This group has no time for hate crime
when it comes to your company? We are most proud of how much we have achieved since setting up in 2013.
We are a small team, but receive fantastic support from Police Scotland, Renfrewshire Council, the Crown Office and our wonderful volunteers on our committee, our board, at our Keep Safe places and our Keep Safe ambassadors.
What do you find most enjoyable in day-to-day business life? We all love working with the children and young people.
The enthusiasm and energy is refreshing and no day is the same as the next.
What are your ambitions for the future? Ideally, we would like for disabled and vulnerable people to feel safe within their communities and to enjoy day-to-day life free from the fear of harassment and abuse.
We realise that changes in attitudes and behaviours can take many years to achieve, but the children and young people that we are working with are embracing diversity and hopefully over time more people will feel confident in tackling prejudice, eventually eradicating it from society.
How has the business changed over the years? We began as a small community project, but have grown to a nationally recognised charity with our work extending across Scotland.
What are your top three priorities? Raise awareness of the impact and consequences of bullying and hate crime.
Increase reports of bullying and hate crime so that these can be tackled.
Work with children and young people to help shape a new future, where disabled and vulnerable people can feel safe in their communities.
Can you offer three tips to new-start businesses? Have a clear plan – what do you want to achieve?
Involve key partners – who can help you achieve this?
Remember your audience – nothing about us, without us.
Why is Renfrewshire a great place to run a business? We are lucky to receive support from Renfrewshire Council and have a fantastic committee of volunteers from across Renfrewshire.
The small staff team of four all live within Renfrewshire and this all helps to focus on making the community a safer place to live, work and enjoy – as we are part of it too. Has anything weird or wonderful happened in your working life?
We have been invited to the Queen’s Garden Party, received numerous awards in recognition of our work, got to meet fantastic people, work with great partners and even got to ride in a police car and visit the cells. Luckily, they let us back out.
What is the main thing you have learned since being involved in the business? We have learned lots since starting up the charity.
We have learned how hard it is to get funding, and how much you can do with little funds – but lots of goodwill.
We have learned that it is important to involve the local community in the work that you are developing as this is what helps to make the work unique, exciting and most importantly, relevant to your audience.