A project aimed at stamping out hate crime in the Kensington area of Liverpool has been shortlisted for a UK Housing Award.
Stop the Hate - a six month campaign to raise awareness of different cultures and tackle anti-social behaviour - was chosen from 250 entries nationally as a finalist in the Creating Safer Communities category.
Organised by the As One partnership and funded by housing association Riverside and Citysafe, Stop the Hate saw young people from Edge Hill Youth Club, Kensington Fields Community Association, Kensington Youth Inclusion Project and Central Youth Club come together to celebrate diversity.
The youngsters took part in activities such as drama workshops to explore cultural similarities and differences, and interviewed shopkeepers about their experiences of racial abuse. They also visited cultural buildings and places of worship, participated in religious celebrations, dressed in national costumes and tasted foreign foods.
The project culminated in a colourful celebration of multi-culturalism at the Hindu Cultural Association at which over 120 young people showcased their experiences through drama, poetry, artwork and dance.
Riverside Group Director, John Wood said: “I am delighted that our work to encourage tolerance and understanding of other cultures has been recognised yet again. Celebrating diversity in our communities helps to stamp out anti-social behaviour and reduce crime, which has an impact on improving the quality of life for all our residents.”
The winners of the UK Housing Awards, which are organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), will be revealed at an awards ceremony at London’s Hilton Hotel on 10 November hosted by BBC Radio Scotland’s Fred MacAulay.
CIH Chief Executive, Sarah Webb, said: “It is fantastic that we have had so many excellent entries this year, and this is evident from the high standard of the shortlisted finalists. I want to congratulate all the organisations who have reached the finals, their work is a true inspiration to all of us.”
Inside Housing’s Events Director Ted Stevens said: “All the finalists have done brilliantly in getting this far. Well done to Riverside for getting shortlisted. The competition was really fierce.”
The awards are sponsored by Hays, PH Jones, United House, EMA, Sanctuary Group, Capita Resourcing, Devonshires Solicitors and supported by The Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland’s Department for Social Development. Last year nearly 800 people attended.
Earlier this year, Stop the Hate won a Merseyside Police Authority Community Award. The Police Authority awarded winners from the six policing areas of Merseyside with £3,000 each to continue the important work they are doing. Stop the Hate won the North Liverpool award and was awarded a further £2,000 for being crowned the Winner of Winners.
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