This is how young people can get involved with a campaign to stop hate crime in Wakefield

Wakefield’s Safer Together Partnership, which includes Wakefield Council, is launching a new campaign to support National Hate Crime Awareness Week (October 10-17) and is inviting local children to design a poster to help tackle hate crime.

Hate crime is when someone breaks the law by hurting another person because of prejudice or discrimination based on someone’s race, religion or belief, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

The campaign, called ‘Stop hate, be a mate’, looks at the effects hate crime has on people, how to get support and report incidents, and what everyone can do to make Wakefield a friendly and supportive place to be.

The council will be sharing messages on social media and it wants young people to join in the competition and design a poster with the message ‘Stop hate, be a mate’.

Due to popular demand, the age range has been extended to 8 to 15-year-olds, and children now have another week to enter, to allow as many young people as possible to get involved.

Fantastic prizes are on offer for the top three winning entries, kindly donated by WDH - a £100 voucher for the winner, a £75 voucher for second place, a £50 voucher for third place and £10 vouchers for ten runners up. The winning entry will be used for the council’s campaign over the next 12 months.

Coun Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Poverty, said: “It’s important to educate young people about hate crime and send a message that this kind of behaviour is wrong and will not be tolerated in our district.

“I hope this competition gets them thinking about how to be kind and caring towards others, especially people who may seem different. I’m really looking forward to seeing the entries.”

To submit an entry, children aged 8-15 (on 15/10/20), should create a design that depicts an act of kindness in the spirit of ‘Stop hate, be a mate’.

Designs should be A4 size in landscape and can be created using any media including digital drawings, paint, collage or print. The design does not need to contain text - a written explanation can be provided with the entry if needed.

The competition is open now, and all entries must be submitted by noon on Thursday, October 15. Judging by the Mayor of Wakefield, Coun Charles Keith, will take place during National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Please send entries using one of the following options:

Email: [email protected]

Post: Freepost Wakefield Council – Communities

Remember to include the child’s full name, age, address and a parent or carer’s contact number on the back of the entry or within the email.

For more information visit www.wakefield.gov.uk/hatecrime

Hate crime is wrong and is never the victim’s fault. Report hate crime to the police on 999 in an emergency and 101 at other times.

Here in Wakefield it can also be reported using the Stop Hate UK App.