Youth hub leads anti-hate drive

WE all stand together . . . (from left) Fazal Rahim, Ayra Ali, Anne-Marie Jones, Sylvia Lancaster, Mike Doran, Inspector Gayle Brister and Usmaan Mahmood

YOUNG people are taking the lead in tackling hate crime across Oldham.

Mahdlo Youth Zone members expressed an interest in stopping hate crime and then received training on the different groups that are targeted in hate crimes.

As a result, 15 members are now hate crime ambassadors at Mahdlo which is also a hate crime reporting centre.

Mike Doran, chief executive of Mahdlo, said: "Helping set up hate crime ambassadors has been incredibly rewarding. The young people themselves have taken on this challenge.

"It has been amazing. They have looked at how important it is for the community as a whole that they address hate crime, particularly when we see what's happening since Brexit.

"From a Mahdlo perspective we're proud of the work that the staff and ambassadors have done.

"We're really proud to be a hate crime reporting centre and working with all the colleges across Oldham and the different partnerships we make has a real impact.

"It's something that is affecting a lot of young people."

Mahdlo organised an event at which they invited Sylvia Lancaster from the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which aims to raise awareness around hate crime.

Amazing

Sylvia's daughter Sophie and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were was attacked by a group of teens in Rossendale. Sophie tragically died 13 days later.

The police said the attack may have been linked to the couple wearing gothic fashion and being members of the goth subculture.

At the event, Sylvia presented "Black Roses", a film based on what happened to Sophie.

She said: "The work Mahdlo do is generally amazing.

"It's about raising that awareness. It's important young people understand what hate crime is and encourage reporting.

"Young people think they have to put up with it but it's against the law. The police can't do anything if they don't know about it."

Anne-Marie Jones (20), from Chadderton, is a hate crime ambassador at Mahdlo.

She shared her story on how she was beaten up by a gang of girls at school, due her disabilities and learning difficulties.

She said: "When I got attacked I phoned the police, they put me through to victim support and got me counselling. The school helped too.

"It's important that we make hate history and get ride of hate crime."

Fellow hate crime ambassador Usmaan Mahmood (18), a sixth-form student at Blue Coat School, added: "Oldham is so diverse.

Confident

"It's an everyday thing now. No matter where you go people will shout something.

"Complete strangers feel the urge to shout something.

"Somebody threw a bottle of alcohol at my sister because she wears a headscarf.

"But there are still decent people here."

Also in attendance was GMP inspector Gayle Brister, the hate crime lead for Oldham.

She said the force is trying to encourage more people to be confident in reporting hate crime to the police.

She said: "We have a great partnership with Mahdlo ­- it's a fantastic provision. There's a really diverse community in Oldham."

Fazal Rahim, from Oldham Interfaith Forum, added: "We're really excited about the work young people here are doing which will have positive results for Oldham. They do excellent work engaging with the community, but also challenging hate. All work is aimed towards creating cohesion."

The hate crime ambassadors will be travelling to London next month, where they hope to share what they have learned with the mayor of London.