A policy, awareness raising and training project which seeks to ensure that young people and organisations working with them can tackle hate crime and promote community cohesion.
Background
In 2008 IARS launched the Young People's Hate Crime Project; a youth-led research project which aimed to explore the causes of race hate incidents in three British cities - Bradford, Liverpool and London - and the potential for restorative justice to be used to remedy such incidents. Findings revealed that race hate manifests differently according to the demographics of specific areas but is generally targeted at new comers; particularly refugees and asylum seekers and newly arrived Eastern Europeans. It was also revealed that the majority of young people responded positively to the suggestion that restorative justice could be used to address racial hatred, both within the criminal justice system as well as in the school environment.
It is on the back of these findings that "London Youth Now" has been launched. With funding from the Big Lottery Fund, IARS is moving the Young People's Hate Crime Project into a new phase of project delivery.
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Project Aims
This project will deliver the opportunity to 250 young people to gain skills to become Young Champions in their neighbourhoods and influence policy and practices affecting them. Through research, campaigning and events the project will enable young people to work with 500 organisations that provide services to young Londoners relating to community cohesion and hate crime.
Current Activities
IARS is engaging with young volunteers in London, providing them with the opportunity to participate in youth-led research into issues around hate crime and community cohesion. Findings from these research projects are written into academic articles to be published in IARS Youth Voice Policy Journal.
A monthly newsletter will also highlight best practice regarding these issues and will be available from March 2010. This will be aimed at organisations who may wish to improve their policies regarding young people and affecting community cohesion.
