The University of Nottingham’s Trent Building will be lit up in red floodlights on the evening of Friday 19 October, to mark Wear Red Day.

The University Boulevard side of the historic building will be illuminated from 6pm, Friday 19 October to about 4am, Saturday 20 October – with the light visible to travellers on University Boulevard and passengers on the tram line.

The display coincides with Wear Red Day – an anti-racism campaign that takes place on Friday 19 October in England and is organised by education charity Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC). The Trent Building joins other iconic buildings nationwide that will be lighting up red on the day – from the Liver Building to Newcastle’s Millennium Bridge and the Nottingham Council House.

Organising charity SRtRC delivers anti-racism workshops to more than 50,000 young people every year in schools throughout England, Scotland and Wales, as well as providing training to teachers. The charity’s educational work is crucial in challenging racist attitudes in society and breaking down barriers within communities. It aims to combat racism through enabling role models, who are predominately but not exclusively footballers, to present an anti-racist message.

The light display follows a visit by the England Football Ladies to the David Ross Sports Village on Sunday 7 October, during which the Lionesses showed a red card to racism.

On Thursday 25 October SRtRC will host a free, open event at the University of Nottingham where a screening will be shown for the new ‘Show Racism the Red Card Film’. This event will feature a range of inspiring speakers discussing how we can end racism in sport and wider society – and will include two ex-professional footballers, Chris Iwelumo and Chris Freestone, who have pledged support to the campaign.

Ged Grebby, Chief Executive at SRtRC, said: “Show Racism the Red Card have been overwhelmed with the amount of support we have had for Wear Red Day 2018. At a time of growing Race Hate Crime across the UK it is important that anti-racist assert that we are in the majority and we will step up our efforts to oppose all racism.

“Thanks to the University of Nottingham for showing solidarity with our campaign and lighting up the Trent Building. We urge all anti-racists to ‘Wear Red’ on Friday and make your stand with the education work we do.”

The lighting of the Trent Building has been organised with the support of Lenford Vassell, Equality & Diversity Officer within UoN (Unite) and the BME Network. The events are also taking place during Black History Month, which is being celebrated throughout October. The University has a programme of events taking place for Black History Month – more details can be found on the People and Culture blog.

Professor Sarah Sharples, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Nottingham, said: “We are proud to get involved in this important campaign. Equality, diversity and inclusion is a crucial and central pillar in all we do at the University of Nottingham and we are very pleased to be able to highlight our support for Wear Red Day.”

Want to get involved in Wear Red Day? You can attend an event, tweet using the hashtag #WRD18 or show your support by donning a red outfit on Friday 19 October. Don’t forget to look out of pictures of the illuminated tower on Twitter this Friday evening!