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Tower Hamlets receives hate crime champions award with pride

Tower Hamlets’ No Place for Hate Champions Project has once again been recognised with an #EndHateTogether award from the London-wideHEAR Network, an equality and human rights organisation.

The award was presented on 2 July to the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs and the Tower Hamlets hate crime team by Mhairi McGhee from the HEAR Network at an event which also included the raising of the Pride flag at Tower Hamlets Town Hall.

John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets said: “The diversity of our East End community is one of our greatest assets. Our No Place for Hate Champions work tirelessly to promote positive messages about how we all benefit from stronger and safer communities, and how we all have a role to tackle discrimination and hate crimes in all their forms. I was delighted to receive this award as we raised the Pride flag over the Town Hall”

The Tower Hamlets No Place for Hate Champions Project recruits local volunteers to go out into the community and promote community cohesion by raising awareness on hate crime, and also increasing confidence to report and challenge hate crime.

The project has successfully recruited and trained 138 Champions who have collectively delivered over 1086 projects and activities that have brought people together and promote peaceful co-existence. To date these schemes have reached more than 65,000 people, including marginalised groups across the borough.

Shalina Akhtar, No Place for Hate Champion said: “As a Hate Crime Champion I know anyone can be a victim of hate crime, therefore it can impact individuals as well as communities as a whole. It is imperative that we educate our communities and raise awareness of hate crime to help victims seek support. As a victim of hate crime incidences, I understand how life changing these experiences can be and how important it is to be believed and supported.”

A number of champions were at the presentation as were representatives from the council, local LGBT forum, local police and the chair of the No Place for Hate Forum, Reverend Alan Green.