The videos, made by animation graduates, feature realistic scenarios in which young people encounter racist or homophobic abuse being directed at their friends, either online or during face to face incidents.
They then show young people challenging the perpetrators of the abuse, before going on to give advice about how hate crime can be reported.
Dr James Palfreman-Kay, Equality and Diversity Adviser from Bournemouth University, said: “The feedback we’ve had from students is that many of them weren’t previously aware of where to go and how to report hate crime if they spotted it happening to someone else, so this is fulfilling a really important objective.”
The project was funded by the Office For Students and supported by the Office of Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill, which provided advice about the content of the videos.
The videos will now go on to be used as a resource for schools, colleges and universities across the country to spread awareness about hate crime.
These videos are freely available to use as development materials to raise awareness of what a hate crime is and what to do about it. If you would like access to any of these videos, please contact: [email protected].
Martyn Underhill, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Sadly, a lot of young people do still experience this kind of abusive language, either online or face to face. Nobody should have to put up with this and it’s really important that young people know how to report hate crime if it happens to them or to one of their friends.
“I’m proud to support this project, which does an excellent job of raising awareness of hate crime and sends out a loud message – don’t be a bystander, there is something they can do about it.”
The project was supported by the following partners.
- Students Union Bournemouth University
- Police Crime Commissioner for Dorset
- Dorset Police
- Wessex Crown Prosecution Service
- Access Dorset
- Dorset Race Equality Council
- Intercom Trust