University students to raise awareness of hate crime via week-long radio series

A campaign raising awareness of hate crime across the region has launched thanks to a partnership between university students and an anti-discrimination charity.

To mark Hate Crime Awareness Week 2018 (which launched on Saturday 13th October), students on Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s Broadcasting, Journalism and Media Communications course were approached by the North Wales Regional Equality Network (NWREN) to plan and produce a campaign promoting awareness of hate crime.

Over the next seven days the students, who have teamed up with community radio station Calon FM, will tell the stories of people who have been affected by hate crimes.

Hate Crime Awareness Week is a seven-day event that aims to help people recognise different forms of discrimination and prejudice against others in all minorities.

Throughout the week – starting from Monday 15th October – five special half hour programmes will be broadcast on the station at 5pm.

One of the students taking part, Nathan Williams, said: “We are interviewing people, victims and organisations about different topics within the wide range which hate crime covers.

“Our interviews range from victims of hate crime to health professionals and members of the LGBT+ Community, following our discussions with NWREN.”

Students sat down with staff and volunteers at NWREN to discuss the objectives of the campaign beforehand – with a social media campaign planned to work alongside the radio broadcasts.

The shows will feature expert guests including an in-depth discussion with sociology Professor, Robert Moore and the Head of Diversity for North Wales Police, Greg George. It will also include accounts directly from those affected by hate crime and from a number of support charities.

Fellow student Jade Barron said: “There have been reports of a rise in hate crime after the Brexit vote. Our campaign is designed to highlight the importance of hate crime awareness and prevention to our community.”

It is hoped the project will help challenge prejudices relating to race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, transgender identity and disability. Campaigners also want to show how easy – and important – it is to report hate crime and to raise awareness of different ways people can make reports.

Student Kara Beth Davies added: “It was a pleasure to be asked to take part in a something as important as this. We need to be talking about hate crimes in order to generate awareness.”

Senior Lecturer in Broadcasting & Media Communications, Sally Harrison, said: “This has been an eye-opening assignment for many of our students as they have heard about the impact of hate crime first hand.

“Working on a campaign like this helps students to gain real-life experience – whether that’s setting up an interview on a sensitive subject, liaising on a campaign with a charity like NWREN, or indeed appearing on the radio themselves.

“It also builds links with our wider community – and to highlight some of the issues which people are tackling in our region.

“I’d like to thank NWREN for giving our students the opportunity – and encourage people to listen out for the broadcasts and look out for the campaign.”

Last week Wrexham.com reported that there 27 per increase in the number of reports of hate crimes in North Wales over the past 12 months.  The number of cases reported to North Wales Police went up from 358 to 455, with incidents involving race and religion featuring prominently.