Speakers from Support Against Racist Incidents (SARI), Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH) and Avon Consortium for Traveller Education (ACTES) take part in the school-based sessions.
Participants have commented that hearing personal accounts of racism, homophobia, and hate incidents towards transgender or disabled people have helped them to understand the long-term effects this can have on the victim.
Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people, said: “The training is an excellent example of agencies working together to improve community safety. We all need to have an understanding of the wider impact of prejudice on our local communities and have confidence that reporting incidents will mean that appropriate action will be taken so that victims can feel safe.”
The interactive sessions are designed to promote an understanding of how the PAHC’s member agencies are working together to reduce hate crimes an promote a safe community for everyone.
The role of the PAHC, the police, the council and victim support agencies in responding to community-based hate incidents is explained during the training.
Chair of the partnership, Carl Saunders, said: “We welcome this opportunity to raise awareness of hate crime among professionals working with children and young people, as it will help ensure that the effect of prejudice based incidents on young victims is better understood and addressed.
“All of our young people have the right to enjoy life free of crime and hate. I would like to thank all the agencies who have contributed their time and expertise to this worthwhile training programme.”