Leeds United are showing their support for National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2021 with the club and Foundation involved in a number of key events over the next fortnight.

Hate Crime Awareness Week officially runs until Saturday 16^th October and the campaign aims to bring people together to stand in solidarity with those affected by hate crime, and help those who need ongoing support. It is a week that encourages local authorities, key partners, and communities to work together to tackle local hate crime and minimise its effects.

Leeds United and the club’s official charity have joined forces with Leeds City Council and other partners from across the city to help highlight the importance of tackling hate crime and raise awareness around the support that is available to help victims of hate crime.

To kick-off the week of activity, our Premier League Kicks team were on hand to support an event at CATCH on Monday evening with young participants from the local community, aged between 12 to 15, to help facilitate a workshop based around hate crime and an exclusive Kicks football session. Also involved in the event were the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation and Stop Hate UK.

The workshop was used to critically challenge the thinking of those in attendance, with the youngsters encouraged to discuss their own personal experiences around identity and hate, whilst also exploring personal identity characteristics and the differences and similarities between them. Before the end of the session, the young people were also given information around reporting hate crime, to ensure they all knew that there is a support mechanism in place in the form of a 24-hour helpline.

The club will also be running various activities during the next home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 23^rd October, with the match dedicated specifically to the No Room For Racism campaign but also supporting and raising awareness around the work being done during National Hate Crime Awareness Week in the city.

Councilor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council executive member with responsibility for Safer Leeds, said: "Hate Crime is something that absolutely will not be tolerated in Leeds, the devastation it causes victims, and their families is appalling. Leeds is a diverse and welcoming city, and we are determined that victims of hate crime are fully supported, with those who engage in this type of behaviour facing consequences for their actions.

“We would urge anyone who experiences hate crime to please contact the police, council, or Stop Hate UK as soon as possible. There are many ways to report an incident in Leeds and you can be assured that you will be listened to and that your case will be investigated both properly and thoroughly.”

Leeds as a city has set out a clear no tolerance message regarding all forms of hate crime, and anyone who is experiencing it can be assured that if reported, it will be taken seriously.

To find out the different ways you can report a hate crime or hate incident and where you can get help visit: https://bit.ly/LeedsHateCrime or for more information regarding tackling hate crimes and hate incidents visit: https://bit.ly/WYPHateCrime.

For more information on the Premier League Kicks programme delivered by the Leeds United Foundation, please contact Richard.Foye@leedsunited.com.  

Reporting a hate crime:

A hate crime is defined as a crime which is committed against someone due to their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.

To report a hate crime, you can telephone West Yorkshire Police on 101 or in an Emergency 999 or the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team on 0113 222 4402 or email at LASBT@leeds.gov.uk. The national organisation Stop Hate UK can be contacted on 800 138 1625, by text to 07717 989025 or via talk@stophateuk.org or downloading the Stop Hate UK APP. For a full list of Leeds City Council Reporting Centre’s, please see: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/saferleeds/report-a-hate-incident

By reporting incidents, you will enable the police, local councils, housing associations etc. to build up patterns of behaviour locally and highlight areas of concern within your community. We will help you get the support you need and ensure that offenders are brought to justice. This could also prevent other incidents happening to someone else.

Angels of Freedom:

The Angels of Freedom is a community-based initiative organised by volunteers and supported by Leeds City Council, British Transport Police and West Yorkshire Police. Their aim is to provide visible support for the LGBT+ community based in the Freedom Quarter area of the city every Friday evening. Volunteers provide conversations on support & social groups, activities, and events in Leeds, along with just being a friendly approachable face on the bar scene for anyone wanting a chat. To find out more, please see: https://www.angelsoffreedom.org.uk/