Hate Crime Awareness Event
On Thursday 3rd September 2026, the EDI Team held an inclusive ‘Hate Crime Awareness’ event for people we support and staff across central Manchester. The event was part-funded by a Manchester Community Central grant of £1,000. EDI Engagement Lead Kizzy Green has reflected on the session, the importance of raising awareness, and why this is just the beginning of the project.
“I first came across the grant opportunity in May 2026, via a Manchester Central newsletter, and recognised that this could provide a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of hate crime, how to recognise it, and how to report it. Following our successful grant application, we began to get to work and created an informative, educational session about hate crime.
“The event brought people together in a safe and supportive environment to learn, share experiences, and celebrate the diversity within our communities. We hosted an interactive presentation which explored what a hate crime is, how to recognise it, its impact on people, and how and where to report incidents. We also spoke about some of the barriers and concerns that might prevent someone from reporting a hate crime, discussed how we can safely support others who may experience or witness and incident, and the important role we can all play in the community.
“Throughout the event, attendees also contributed to a message wall, where they had the chance to share their thoughts, feelings, and key takeaways. These messages highlighted the importance of standing together against hate and discrimination, and discussed what community means to them.
“Myself and Akeisha, EDI Development Lead, designed a handy booklet, full of information from the session and more besides. We gave everyone a copy on the day, helping everyone remember what to do if you witness a hate crime, reporting it to Creative Support, along with a list of organisations for reporting and further support.”
You can access the Hate Crime Awareness Booklet by clicking this link.
“One of standout moments of the day was during our culture sharing activity, where people had the opportunity to talk about their cultures, identities, faiths, and heritage, share personal experiences, and celebrate the things that make them proud of who they are. These conversations helped us to learn from each other, and recognise the importance of celebrating our differences, as well as the things we share. We rounded out the day with food and informal conversations, giving everyone the opportunity to reflect and connect with others.
“This event is the start of a longer piece of work. We are co-producing an accessible short film using key messages, reflections, and lived experiences from the event. This will provide a lasting resource that can be shared publicly, and help extend the reach of this project beyond those who could join us in person on the day.
“We want to thank everyone for coming to the event and sharing your experiences. We hope it was a useful, informative session, that will help you recognise and report incidents and help make the world a better place.”
If you would like a copy of the resource, or further information on hate crime awareness, please reach out to the EDI Team at: edi@creativesupport.co.uk
https://manchestercommunitycentral.org/
