Dramatic lessons in tackling hate crime
DISABLED adults have been taking part in drama classes to learn about hate crime and how to report it.
Four workshops have taken place in day centres across the borough in a bid to highlight the problem to more than 60 people with disabilities and their carers.
The workshops, run by drama teacher Eleanor Samson, saw attendees taking part in confidencebuilding, warm-up exercises; talking about their feelings and role-playing potential hate crime scenarios.
Budding actors discussed what makes them sad, different types of bullying and what they should do if they encounter hate crime, with the advice being to ‘move away’ and ‘tell someone about it’.
Natalie Kearns, from PossAbilities the charity which organised the classes, said: “Unfortunately, even now when some of our most independent service users go out in the community they can face abuse, so it’s really important that we equip them, in the best way we can, with the skills they need to identify hate crime and report it.
“The hub is a great place to broach the subject of hate crime because it’s a safe, familiar space and we hope that by talking about it and acting out scenarios here, they will know what to do should they ever face these issues in the real world. It’s all about raising awareness.”
The first workshop was held at the Cherwell Wellbeing Hub in Heywood. The hub is also a hate crime reporting centre; meaning staff at the centre can report incidents on behalf of victims and provide them with advice and support.
The workshops were among 11 community schemes that received Hate Crime Awareness Week funding from Rochdale council to help raise awareness of what hate crime is, increase hate crime reporting and celebrate diversity in the borough’s communities.
Other events included information stalls, coffee mornings, film screenings and football tournaments.
Coun Janet Emsley, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture, said: “Any crime or hostility targeted towards somebody because of who they are is unacceptable, so that’s why I’m extremely pleased to see our communities standing together against hate crime and doing their part to end it for good.
“Raising awareness of what hate crime is and how to report it is vitally important and will help everyone feel safer in our borough.”
For more information about hate crime and how to report it in Greater Manchester visit letsendhatecrime.com