We’ve been shocked and saddened to see the unfolding of hatred and violence in the recent days.
We stand with those VCSE organisations across Hampshire who work day in day out to support victims of hate and who help build the cohesive communities that we all need to thrive. Here is a statement from our National body NAVCA condemning the violent disorder, as we do. Please also see the Charity Commission statement in response to the riots and public disorder.
The Voluntary & Community Sector Emergency Partnership has shared this bank of resources and guidance.
We hope you find these resources helpful. If your organisation or community has other asks or needs support in anyway, please let us know and we will do our best to link you to the support you need, or feedback your needs to the services working in this space so they can adapt their offer to be of most use.
Do please let us know how we can stand with you, thank you for all you’re doing to grow hope, not hate in communities.
Situation
- Most at risk: Refugees, asylum seekers – particularly those in hotel accommodation – and Muslim communities.
- Risk of more riots this week: Sharing of locations comes with its own risk, but all areas, particularly those without a significant population of refugees or Muslim communities (and therefore those who are most minoritised).
- Opportunity: Efforts to connect with formal and informal community or faith leaders is where partners are experiencing the greatest leverage/influence.
Partner Action
- Faith groups and VCS across the country are countering aggression with messages of positivity and activity that strengthens social cohesion. NCVO, NAVCA and Locality are all sharing messages and resources for their respective memberships that show solidarity in support for those targeted and condemning the violence.
- Martin Brookes (CEO of VONNE) is coordinating a regional response to the violence in Hartlepool, Middlesborough and Sunderland (and elsewhere in the North East). The local infrastructure, community foundations and Citizen’s Advice in the region are working together to give a coordinated statement and bring people together to work on community cohesion, as well as locally-led “clear up”, and coordinating offers of support should they emerge.
- NAVCA are providing a space for Local Infrastructure Organisations in places where riots have taken place to come together on Monday afternoon to share experiences and resources that may be helpful.
- Muslim faith networks including the Muslim Charities Forum, the Muslim Council of Britain and an informal network of 40 mosques across the UK are sharing their views and messages with the EP on the current situation, risks and concerns.
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority are well connected into local infrastructure and asylum and migration services and have been monitoring the situation closely since the weekend.
- British Red Cross (BRC) have closed a number of retail shops, are monitoring their refugee support services and ensuring their staff and volunteers have guidance on keeping themselves and their buildings safe. BRC are awaiting update from the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR), and ready to respond and connect Local Resilience Forum contacts with the wider VCS.
- Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS) have connected with global majority, refugee and faith leaders in their network to show care, offer support and ask what they would like to happen. They are focussing on communication around Hope not Hate and ensuring tight communications coordination is in place. Community leaders are most concerned about young people getting caught up in violence. VAS are also checking in with staff/volunteers and service users to provide reassurance and are reviewing their incident protocol at their offices.
- Victim Support have issued a statement and are offering support to those impacted via their free supportline on 0808 1689 111, or by accessing my support space – a free online resource containing interactive guides and videos to help you after crime.
Insight and Actions
Safety and security of your staff, volunteers and the people you support is paramount, the EP have pulled together a few basic suggestions that partners may want to consider:
Prioritise your people –
- Communicate with them, raise their awareness and make sure you give them up to date guidance on how to keep themselves and others safe
- Consider travel times and routes
- Be careful about your brand and how that brand identity may put your people at risk
- Review your policies, contact details and emergency plans
Protect your properties –
- Review your business continuity plans
- Consider guidance on what makes your buildings safer… recognising some are quick fixes, but many may take longer to implement (more details below)
- Don’t forget the vacant buildings – these can be easy targets
We hope the following resources are helpful:
- Health and Safety Executive have guidance on violence and aggression in the workplace
- Muslim Council of Britain have a range of resources on mosque safety
- UK Trauma Council has published a range of relevant resources for those working with children and young people affected by trauma and bereavement (we shared these last week). Some of the key pages are:
Critical Incidents in Educational Communities
Guidance on creating the best environment for recovery
Traumatic Bereavement for Children and Young People
- British Red Cross offer workshops on Empathy and Migration and Coping with challenges for young people. More information can be found on their web page including resources about how to talk to children about conflict:
How to talk to children about conflict
Dealing with emotional and physical distress
- British Future provide a practical guide to messaging that combats hate crime and prejudice: Calling out hatred and prejudice
- Gov.UK funding for protective Security Schemes for places of worship
- Tell Mama UK share how the disinformation about Southport spread: How misinformation and disinformation about the Southport stabbings went viral
- Belong Network have blogged on preventing tension and conflict in communities and good practice on building shared ground and addressing community tensions
- Involve share a framework on building community cohesion
- Victim Support provide information for victims of hate crime
- Open source guidance on how to spot ‘fake news’ for young people and understanding hate crime for children
For the longer term
The NaCTSO Counter Terrorism Crime Prevention Toolkit is aimed at small organisations. It contains helpful, low-cost solutions to deter crime and counter terrorism e.g. making it difficult to gain access to premises, increasing chance of detection and reducing access to contents and victims.
A 5-step process for risk management is outlined here, including guidance around CCTV, doors and locks, windows, shutters and grilles – as well as how to develop a security culture.
The E-learning package is a good place to start with developing understanding and practice in this area. They have also provided guidance for staff work
