Young football fans join Ford to 'kick it out'

Ford is backing football's anti-racism campaign called Kick It Out with an activity day at Dagenham attracting 100 London youngsters joined by stars of the game.

The day of football-related learning and games at Dagenham's Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) on October 20 is billed by Kick It Out as one of the biggest local events in their national week of action.

Around 20 schools from Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Newham boroughs are bringing along 11 to 14-year-old pupils. Players from nearby Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club, Arsenal and England physio Gary Lewin, ex-West Ham and Spurs player Paul Allen and Bobby Barnes, also formerly West Ham, are due to attend.

They will help budding players hone their footballing skills on penalty shoot-out games between learning more about the Kick It Out campaign.

Bob Blenkinsop, Ford Dagenham human resources manager, said: "This is a collaborative effort involving CEME, Thames Gateway Youth Football Project, Dagenham Motors and Dagenham & Redbridge FC. Kick It Out is a fantastic campaign that uses football as a way of promoting social inclusion and encouraging young people to value diversity.

"Given our links with football – as the only original UEFA Champions League sponsors and Thames Gateway Youth Football Project partners – this is a great opportunity for Ford Dagenham to support neighbouring schools during Kick It Out's week of action."

On October 20 Ford employees working on the adjoining Dagenham estate will show their support for Kick It Out by wearing their favourite football strip to work in return for a charity donation.

Piara Powar, Kick It Out director, said: "More than a million people will join hands during the week of action under the banner of One Game, One Community. We hope this show of unity will illustrate how football can be used to promote inclusion and celebrate diversity.

"We are delighted to be working with Ford, and partners in the Dagenham area, on an initiative that will have a lasting impact. The importance of working with Ford, and other sections of the footballing community, is hugely important for our message. Ford is to be congratulated for an enlightened approach to issues that impact on its local communities."