A group of young people who regularly attend Patchway Youth Centre are taking part in a project which aims to get them thinking about diversity and to help with this they have created their own musical performance and called it ‘Patchway Crew Respect You’.
Members of the group will be showcasing their rap at the summer fair on Saturday 11 July at around 2pm at Scott Park, Coniston Road, Patchway.
The young people will be creating their performance with Elevation Youth Care Solutions, who were one of the first organisations to deliver music-based sessions for young people as an alternative to crime and drugs over twenty years ago.
The nine week project, supported by Safer South Gloucestershire has incorporated workshops from the South Gloucestershire Anti-social Behaviour Team and EACH (Educational Action Challenging Homophobia).
Cllr John Godwin, South Gloucestershire Council’s executive member for external affairs and partnership, said: “This is an exciting new project, which has been able to engage with young people and has allowed them to find out more about diversity and how people from all areas of society must be treated respectfully.”
PAHC will also run workshops for the first time at some South Gloucestershire secondary schools who will benefit from workshops that explore what hate crime is, the consequences of it and the experience of victims.
South Gloucestershire Police District Commander Chief Superintendent Andy Francis, chair of the PAHC, said: "Hate crime is a serious offence with a massive impact on victims' lives.
“We are determined to take action against offenders across South Gloucestershire, but prevention is better still. Engaging with and educating young people is a vital part of the PAHC's work. The message we're delivering through these projects and workshops is simple - everyone deserves respect."
If you are suffering from hate crime, you can report it in the following ways:
Call 0845 456 7000, (prefix 18001 for Textphone users)
Visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk
Call in to your local independent reporting centres, further details online www.safersouthglos.org.uk/HateCrime
In an emergency always call the police on 999.