More than 30 groups across England have received £770,000 between them to support their local community and build resilience to extremist activity.
The money, awarded through the Building a Stronger Britain Together programme, is the fourth round of funding since the programme began in 2015.
Projects being funded in this round include:
- working with children on anti-racism workshops
- support for Muslim women who have experienced anti-Muslim hatred to produce a video to increase the understanding of Islam
- support newly settled eastern and central European communities adapt to live in modern Britain and build resilience to far-right extremism
- innovative workshops to tackle female genital mutilation
- commemorative arts projects to unite diverse communities which extremists attempt to exploit
Minister for Countering Extremism, Baroness Williams, said:
Through the Building a Stronger Britain Together programme we have built a passionate network of local groups, who do amazing work in uniting their communities.
I’m delighted that this funding can go towards helping so many people and support some fantastic projects that promote fundamental values.
I am proud of the incredible work organisations are doing and we will do all can to ensure more people can make a positive local impact.
The projects will cover Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, London, Luton, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland.
Building a Stronger Britain Together, set up as part of the government’s Counter Extremism Strategy, is a network of more than 230 groups, which supports civil society and community organisations in efforts to stand up to extremism and bring communities together.
Adrian Packer, chief executive of CORE Education and Founder of Echo Eternal, said:
We are proud and excited to be part of Building a Stronger Britain Together – Echo Eternal gives children from different backgrounds a common focus of paying tribute to British Holocaust survivors’ testimonies. This creates an unstoppable force for good by bringing communities together through creative endeavour.
To date, 5,000 young people from across the West Midlands have been part of the Echo Eternal movement, and by 2022 more than 15,000 children, young people and their families from across the UK will have joined our network – both listening to the echoes of the past, and in turn creating their own echoes for the future.
Through Echo Eternal, these individual sparks of light are creating a beacon of civic hope, promoting a happier, healthier and safer world.
Dr. Daniela Varley, director of Recre8now, said:
We are overjoyed to have received funding which will enable us to creatively explore with pupils how the human mind can be shaped by misinformed ideologies. Being immersed in first hand experiences created through the use of drama techniques enables young people to develop their skills of empathy.
It enables young people to safely explore the nature of this contentious issues providing them with both a better understanding and increased resilience.
Heather Nelson chief executive officer of Black Health Initiative (BHI), said:
BHI is delighted to have received funding to raise awareness on FGM amongst all citizens within Leeds. Building a better understanding around the issue. Leeds is aiming to become a city of zero tolerance, highlighting the impact mentally and physically this has on girls and young women and this funding enables us to do this.
Some of the behaviour BSBT programmes look to tackle can include far right extremism, hate crime, Islamophobia, female genital mutilation, honour-based violence and forced marriage.
More than £9 million has been awarded to groups since the programme started in 2015.
A full list of groups who are funded through BSBT is available on GOV.UK.