Sources of information and support around racist activity in our communities

06 August 2024

We are pulling together details of information (local and national) which may be helpful in supporting each other and our communities who are under threat from racist groups.

We stand by all who are impacted by the racist violence that has taken place across the UK in the past week and who are deeply concerned about the proposed actions due to happen in Brighton & Hove and in Crawley this week and the actions we are seeing in our communities in the build up to those events.

We are pulling together details of information (local and national) which may be helpful in supporting each other and our communities who are under threat from racist groups. This information is developing and we will continue to update you with the latest details and resources as they become available.

Please find links below to resources which support those suffering harm, risk management and plans, communications information and details of local and national activity and statements. We will keep these lists updated as we receive further information. We are in touch with the local authorities and have offered support in coordinating local responses.

Below you will find the following information:

  • The safety and security of your staff, volunteers and the people you support
  • Local information
  • National resources and information
  • Activity of UK organisations
  • Statements

We stand alongside all communities in opposing violence and attacks on our friends, family and communities. We are not divided.

 

The safety and security of your staff, volunteers and the people you support

VCS Emergencies Partnership have pulled together the following list of actions and suggestions for organisations to help protect your staff and those you work with.

Prioritise your people:

  1. Communicate with them, raise their awareness and make sure you give them up to date guidance on how to keep themselves and others safe.
  2. Consider travel times and routes.
  3. Be careful about your brand and how that brand identity may put your people at risk.
  4. Review your policies, contact details and emergency plans.

Suggestions for information sharing/communications to staff, volunteers and those you work with

  • Reminding staff / volunteers the use of taxis during times of perceived or known risk/threat to safety, and giving reassurance these will be reimbursed.
  • Working with local spaces/venues to agree safe(r) spaces to sit and wait for transport/safety, without having to make purchases etc. Knowing access isn’t guaranteed, if out of hours.
  • Arranging car pools for staff or vols or service users, before/after work and groups.
  • Short term taxi or transport bursary for communities affected to/from groups.
  • Additional support such as counselling hours for affected staff (including carers and immediate family/partners of affected communities).
  • Further communication to our communities on reporting methods.
  • Reminding our team or communities who may have intersecting needs around communication or trauma informed support about the police’s Pegasus card scheme.
  • If any services known to be regularly used by affected communities located in proximity to risk, offer alternatives (for example, our users often use Queens Road Boots for prescription advice).
  • Communications on allyship action and how to stay safe during participation.
  • Giving reassurance in communications, particularly around perceived risk and identifiable risk.
  • Making rearrangements for working from home, rearranging location of groups etc.
  • Using alternative office space, and reimbursing costs of this (hot desk rental or coffees) if a staff member feels safer elsewhere/appropriate to role.

Protect your properties: 

  1. Review your business continuity plans.
  2. Consider guidance on what makes your buildings safer… recognising some are quick fixes, but many may take longer to implement (more details below).
  3. Don’t forget the vacant buildings – these can be easy targets.

Local information

Reporting incidents or getting support:

Please be aware and ensure that you report any concerns appropriately:

  • In an emergency, contact the police on 999.
  • In non-emergency, please contact the police on 101.

Everyone has a right to feel safe. Please report any hate incidents:

You can report report offensive graffiti or tagging to Cityclean for it to be removed.

Go to GOV.UK to report illegal terrorist information, pictures or videos that you may have found on the internet.

Or please find further information at:  Prevent – preventing terrorism (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

If you are worried or concerned about how the incident has affected you or any of our communities, please do advise Prevent Lead Officer on Channel.Prevent@brighton-hove.gov.uk and we will ensure that together with other statutory partners we will respond to community concerns.

Local gatherings:

There are gatherings being organised locally:

  • Vigil for Peace and Unity, Brighton, 6 August, 7.30pm (see attached)
  • Refugees Welcome – Stop the Far Right, Brighton, 7 August, 7.30pm
  • Solidarity Rally, Brighton, 8 August, 5.30pm
  • Unity Rally, Crawley, 9 August, 5pm
  • Stop the Far Right, Worthing, 10 August, 10am

If you feel safe enough and want to get involved, some events are listed on the BHSUTR Facebook page or further details are attached.

 

National resources and information

VCS Emergencies Partnership have listed these national resources:

Critical Incidents in Educational Communities – UK Trauma Council 

Guidance on creating the best environment for recovery – UK Trauma Council 

Traumatic Bereavement for children & young people – UK Trauma Council    

How to talk to children about conflict | British Red Cross

Talking about major emergency | Secondary teaching resources (redcross.org.uk)

Dealing with emotional and physical distress

 

Activity of UK organisations

VCS Emergencies Partnership have listed the following activity by national organisations:

  • 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 08 08 16 89 111, or by starting a live chat any time, or accessing My Support Space – a free online resource containing interactive guides and videos to help you after crime.
  • They have also convened a major incident management group who will consider needs for staff, service users, partner community organisations and people impacted by the disorder.  Services will run as usual but they are reinforcing safe working practices. Locally and nationally they are reaching out to partners who represent marginalised communities and protected characteristics to ensure they know Victim Support stands against hate as an organisation. They are also keen to work in partnership with others to ensure that all victims of crime get the support they need.

 

Statements: