Hate Crime Advocacy and Empowerment Project

Hate crimes involve any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim of any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic. hate crime can be motivated by disability, gender identity, race religion or faith, and sexual orientation.

The programmes advocacy service will;

• Inform victims of their rights and choices

• Support, provide advice and guidance to victims and their families.

• Empower victims to make informed decisions

• Work with partner organisations to secure the best outcome for victims

• Work with communities to defeat hate crime

• and encourage victims to report hate crime immediately to the Police

The project is funded by the Big Lottery and is a partnership with Valrec (Valleys Regional Equality Council, Sewrec (south east Wales regional equalities council) and Race Equality First, being the lead partner.

The project stems from the recent research undertaken in partnership with Cardiff university that sates that up to 505 of all hate crime is not reported and subsequently no support is given to these victims.

The Project which launched in September 2014 will be establishing regional forums that will advise and support the work of the advocacy team. Anyone wishing to be a part of that forum should contact the project coordinator, Gareth Hughes.

The project will also be seeking "Hate Crime champions" who will be people from local communities and representing those most likely to suffer hate crime.

These champions will be our eyes and ears and will assist us to identify and support victims of hate crime, especially those individuals who may be reluctant to seek help, advice and guidance  For further details please contact Gareth Hughes - project coordinator.