Bradford Disturbances 2001: Ten Years On

Monday, June 27th, 2011

A free conference – Bradford Disturbances 2001: Ten Years On – will take place on Thursday 7th July, 12pm – 4pm. The talks given will explore the legacy of the disturbance, testimonies, the limits of dissent and how state policy rolled back race relations and civil liberties.

The conference will be held at:

Carlisle Business Centre
60 Carlisle Road
BD8 8BD

The event will consist of:

• Registration and a light buffet (12pm-1pm)
• Imran Khan (Solicitor) – The limits of youth descent
• Paul Meszaros (Hope not Hate) – Legacy of 2001 on Bradford
• Jonathon Githens-Mazer (University of Exeter) – The journey from cohesion to integration
• Personal testimonies and reflections
• Panel discussion: Chair Ratna Lachman – JUST West Yorkshire

The event has been organised by JUST West Yorkshire, Bradford Resource Centre, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

All are welcome to attend the conference, however places are limited. To register please email mike@brc-net.org.uk.

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NIACRO: Challenge Hate Crime

Monday, June 27th, 2011

“NIACRO along with the NI Prison Service have received PEACE 111 funding to work together on a three-year project to tackle this particularly insidious form of crime.

Hate crime legislation became law in Northern Ireland in September 2004. Since then, sentencing has to take into account the fact that an offence is aggravated by hostility based on religion, race, sexual orientation or disability.

Being a victim of hate crime is a particularly painful experience. It also hurts communities, arousing suspicion and alienation. We need to understand where its roots are, and how communities can make it clear that they don’t accept it.

PSNI statistics for 2010-2011 recorded 995 hate crimes with a motivation of hostility on the grounds of sectarianism, the biggest group. They were followed by race (531) and homophobia (137). It is widely accepted that hate crime is under-recorded.

Challenging

Challenge Hate Crime has the goal of reducing hate crime through intensive support for people who have committed this sort of offence. Working to achieve this goal includes:

• improving the level of debate and understanding around hate crime (especially when motivated by sectarianism),
• developing a definition of sectarian hate crime
• extending the debate beyond the criminal justice system,
• designing and piloting a workable, effective model of helping offenders – in custody and in the community –  tackle their offending,
• increasing the skills of those working with offenders,
• sharing the learning through seminars and publications.

The project will contribute to what NIACRO has been insisting on for many years, and is now becoming accepted – effective joint working among all the relevant organisations, both inside and outside the criminal justice system.

Justice Minister David Ford formally launched the Challenge Hate Crime project in December 2010.  Funded under Peace III, it has two strands. The research strand which is well underway will allow us to develop a better understanding of the true nature of hate crime in Northern Ireland and how such cases are managed within and across the criminal justice system. The second is to develop and then deliver a programme to help offenders change their behaviour. The development stage is now underway and the first pilot programme will begin in autumn 2011. We aim to make this a model of good practice.

The project has an advisory group drawn from across the criminal justice and community sectors, and further links have been forged with other voluntary and community groups who will support the programme in the community. We are indebted to these groups for their interest and commitment to this important piece of work.” Source: NIACRO

For more information regarding NIACRO and their work, visit their website: http://www.niacro.co.uk

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The impact of ‘low level’ incidents on people with mental health conditions

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

OPM (Office for Public Management) has posted a very interesting blog entry on the negative stereotyping of disabled people and the impact that trivialising so-called ‘low level’ incidents can have on them.

Also check out this animated video which explains the devastating effects that long-term harassment can have on its victims.

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Mate or Fake?

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

It’s Learning Disability Week this week, and ‘mate crime’ has been in the news a lot recently: sometimes learning disabled people get exploited by those pretending to be their friends. Check out the ARC ‘Safety Net’ website for advice on how to know if someone is a friend or a fake.

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And so it begins… Small Charity Week 2011

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Small Charity Week kicks off this morning as we take to the street with an audacious campaign to get everyone behind the small charity sector.  The I Love Small Charities Pledge is an opportunity for anyone, wherever they are, to sign up to find out more about small charities and how they can help our sector to thrive.

We want people everywhere to pledge to do something to help out a small charity between now and Small Charity Week 2012 (yes, we’re planning it already!).  Some people may donate their time or talents, others may donate funds.  Some people may want to help out on an ongoing basis, others as a one-off.  Some people want to support a specific cause, others a charity near where they live.  Whatever the motivation, the I Love Small Charities Pledge is all about getting the information that will make it easy to support a small charity.

Once someone signs up to the pledge they will receive regular emails showcasing small charities and offering advice on how a volunteer or donor can make a meaningful impact on an organisation.
In London the pledge will be taking to the streets to sign up the public and garner some attention for Small Charity Week.  In the evening some of our VIP friends will be signing the pledge – keep an eye on the website www.smallcharityweek.com for the latest updates.

Sign the Pledge

Anyone can sign the pledge by visiting www.smallcharityweek.com/pledge.  This is a chance for us to promote the whole sector, so please add it to your Facebook page, tweet about it or tell whoever you can.

Be Part of It

As well as the events taking place throughout the week, you can get involved in Small Charity Week online.  You can tweet about Small Charity Week using the hashtag #scweek11.  Send pictures of your work or Small Charity Week activities to photos@smallcharityweek.com.

Small Charity Week is your week so make the most of it!

A Massive Thanks!

Small Charity Week wouldn’t be possible without the support of our amazing partners at the Charity Technology Trust (CTT). CTT connects the third sector with technology. Since 2001, they have been bridging the gap between the third sector and technology partners to help organisations improve their effectiveness. The CTXchange programme has enabled thousands of charities to work far more effectively using donated technology – speeding up communications, ensuring compatibility between equipment, and protecting systems. They also enable third sector organisations to share a range of finance, communications and campaigning services.

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Nicki’s been Awarded an MBE on the Queens Birthday honours list for 2011

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Disability awareness adviser Nicki Webber of Bircotes has been awarded an MBE on the 2011 Queens Birthday honours list for her Voluntary work and contribution to Road Safety with the police force.

Nicki received a serious brain injury at the age of 9 years and it was a number of years before she could walk or talk again. Despite her continued day to day battle against her disability, she has worked tirelessly alongside Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire police force across the country at different venues promoting road safety awareness to children and young adults with her own specially prepared presentations and now hosts her own lively website at www.nikkiwebber.co.uk were she discusses road safety issues and living with a disability from day to day.

Nichola also advises a range of different and varied organisations on disability issues and works alongside Nottinghamshire police force helping them to understand the needs of people with disabilities and special needs with in the communities in which they serve.

Nichola has also received a letter from the Minister of Transport thanking her for her contribution to this on going work.

Congratulations Nichola from the Stop Hate UK !

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Small Charity Week 2011

Monday, June 20th, 2011

Small Charity Week offers everyone the opportunity to find out more about small charities and show their support.

We encourage people to sign up and pledge to offer their time, talents or funds or a small charity between Small Charity Week 2011 and 2012. Everyone is welcome to sign the pledge by visiting the Small Charity Week Pledge Page.

If you are a Twitter user, you can help us spread the message by using the hashtag #scweek11.

Thank you for your help!

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Free Family Fun Day: Caribbean Cricket Soca Festival

Monday, June 20th, 2011

On Sunday 3rd July a festival and cricket tournament will take place featuring Caribbean teams from around the UK!

Other festivities will include:

• Face painting
• Bouncy castles
• Caribbean music
• Card and domino tables
• Games and surprises
• Raffle
• Authentic Caribbean BBQ
• Caribbean punch
• Giveaways and prizes!

The tournament will kick off at 10am and continue “’til bad light stops play”.

If you would like to attend, the event will be held at:

Caribbean Cricket Club

Scott Hall Road

Leeds

LS7 2HH

Admission is free.

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Two football fans banned for racially abusing steward

Monday, June 20th, 2011

“TWO Chesterfield fans have received three-year Football Banning Orders for hurling racist language at a steward.

Chesterfield supporters Trevor Laughton and Joanne Worrall used racist language at an away game against Torquay on April 29.

They were sentenced at Torquay Magistrates’ Court, where Laughton, aged 45, and Worrall, 25, both of Derwent View, Matlock, were fined £308 and £118 respectively.

PC Allan Guy, who attended the hearing, said: “This sort of abusive language will not be tolerated and has no place in this day and age.

“These bans should serve as a warning to others that we will come down hard on anyone involved in this kind of behaviour.”

A Torquay United spokesman said: “We are very, very, pleased that the court took this incident seriously and the ban reflects that. We find it unbelievable and disgraceful that this is still happening in the 21st century.”

Laughton and Worrall were banned from all regulated matches and England games for three years and cannot go near home or away grounds where Chesterfield are playing for four hours before or six hours after the game.” Source: The Star, 20 June 2011.

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Bristol police appeal for information after family victims of racial attack

Monday, June 20th, 2011

Can you help?

“A couple and their family were attacked and racially abused in Bradley Stoke.

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