridges & Barriers - North Kelvin Sports

Improvement questions

  • How does this work link with the  range of protected characteristics that are defined by the Equality Act (2010)?
  • To what extent do our community members understand the concept of sectarianism?
  • Do we offer our community members the opportunity to explore their own life experiences in relation to sectarianism?
  • How far as a community do we challenge bigotry, prejudice and discrimination towards members, or presumed members, of a religious denomination?

Content author

Bridges and Barriers is a Scottish Government funded anti-sectarian and equalities project that is being delivered into the North-West of Glasgow by the North Kelvin Sports Development Group.

Download the resource

PDF file: Building bridges and breaking down the barriers of hate through community sport: an anti-sectarian resource for informal settings (1.6 KB)