As part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Barnet will be hosting a number of events across the borough. Hate crime is an issue that affects the entire community. No one deserves to be targeted with abuse because of their disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith, race, religion or national origin. The project aims to show people that we will not let hate crime escalate in Barnet.

Last year we launched our Hate Crime Awareness Campaign: Barnet – Say No to Hate Crime: Speak Up, Get Support and Report It! The project ties in with the Barnet 2024 Corporate Plan outcome aimed at building safe and strong communities where people get along well. One of the priorities under this outcome is “taking a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime”.

Research has shown that hate crime can escalate and spread if it is left unchecked within a community. Hate crime can be targeted against its victims on the grounds of disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith, race, religion or national origin. It can include offences such as verbal abuse, criminal damage, bullying, assault, harassment and offensive graffiti. There has also been a recent surge in online hate crime, particularly through the use of social media. Over Hate Crime Awareness Week 2019, we want to reach out to members of our community to encourage reporting of hate crime by becoming a Hate Crime Reporting Champion. Increased reports will allow the police and their partners to build up a statistical picture of hate crime hotspots, so they can target resources towards stopping it. This could include more police patrols or community workshops to bring people together.

Barnet Council has therefore partnered with the Metropolitan Police (Safer Transport Team), Barnet Mencap, Barnet Homes, Community Barnet, Inclusion Barnet, Community Security Trust, Barnet Multifaith Forum and Middlesex University to to spread public awareness and understanding of hate crime, and the effect it has on its victims. At awareness raising events across the borough, community support workers will talk to members of the public about identifying hate crime and the ways in which it can be reported to the Police. This will include information about Barnet’s Hate Crime Reporting Centres, where vulnerable adults can get support if they need assistance to speak up about hate crime.

Extract from Jewish News – read the full article here

A new London base for the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association was officially opened last night in the presence of local Jews who have supported the community since the arson attack on its former centre six years ago.

Rabbis from across the religious spectrum were among the first to offer support to their neighbours in the wake of the 2013 assault, with Finchley Reform Synagogue hosting Ramadan prayers and annual iftar celebrations following an idea from Citizens UK.

Community members also provided free legal support and were at the forefront of a campaign for the new centre.

Last night, new faith minister Lord Younger cut the ribbon to formally open the facility in East Finchley, telling guests: “What sends the greatest message that hate won’t win are events like today.”

HEAR are excited to announce that, due to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund Reaching Communities programme, HEAR is now recruiting for a third member of staff to join our team to support equality and human rights work across London.

Mapping and Networks for Solidarity and Campaigning is an innovative and experimental partnership between equality networks working with grass-roots and user-led groups across London, experts in supporting small community groups use and benefit from digital tools and skills, and partners with long experience of making connections and sharing learning through digital platforms, and using social network mapping and analysis to further community development.

The partners are:

• HEAR Equality and Human Rights Network (lead partner)
• Consortium (formerly the LGBT Consortium)
• Inclusion London
• Refugee Council
• Superhighways
• David Wilcox
• Drew Mackie

The aim of the project is to co-produce with small and user-led equality organisations in London a system that uses digital tools to build and strengthen their networks, enable better connections for collaboration, campaigning and solidarity, and enhance their voice and influence. The project will also have a key aim of sharing learning throughout the project, building a repository of resources that will be made widely accessible.

Principles of equality, accessibility, inclusion and the value of lived experience are at the heart of the project.

The Role:

This is a pivotal role in the project, based within HEAR as the lead partner, but working closely with all other partners and the wider HEAR Network membership across London. This is an experimental and innovative project, and we are looking for someone with enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to learn new skills and approaches.

Fixed term until June 2021 with possibility of some extension

£28,500 per annum pro rata (21 hours per week)

Based near Kings Cross with travel across Greater London

Deadline for applications: 9am on Monday 19th August 2019

Interviews in Central London 5th September 2019

To apply please complete the application form and equal opportunities forms on our website:

www.hearequality.org.uk

and please do this carefully in conjunction with the Job Description and Person Specification

No cvs please

HM The Queen’s initiative to recognise individuals of all faiths and beliefs who are working at grassroots and community level to support their local neighbourhoods and bring together different backgrounds and ethnicities.

“ It was a very exciting, colourful and memorable event that honoured the work of Interfaith groups and organisations across the country and in particular I was thrilled to be representing ( together with Tahseen ) the fantastic work achieved by the whole BMFF executive. It was a marvellous opportunity to meet with others of likeminded values and to observe the great work achieved by Interfaith communities.”

Read more about the event in this Daily Mail article.