New £40k role to fight extremism

ANEW £40,000 role is being launched in Swansea to root out extremism. The 12-month community coordinator counter-extremism post will look at cracking down on issues ranging from hate crime and harmful illegal cultural practices to honour-based violence and female genital mutilation (FGM), along with community cohesion.

It is being funded by Home Office as it looks the at challenging the symptoms of extremism beyond terrorism and radicalisation.

Although the contract is only for a year it is expected to continue after the year if officials feel it is still needed.

The strategy is designed to complement the Prevent strategy already in place, which aims to challenge terrorism and the threat from those who promote it.

People only have until Saturday, August 18, at 5pm to apply for the £36,379 to £40,057 position.

The person who takes on the role, within the Community Integration Partnership Team at Swansea Council, will be offered training on how to handle the specialist tasks and is expected to comply with the council’s values.

A Swansea Council spokesman said: “This new post is funded directly by the Home Office as part of its national programme run in cities across the country.

“We are pleased to have been offered the chance to take part and look forward to working in partnership with the government to increase local understanding of extremism and provide additional support to groups who are already carrying out important work in this area.”

A Home Office spokesman added: “Government is committed to working closely with local authorities to defeat extremism.

“As part of this it has created the role of ‘Community Co-ordinators’ to boost local capability to tackle extremism and help local mainstream groups challenging extremism to access support, including via the national delivery programme – Building a Stronger Britain Together.”