Trafford community groups are being offered cash grants to tackle hate crime.
The Safer Trafford Partnership has encouraged community support for Hate Crime Awareness Week with grants of up to £2,000.
Greater Manchester’s Hate Crime Awareness Week, which is now in its seventh year and going from strength to strength, runs from February 4 to 10, 2019.
Nationally there has been a rise in hate crime, defined as an act that is committed against any person or group that is motivated by hostility and prejudice based upon disability, race, ethnic origin or nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender orientation or alternative lifestyle. Offences include such things as name calling, verbal abuse, bullying, harassment, spitting, physical attacks, damage to property, graffiti, written notes, emails and text messages.
Trafford Council, Trafford Housing Trust Social Investment Board and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority are making £20,000 available to fund events and activity during Hate Crime Awareness Week and for projects to tackle hate crime.
In particular, officers are looking for projects/events that:
• Raise awareness about the impacts of hate crime
• Reach an audience who know little or nothing about hate crime
• Raise awareness of how to report hate crime incidents
• Strengthen relationships in the local area between people of different communities, religious and ethnic background, and ages
• Work to reduce crime and/or perception of crime in the area
• Promote and celebrate community cohesion and diversity
• Work closely with local businesses to help spread awareness of Hate Crime Awareness
Councillor Kevin Procter, Executive Member for Communities and Housing, said:
In Trafford, we celebrate our strong, diverse communities, recognising the many faiths and cultures across our borough, and we are proud that Trafford remains one of the safest boroughs in Greater Manchester.
While we have relatively low numbers of hate crime reported, we have to recognise that Trafford residents are both perpetrators and victims. We need to work together, across public agencies and with residents, businesses and communities to raise awareness of hate crime, encourage reporting and celebrate the diversity of Trafford.
Grants of up to £500 are available to support events and up to £2,000 for projects. Deadline for applications is 12pm on Wednesday 2nd January. For more information and to apply visit
www.traffordpartnership.org/communitycohesion
Posted on Friday 30th November 2018