Youth workers in Sefton undertake hate crime awareness training

The charity, which was established in 2005 as a response to the murder of schoolboy Anthony Walker, works to foster understanding, build communities and support others.

Housing association Riverside funded the course as part of its ongoing Values Statement initiative working in partnership with Sefton Equalities partnership which promotes community cohesion in the Peel Knowsley area of Bootle.

Over 20 people attended the training including an anti-social behaviour officer and a community initiatives officer from Riverside, youth workers from St Leonards and Brunswick youth clubs, SPACE, 408 and Sefton Council.

The training began with a presentation on the Anthony Walker Foundation, outlining what they do and how they can offer support, followed by a screening of Colour Blind, an anti-racism film directed by Lenny Henry. The trainees also participated in group workshops sharing ideas and identifying priorities for future development.

Riverside Community Initiatives Officer Bob Campbell said: “We came away from the training with five priorities. We agreed to continue to meet, plan a way forward, look at individual and collective projects, identify future training needs and continue to work together.”

The Values Statement was developed by Peel Road Community and Residents Association with support from Riverside, Sefton Equalities Partnership and Sefton Housing Market Renewal.

It clearly sets out the beliefs that everyone has the right to fair treatment regardless of who they are or what they have done. Since it was launched last summer, the Values Statement has gone from strength to strength, recently winning a Community Champions Award.