Community organisations across the UK will receive more than £5.3
million for projects countering extremist views and to build
resilience within communities, it has been announced.
Minister for Countering-Extremism Baroness Williams awarded the
funds as part of the Building a Stronger Britain Together
programme, which aims to protect communities and empower them to
challenge extremism. It funds more than 100 groups with grants of
up to £200,000 and is estimated to reach around 175,000 people
across the UK.
The organisations, including groups such as Khulisa, the Anne
Frank Trust, Core Education and The Prince’s Trust will run
year-long schemes that challenge extremist narratives and support
people who may be vulnerable to them. The projects being
supported are wide-ranging and spread across the country: from
Khulisa’s work in prisons to reduce re-offending and transform
young people’s lives, to Core Education’s ‘Echo Eternal’ project
that will use video testimony by Holocaust survivors to educate
people on genocides across the world.
The funding comes as 300 representatives from the Building a
Stronger Britain Together network met in London yesterday
(Wednesday 17 October) for an annual conference.
Speaking at the event, Baroness Williams, Minister for Countering
Extremism, said:
Building a Stronger Britain Together is powerful coalition of
positive voices in society who are standing up to the hatred
and extremism which, sadly, is present in Britain.
We are increasingly confronted with statements designed to
justify support for twisted ideologies – these must be
challenged in all their forms.
I am proud of the support we are giving groups and local
communities, who recognise that this country is stronger
together.
The new funding will expand the Building a Stronger Britain
Together network to more than 220 groups, as the government steps
up its fight against extremism.
During its annual conference, keynote speakers including
academics and reformed extremists addressed delegates and advised
on the latest thinking around countering extremism. It was
chaired by Professor Matthew Feldman, Director of the Centre for
Analysis of the Radical Right and one of the UK’s foremost
experts on extremism.
Nick Stace, UK Chief Executive of The Prince’s Trust, said:
Every day The Prince’s Trust supports young people from a range
of backgrounds and communities to work together to develop the
confidence and skills they need to succeed.
We help young people to gain a better understanding of people
who are different to themselves, building mutual respect and
tolerance and diverting them from activities that could lead to
extremist views becoming engrained.
Many of our interventions also lead to employment
opportunities, giving young people a greater stake in our
economy and society.
This funding will help us to engage with more young people at
an early stage to break down stereotypes, build tolerance
amongst their communities and give young people the
opportunities they need to thrive.
Adrian Packer, Founder and CEO of Core Education, said:
Echo Eternal will help to honour the commitment of every
generation to never forget the Holocaust and genocides around
the world. By working with young people, initially in
Birmingham and then across the UK, we will tackle the extremism
of those who wish to demean and degrade these memories.
We are delighted to be supported by Building a Stronger Britain
Together for this crucial project. It’s important that
government continues to support organisations like ours who are
taking on extremism in all its forms.
Dominique Airey, Chief Executive Officer of Khulisa, said:
The funding announced by the government will help organisations
like ours tackle social exclusion and crime in the heart of our
communities. As part of the counter-extremism strategy, this
will help us work with some of those who may be at risk or hard
to reach.
Khulisa powerfully believe in the potential of every young
person to live a healthy, crime-free life if given the right
support. We provide a safe space for young people to explore
their identity, experiences and to build healthy relationships
with themselves and others. Our programmes are delivered in
schools, prisons and a range of other community settings across
the UK and are proven to increase well-being, empathy and
reduce violence and offending.
We also support professionals such as social workers, police
officers and prison staff to work more effectively with young
people in a way that promotes inclusion and tolerance for all.
Since 2015, the Building a Stronger Britain Together programme
has supported organisations, including the English Football
League Trust and Show Racism the Red Card, for innovative
projects to stand up against extremism. It was set up as part of
the government’s counter-extremism strategy.
The Building a Stronger Britain Together network includes
grassroots campaigns across England and Wales that bring together
young people from segregated communities, build resilience to
extremism and challenge extremist narratives.
